 |
Family Events...
Teaching our children
to love their country
By Marybeth Hicks
Last year, Jay Leno produced a clever “Jay Walking” edition for
Independence Day. This time, Jay stationed himself in a California
theme park to conduct his man-on-the-street interviews. In keeping with
the spirit of the holiday, he asked passersby to answer some simple
questions about the founding of our nation.
The answers were funny, in a “we’re in big trouble” sort of way. For
example:
Jay: “What do we celebrate on Independence Day?”
Uninformed American: “Um... the Fourth of July?”
It took several attempts until finally, a learned grandpa answered
Jay’s simple questions about our nation’s founding, our form of
government, and the people who currently occupy positions of power.
Perhaps the most disheartening interviews were the few Jay did with
kids. They really didn’t know anything about our nation’s history and
heritage. I realized after watching the video that we moms and dads
need to do a better job of instilling in our kids the values and
knowledge required for good citizenship.
A new book by blogger and mom Marijo Tinlin called “How to Raise an
American Patriot: Making it Okay for Our Kids to Be Proud to Be
American” is the ideal handbook to assure our kids are well-versed in
the values and virtues that will mark them as patriotic citizens.
Through the reflections of thirteen famous Americans, Marijo shares the
five pillars of patriotism:
Learning about our history — “You don’t have to be an expert to do
this,” Marijo says. “It’s easy to spark an interest in history within
your children. Read the founding documents together, such as the
Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Federalist
Papers. Talk about what these documents mean for your kids in their
lives to make it real for them.”
Having faith — “We have natural rights, as it says in the Declaration
of Independence, which do not come from the government.” Marijo reminds
us. “Contrary to what many people believe, we simply cannot take God
out of the equation of this great country and we need to make sure our
kids understand that.”
Being good citizens — Marijo recommends helping kids get involved in
groups that teach them the habits of good citizenship. “Besides getting
involved, show your kids good citizenship by flying the flag and
attending Veteran’s Day ceremonies and Independence Day parades. You
can take that opportunity to talk about the sacrifices people have made
for this country and how they died so your children could live free.
Thank a veteran when you see one; that makes an impression on your
children,” she says.
Doing your duty — Marijo stresses that the example shown by parents is
one of the greatest teachers of all. “Vote. By showing your children
that you care enough to vote for our leaders, it conveys to them that
they have a voice too...Speak up. Show your kids you will fight for our
sovereignty as a nation... Take them to the state capital or Capitol
Hill. Let them see the government in action. Write or call your
congressmen or senators when you disagree with what they are doing. By
showing your children you hold these people accountable, it will
encourage them to do the same.”
Passing it on — “One of the most important things we can encourage our
children to do is to spread the idea of patriotism to their friends,”
Marijo says. “They justify each other that way. It’s not just parents
telling them what to think; it’s them thinking for themselves why they
love this country and then telling their friends why they should join
in this love.”
On Monday, let’s all make our celebrations of Independence Day a
reflection of the gratitude we all feel to be citizens of the United
States. Let’s not just enjoy the day with family and friends, but spend
at least part of it remembering the sacrifices of those who secured our
freedom in 1776 and those whose courage have protected it ever since.
Happy Fourth of July — enjoy another day of American independence!
Thanks for reading and sharing Family Events!
Take good care until next week,
Marybeth
This week’s question: How can we help our children to grow in
patriotism and love for our country? Are we passing our patriotism on?
Is it important that our children adopt a patriotic view of our nation?
Your insights and advice on our Family Events Facebook page.
Read the article and the answers to last week’s question at Family Events
|
