7 Tips for Teaching Patriotism to Our Kids

In two days, we celebrate the birth of our nation. It was 236 years ago Wednesday that our country declared “No More” – we are our own nation. “We don’t need your stinkin’ taxes, Britain” – we are taxed enough already.

Do your kids get this?

For some, Independence Day is a day for hot dogs, parades, maybe a sparkler as night falls. For many, this day is the most important day in our country’s history. It’s the day we emerged from the oppression of Britain and told them we’re going to try this new country thing on our own from now on.

How do we teach our children how important that is?

Editor-In-Chief of www.grandparents.com Gary Drevitch put together a great slide show that gives parents or grandparents 7 talking points for their kids/grandkids to teach about American patriotism.

Of course, I love this topic because I wrote a book called “How to Raise an American Patriot, Making it Okay for Our Kids to Be Proud to Love Our Country.” They simply don’t teach this in school anymore (plus it’s summer break) so we have to do it ourselves.

Here are Drevitch’s ideas (with a few of mine sprinkled in):

•  Talk about what Independence Day is – talk about how we are celebrating our country’s 236^th birthday – that’s a lot of candles! Tell them about how our founders signed the Declaration of Independence in secret and risked their lives, fortunes and sacred honor for this nascent country.
• Talk about the flag – Why do we have stars on our flag? For the 50 states. 13 stripes? For the 13 original colonies. How do we treat the flag? Check out the flag code here.
• Talk about why we are a great country – We have rights (even if they’re not exactly what we’d like anymore) unlike any other place on earth. We are guaranteed life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Read the founding documents together and talk about what they mean. Here’s a great book that explains all the constitutional amendments that is very helpful.
• Talk about what the government does for us – Go visit the city hall or the state capital, if you live close. Talk about why we pay taxes – to pay for schools, parks and safety services like firemen and policemen.
• Talk about the office of the president – Ask them what they would do if they were president and encourage them to find out more, either through trusted websites or from books.
• Talk about how they can help their country – vote, volunteer, obey the law and go to school. Keep American Beautiful together as a family, and he suggests checking out volunteer match for ideas.
• Talk about what is means to be American – in most countries, the citizens share the same culture or background. In America, we celebrate being different and having different cultures. No other place on earth allows you to come here (legally, we hope) and live, which immediately makes you an American! How amazing!

So, for this year’s Independence Day, please take a few minutes as a family to discuss these very important topics that Drevitch suggests. Please check out his website for more information and please come together as a family and do as our friends at Hillsdale College suggest and read the Declaration of Independence and review the Constitution before you dig into to those delicious burgers and refreshing beverages. God Bless America!!

Marijo Tinlin is the Editor in Chief of Family First, one of the oldest family-oriented websites on the internet. She writes for Eagle Publishing’s Family Events, is the Managing Editor of www.myColoradoview.com and she runs a small business with her husband. She is also the author of a book about patriotism and teaching our children to love this country called “How to Raise an American Patriot, Making it Okay for Our Kids to Be Proud to Be American.”  It features 13 interviews with patriotic Americans including Ed Meese, Erick Erickson and Jackie Gingrich Cushman. It’s available at www.raisinganamericanpatriot.com.