Nurture Your Child to Be a Good Citizen

 

Carroll Chung Wai Lan

 

Many parents hope that their kids will learn to be good citizens when they go to school. Others believe that signing them up for a scouting programme will do the trick. But what they may not realise is that good character is learned at home.

 

Respecting others is the most important part of good citizenship. To teach a child about respect requires that parents deliver discipline in a resolute and calm manner. The child's point of view should also be taken into account when making family decisions, and parents should be consistent in their words and actions.

 

To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, children should ask not what the community can do for them, but what they can do for the community. It's not good for our kids to be overindulged. They acquire the sense of social responsibility if they are consistently expected to contribute to their families. Therefore, a child should carry out household chores on a daily basis. As he/she grows, there should be additional responsibilities so that the child will be capable of performing more different tasks. The more productive a child is within the family, the more productive a citizen that child will become.

 

The word "no" on a regular basis can help kids learn to postpone gratification, tolerate frustration, and set long-term goals. These are all necessary attributes of good citizenship. Besides, parents can help their children develop a can-do attitude by establishing reasonably high goals and then providing the necessary support and encouragement for them. Last but not least, giving a child plenty of opportunities for free play enhances imagination, which in turn empowers one to stay strong and determined in difficult situations.

 

Parents play a key role in nurturing a child to be a good citizen. The effort always starts at home, and then gradually expands into the community.