Lesson for Children on Characteristics of a Good Citizen

Ask anyone what she thinks a good citizen is, and more than likely, you will get a different answer each time. Some may say that a good citizen is involved in his community, while another may say that a good citizen is law-abiding. Teaching a child how to be a good citizen when she is young can help her to develop into a responsible adult.

  1. Empathy

    • Empathy is key in creating and maintaining genuine human relationships. Someone who has empathy is someone who can recognize and sometimes share the same feelings another person may have. It is important to understand that despite our differences, we are all human beings. For example, if a neighbor is going through a tough situation, tell your child to imagine walking in the neighbor's shoes and to imagine how he would feel if he were in that situation. Telling your child to try to relate to a situation will help him understand the neighbor's emotions and feelings.

    Respect

    • My grandmother always told me, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." This "golden rule" is widely known, and if everyone in the world followed this rule, the world would be a civilized place. Tell your child that being respectful means to be courteous of others for who they are as people, what they believe and what they stand for. Explain to your child that when you treat someone fairly as a person, you respect her no matter her color, gender or race. It is this tolerance for others despite our differences that is important to stress.

    Volunteer

    • Being a responsible citizen begins with taking care of the environment around us. There are others living in the world who aren't as fortunate as you are, and so it is important to give back if you are able. Make your child aware that giving your time can be just as beneficial as donating money to a charity or organization. For example, suggest that your animal-loving child volunteer at a local animal shelter.

    Obeying the Law

    • Good citizens do not put others at risk. Good citizens follow the laws that govern their state and country. Despite the old saying "Rules are made to be broken," rules are created to keep people safe. As a parent, if you follow the rules (for example, not speeding or paying taxes) and do all that you can to be a good example, hopefully your child will follow suit and become a responsible adult.

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