If you borrow it, return it better.

When someone lends you something—a pencil, a book, a game, even a sweater—they are trusting you. For kids, learning to treat borrowed things with care is about more than objects: it’s about respect, responsibility, and how you want people to feel around you. As parents, we can help by turning a simple rule into a habit: “If you borrow it, return it better.” Saying it out loud, practicing it, and remembering it during small moments helps children grow into people others can rely on.

Here are short, easy-to-remember phrases that make the idea stick. They’re small, but they carry big meaning: - Ask first. Use please. Say thank you. Return it clean. Fix what you break. Tell the truth. Replace if you can. Say sorry. Do more than expected.

Those little phrases become actions. Ask first: this teaches permission and respect. Use please and say thank you: this shows appreciation for someone’s kindness. Return it clean or fixed: this shows you cared while it was in your hands. Tell the truth and say sorry if something goes wrong: being honest makes it easier to fix problems and keeps friendships strong. Replace if you can, or add a small note to show you care—those tiny extras turn an ordinary favor into a trust that grows.

When a child follows this rule, something important happens inside: they feel proud. Doing the right thing builds quiet confidence, and other people notice and trust you more. When trust is strong, friendships stay steady and adults feel comfortable lending help. That safety makes home, classroom, and playtime calmer and happier. Kids who learn to return things better also learn to think ahead—how to care, how to solve problems, and how to make amends when mistakes happen. Those kinds of skills help through hard times because they teach a child how to manage mix-ups, soothe hurt feelings, and make things right.

Practically speaking, teach this with tiny steps. Role-play borrowing and returning items. Praise the effort, not only the success: “Thank you for cleaning the markers before you gave them back.” Help your child plan what “better” means—maybe it’s wiping a bike seat, washing a dish, or slipping a replacement eraser into a pencil case. If something breaks, practice saying, “I’m sorry. I’ll fix or replace this.” Walk through options together so children feel capable, not scared to admit mistakes.

These ideas are simple, but habits form from simple things. Repeating a few key phrases, acting on them, and talking about how it feels will build a respectful, resilient child who knows how to care for things and people. In the end, returning something better isn’t just about the object—it’s about keeping trust, showing kindness, and growing into someone others can count on.