by Selena Robinson

Created on: January 31, 2010

Teaching preschoolers to be good citizens is an essential part of childhood development. Good citizenship includes displaying honesty and integrity, as well as a willingness to follow rules. These are qualities that all young children need to learn, since they will be needed throughout adulthood. Learning how to be a good citizen will help a child to contribute to society in a meaningful way. How can teachers help preschoolers learn these important qualities?

1. Set the example

For children to follow directions, they need to see them in action. Preschool teachers can be good role models for their students by carrying themselves in a way that shows their adherence to rules. If there are classroom guidelines, teachers do well to enforce these consistently. This helps the children to see that they need to obey these directives at all times. Teachers can also help children see the benefits of respecting authority by the way they interact with their supervisors in front of the class.

2. Encourage cooperation

Part of being a good citizen is learning how to work with those around you. Teachers are in a unique position to help their students learn this. They can arrange for the children to work together in groups for certain activities. This will help them to learn to consider others in their immediate circle before they make decisions. Educators can also encourage the children to assist one another to follow directions when needed.

3. Highlight the value of obedience

Young children want to be obedient, but when they are around their peers, it is often harder for them to show it. They may feel pressured to go along with someone who is talking out of turn or refusing to follow directions. When a teacher observes this, he or she can help students to learn the importance of following rules by talking about the situation with the class. While being careful not to castigate the disobedient child, the teacher can talk about the situation and ask the students how they should handle it in the future. The teacher can even talk about how other members of the class can encourage the other child to be obedient as well.

In today's world, being a good citizen is not talked as often as it used to be. But, learning to show cooperation, respect for others, and obedience to authority are personality traits that will greatly help children to mature. Teaching these qualities to children in preschool will give them a head start on becoming productive, well-respected adults.

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