Developing Citizenship and Patriotism In Your Child

Citizenship requires doing our share for our community and our
country. Being a good citizen means caring about the good of
society and participating actively to make things better. 

Research reveals that participating in community service
programs and learning about the importance and value of serving
others can be a powerful influence on positive character
development.

Patriotism is an important part of good citizenship. Patriotism
is love of and loyalty to our country. It involves honoring the
democratic ideals on which the country is based and expecting
elected officials to do the same, respecting and obeying its
laws and honoring its flag and other symbols. It also involves
accepting the responsibilities of good citizenship, such as
keeping informed about national issues, voting, volunteering and
serving the country in times of war.

What You Can Do

· Take your child with you when you vote. Talk to him about the
candidates, the offices they aspire to hold and their positions
on key issues. 

· Participate in community-building activities, such as cleaning
up parks and assisting with school activities. Discuss
citizenship with your child and find examples of what good
citizens have done for their communities.