Good Citizenship Thoughts from a 10 Year Old....

I want to thank each of you who commented on Son #1's thoughts about being a good citizen, and assure you that I'll address your comments when I write this from my point of view later this week.

Today has been our Independence Day celebration and we've mostly been lazing around not doing much, but I'm finally coming back to share the things that Son #2 thinks are key points of being a good citizen. Please keep in mind, he's 10 years old.

What does The Artist think makes a good citizen?

Recycling. Not making a racket when your neighbors are trying to sleep. Playing with little kids. Respecting the dead. 

Short list, simple things, nothing to in depth but again he strikes right to the heart of the matter -- being a good citizen is kind of like being a good neighbor and treating others as you'd wish to be treated.

I think for a ten year old boy he's got a decent beginning, wouldn't you agree?

Being a Good Citizen, from Son #1

My boys have daily creative writing for school. I print a calendar of writing prompts from Lakeshore Learning's Teacher's Corner & their Printables page, and the boys write. Easy for me, they enjoy it, and I love learning about my boys through what they put on paper.

A recent topic surprised me with their insight -- "Tell what you think it means to be a good citizen."

As this week marks Brazil's Independence Day I thought it a good time to share on this topic, and will follow up with my own thoughts later this week. For today, what The Writer (almost 14) thinks it means to be a Good Citizen (shared with his permission).

To be a good citizen is....

To be polite to our neighbors and to follow the law for sure, but it would also be pretty good to recycle and not waste things. Not arguing with your friends or brothers/sisters would also be nice.  And also, helping others in need. 

Simple. Basic. Focused on being kind and helpful to our fellow man, with no prejudice or criteria for who deserves our kindness or help.

I think he covered the important parts, don't you?

*look for The Artist's thoughts tomorrow and my thoughts later this week.....