7 Ways to Teach Patriotism to Your Grandchildren

The Fourth of July is a great time to help children learn about our country's ideals and symbols. These ideas will help get you started.

Grandchildren love the Fourth of July. There are hot dogs, beach parties, baseball games, and at the end of the day, fireworks. But for young children, there are also questions — for starters, What does "Independence Day" mean? As you answer their questions, you can give them some great reasons to love their country, on the Fourth and all year long.

1. What is Independence Day?

The Fourth of July is our country's birthday. When grandchildren ask why, tell them what happened on July 4, 1776. That was the day our country's founders declared independence from Great Britain. This meant they would no longer follow the orders of Britain's king. To do this was extremely dangerous. At the time, Britain had one of the world's strongest armies, and to go against the king was a crime punishable by death. But the king's laws were unfair, so our founders decided it was worth the risk of war to win the freedom to govern themselves. In 1783, the new United States won that war, which we now call the Revolutionary War.

2. Why does the flag have all those stars?

At this time of year, American flags are easy to spot. Point one out to your grandchildren. Explain that each part of the flag stands for something. The 50 stars stand for the 50 states. The 13 stripes stand for the 13 British colonies, which declared their independence on July 4, 1776. Tell the children that the flag is one way that we show the world what we stand for. It also shows that we are connected to one another — that we're on the same team. And because the flag is special, we treat it with respect.

3. What makes our country special?

Tell grandchildren that one thing that makes our country special is that it guarantees us certain rights, or freedoms. Explain how you use these rights every day when you pray (or decide not to), read a newspaper, or meet and talk with friends. Tell kids that you can do these things because our country guarantees us the rights to practice religion the way we want, say or write what we want, and go where we want. Show older grandchildren how these rights are spelled out in the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights. Ask children which rights are most important to them.

4. What does the government do anyway?

Your grandchildren's communities are the most real parts of the country to them. Take a walk around their neighborhood with them, and talk about how many of the things they see represent the values of the people in their community. Explain that adults pay taxes to their local, state, and national government so that, among other things, the government can build and maintain public facilities that reflect our values. Education is important to us, for example, so we build schools. Safety is a priority for us, so we put up traffic lights. And we want green places where we can gather, so we set aside space for parks. A tour of a town center is as good a guide as there is to the fundamental role of our government. Children can also see the people whose job it is to help the community run safely and smoothly — such as police officers, firefighters, and crossing guards who keep people safe, and others who help in different ways, like librarians, postal workers, and sanitation workers. A visit to the fire station can help a grandchild experience this idea in a direct, exciting way.

5. What does the president do?

As you talk about the country and how it works, ask your grandchild to imagine that he or she has been elected president of the U.S. (Make sure the child understands that being president is very different from being king or queen.) What would the child do? Give all kids free ice cream? Make the world a peaceful place? Talk about what some of our most important presidents have done; for instance, Abraham Lincoln helped lead a war to keep the country together, when some states wanted it to split in two. If grandchildren want to find out more about our presidents, share a book with them.

6. What do we have to do for our country?

Tell grandchildren that our country is like a family: Everyone has to pitch in or it doesn't work. As a member of the U.S. "family" — in other words, a citizen — we all have certain responsibilities, like going to school, voting, and obeying the law. Discuss how being a good citizen also means taking care of the country, by keeping it clean, looking out for people in trouble, and staying informed about problems that may arise in the community. Of course, actions always have more impact than words, so set an example by dedicating some of your time to volunteering in the community. Find a project that is important to both of you, such as helping out at a school or cleaning up a playground.

7. What does it mean to be "American"?

In countries like China or Ireland, most citizens share a common culture or ethnicity. But the United States is different. Here, what people share is a common idea — that people should have the freedom to live the way they want, and to work and earn money the best way they can. These promises of freedom and prosperity have inspired people from all over the world to come to the U.S. and become "Americans." (Books about immigrants, for young children and beginning readers, can help get this idea across.) This is a profound idea many grandchildren may never have considered and it might make them feel especially proud of their country, as well as more connected to other Americans of different races. It can also lead to a discussion about your own family's journey to the U.S. Why did they come? Why did they stay? Every family's story is part of the country's story. Make sure your grandchildren know yours.