thoughts of patriotism and citizenship. When parenting young children, it is
easy to get lost in the day-to-day busyness and forget to think about the bigger pic- ture. Take a look at your children through a wider lens. Are they learning the skills they will need to help make their world a better place some day?
Respect This is a big word for small children,
but they can begin to understand how to treat people well from an early age. It starts small with touching a pet or baby gently, but will eventually evolve into considering others’ beliefs, feelings and opinions, respecting them, even when we disagree.
Responsibility As adults, we take responsibility for
ourselves by following the laws of our city and state, working hard at our jobs, conserving energy and preserving our natural resources. For kids this might translate to following the rules at home and school, doing their best on school assignments, turning off lights when they leave a room and cleaning up when they make a mess. Make the connections for them so they start to understand how they affect the world around them.
Service Citizenship is a two-way street. Our
country’s citizenship affords us many freedoms,
rights and privileges, but
we must also contribute. Get involved with the PTA, join a volunteer group at church, or serve for a nonprofit group, and talk to your children regularly about the importance of actively serving your community. As we celebrate our country’s inde-
pendence, let’s take some time to ponder how the next generation will preserve it.
Children need to understand that we
live within a family, a neighborhood, a city, a state, a country and a planet, and that these greater groups need each of us to do our part in order to succeed. Here are a few basic concepts to get you think- ing about preparation for productive citizenship. You will likely think of others.
Honesty No doubt you are already teaching
your little ones to tell the truth. This is not only important for healthy family interactions, it is also important for rela- tionships in the work place and beyond. Talk to your children about what happens in our community when people lie. As your children mature, this concept can be expanded into conversations about doing the right thing in a variety of situations, even when it seems difficult.