Encourage Citizenship in Children

Every child's first community is home. What children see and hear there, with their own eyes and ears, greatly influences how they interact with one another in the broader communities of neighborhood, school, town, country and ultimately the world.

Helping Children Get Involved
Among the things you can do:

Stay informed.
Keep up with community concerns from the bottom up, beginning in your won neighborhood and extending to global issues. Let your child see you using a variety of sources for your information: friends and neighbors, newspapers and magazines, libraries, radio, television and the internet.

Exercise your right to vote
Let your child accompany you to the polls and explain why it is important to vote in local, statewide and national elections. Explain that at age 18 he or she will have this right/responsibility.

Speak up by writing it down
When you can't speak directly to policy makers about an issue, write a letter. Share with your child why and what you are writing. Encourage your child to write letters about any issue that concerns him or her, whether it's a misleading toy advertisement or pollution by a local industry. Local officials | State, Federal officials

Identify at least one cause/need in your neighborhood or community and volunteer your help.

Let your child know why you think it is important and how you are trying to help.

Let your child join you, if he or she wishes

Most children, especially preteens or younger, will be eager to become involved. Don't force involvement. Let your child choose where and how to help. The possibilities are almost endless, but local volunteer service centers, such as Mid Community Action, can suggest specific community needs. Opportunities range from helping other kids or seniors to helping animals, or an environmental project.

Find and share success stories with your child.
It's easy to become overwhelmed by problems with the environment, for instance, but individuals – even kids – can and do make a difference! Talk about the importance of joining forces. Encourage your child to involve other kids – his or her class at school, scout troop or after-school group – in tackling big projects such as a creek or playground cleanup.

Environmental Citizenship
Model environmentally responsible behavior: turn off lights and appliances when not in use; recycle newspapers, glass, plastics and cans.

Buy eco-friendly products and let your children know why
Reduce consumption of goods: Don't buy items in excess. Share with friends and neighbors whenever possible. If you borrow an item, offer to trade a service (childcare, typing, preparing a meal, pet care) in return.

Organize an eco-clean up (a stream, beach, park or playground) on a regular basis and involve the entire family in helping.
Encourage recycling, collection drives and education about the environment at work, school, church/synagogue/temple and at neighborhood parks and playgrounds.

Volunteer to help a group at your child's school (or organize one) to beautify the grounds. Your concern will be contagious.

Write government officials at the local, state, and national levels about your environmental concerns. Encourage children to write their own letters or petitions to send to officials.

—Source: It Starts on the Frontline/March 2001, published by the National School Public Relations Association, 15948 Derwood Road, Rockville, MD 20855: (301) 519-0496.

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