It’s important for children to
learn how to be good citizens, and one of the best teaching methods is for parents
to model the right behavior.
One good place to start is to
find at least one cause or need in your community where you can volunteer your
help.
Let your children know why you
think that area is important, and spell out for them how you are trying to
help. Let your child join you if he or she wants.
Most children will be eager to
become involved — but don’t force it if they’re not.
It’s important to let each
child choose where and how to help, so they can take ownership in the progress
that is made.
Opportunities range from
helping other young people or senior citizens, to helping animals, or tackling an
environmental project.
It’s also good to find and
share success stories with your children.
It’s easy for any one of us to
become overwhelmed by the problems in the community or the world. But the truth
is that individuals can and do make a difference.
Talk to your children about the
importance of joining forces. Encourage them to involve their friends or
classmates in tackling big projects such as a creek or playground cleanup.
All these activities help
reinforce the actions of good citizens. They help plant the seeds that
individuals make a difference, and that in a democratic society we all have a
responsibility to do things “for the good of the order.”
