Show Me Character
4-H Character Connections

Citizenship Character Connection

Participation, involvement and contribution are traits of character. Good citizenship is not doing what “looks good.” It means helping others, knowing more than how the government works and working to make our community, country and world a better place to live.

A good citizen:

• Does their share
• Cooperates
• Stays informed and votes
• Is a good neighbor
• Obeys laws and rules
• Respects authority
• Protects the environment

Infants and Toddlers
Even infants and toddlers can learn about citizenship. Not only is taking them for walks in the neighborhood healthy it also shows them a larger world than home and CYS. As your infant becomes a toddler, talk to them about what you see on your walks. Toddlers may not understand all that you explain but the more you talk, the more they will understand and will want to become a part of the community.

Preschoolers
Preschoolers can start learning about citizenship by being a citizen of their family and their CYS classroom. Help them understand the importance of getting along with others. They can also show good citizenship by doing chores around the house – picking up their toys – or by feeding animals.

Birdfeeders Activity
Supplies: pine cones, string, yarn or pipe cleaners, peanut butter and bird seed

Help your child make a bird feeder by attaching string, yarn or a pipe cleaner to a pine cone. Then smear peanut butter on it and roll it in bird seed. Hang it by the string. Explain how important it is for us to take care of our feathered friends.

School-Age
Help your school-ager (6 to 10 years) understand that a community can be defined in many ways. The entire town is a community; the installation is a community; even the CYS program is a type of community. An important part of citizenship is taking pride in your community by helping keep it clean, by following the rules and doing your part to see that everyone is safe.

Chore List Activity
Have everyone in your family brainstorm a list of chores that need to be done to keep your family “community” running smoothly. Assign each family member specific chores on the list. Talk about why these chores are important and what will happen to the “community” if someone decides not to do their chores.

Middle-School and Teens
As your child becomes older, he should take an even more active role in citizenship. Middle schoolers and teens in CYS programs do an amazing job of giving back to their community through service. Whether planting flowers, cleaning up a playground or baking holiday cookies for the MP’s at the gates, encourage your child to take an active role in service projects.

Who, What When Activity
Help your child to learn more about the community or installation. Find out how it got its name and some of the early history that makes it a special and unique place to live and work. This could be a great family activity. When you have completed the project, share it with others so they can learn what you found out about the community.

Adapted from materials written for US Army Child and Youth Services and USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service.

CHARACTER COUNTS® and the Six Pillars of Character are service marks of the CHARACTER COUNTS!® Coalition, a project of the Josephson Institute of Ethics.