Teaching citizenship skills is a task parents have from the time their child learns to talk until that child graduates from college and beyond. Here are several family ideas to help you along the way.
  • Vote. Take your child with you to the polling place when you vote—and vote in all the elections not just presidential ones. At home discuss voting and choose some issues that can be put to a family vote.
  • Obey the rules. Be a great model for your kid by following the law, for example by obeying traffic laws and paying taxes. Instead of complaining about having to obey laws, talk to your child about ways to change laws that seem unjust or illogical.
  • Treat public figures respectfully. Model respectful behavior toward politicians, police officers, and members of the military. Discuss productive and respectful ways to disagree. When you see poor examples, in person or in the media, point them out and ask your kids to suggest more respectful approaches. Keep in mind that adults’ pessimism and sarcasm about public service can have a powerful negative effect on children.
  • Learn about the country. Include American history and current events in your conversations and family activities. Put maps on your wall or globes on desks and use them frequently. Visit history museums, historical landmarks, and national parks. Let your child pick a destination that has historical significance. Have him or her research the location and then be the tour guide when you arrive.
  • Volunteer for a political candidate. Explain why you support this candidate, take your kid along to the campaign office, and give him or her a job to do.
  • Read a newspaper. Discuss interesting articles with your child. Find editorials that take opposing views of the same issue and have your child read them. Then ask him or her to explain which editorial was more convincing and why. Explore politics on the Internet with your child.
  • Honor the flag. Attend a flag ceremony on a special occasion. Display the flag at your home and talk to your child about its care. Give your child the responsibility of raising and lowering the flag each day.
  • Hold a mock trial. Invent a scenario and issue jury notices to your child and some friends. Select a jury and appoint lawyers and a judge. Then hold the trial. As a family, watch a classic movie about a trial such as “Twelve Angry Men” or “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Then discuss the issues the movie raises.
  • Create a Family Bill of Rights. Study the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. Brainstorm with your kid the responsibilities that go with each of these rights. Using this work as a model, create a bill of rights for the family.
  • Make national holidays meaningful. Pick a holiday and spend the day focusing on its meaning to citizens. For example, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, you could visit a civil rights museum or attend a local event honoring him. On President’s Day, each family member could pick a president, do research on his life and accomplishments, and give a speech about him. On Memorial Day, your family could put flowers at an untended gravesite at a veteran’s cemetery. On Independence Day, you could attend a parade or a community picnic. On Labor Day, you might look at photos of child labor and talk about the protections child and adult workers have today. On Veteran’s Day, you could visit a war memorial or write to service members overseas.