Monthly Archives: June 2024

Instilling Patriotism in Children

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; When the Stars Fall Down; My Thinking Book; Love is…)

Train up a child…

Instilling Patriotism in Children

         There may be no better time than Independence Day for parents to instill in children the attitude and feeling of patriotism.  As children experience the beautiful fireworks displays and understand that the same thing is happening throughout our nation, they can’t help but think about what it means to be living in America.  Adults need to take advantage of this “teachable moment” to encourage the feeling of pride for country and help the children understand, as much as possible, the cost paid for our freedom by our forefathers.

         One way to give a better understanding of our forefathers is to check the Internet for information regarding some of those individuals.  Children will be interested to learn about some of the inventions of Ben Franklin.  He invented bifocals, the lightning rod, a grasping tool, and even a musical instrument using glasses filled with different amounts of water.  He designed a ship with compartments so that if one compartment sprung a leak, the leak could not sink the ship.  

         Only two of Thomas Jefferson’s six children survived into adulthood.  He had specific instructions as to what he wanted on his tombstone.  He wrote a political pamphlet in which he stated, “The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time:  the hand of force may destroy but cannot disjoin them.”  He designed his home, Monticello, in detail and had it built on property inherited from his family. 

         At the age of 16, George Washington helped survey Shenandoah lands.  He was very interested in western expansion of our country.  It will fascinate children to learn that he invented wooden false teeth.  It has been said that we always see pictures of him with his mouth closed because of his wooden false teeth.

         There are many, many interesting things to learn about our founding fathers and our country if we just take the time to explore with the children.  A visit to the library will uncover many interesting books for the children to read during the summer months.  

         It is easy to develop an appreciation of the history of our country.  What is not so easy is to develop a feeling of appreciation for our country now.  It is difficult as a teacher to help the children learn to respect authority of our government when they hear so much criticism from parents, grandparents, and others.  When children hear parents say, “They are all a bunch of crooks!” they wonder why, then, are they supposed to obey laws made by those “crooks”.  It was a real struggle in my GED classes to get students to understand that our government is “we”, not “they”.  

         We need to be very careful to discuss policies of our government without “badmouthing” the people making those policies.  It is very difficult in times of frustration to separate what our politicians do from who they are.  We are commanded in the Bible to pray for our leaders, and we should do just that.  Instead of venting our anger to those around us, we need to be finding ways to make the changes that we believe are needed in a respectful way.  

         Our country has had many problems since its beginning.  We need to help our children join us in praying for our country and deciding how we can be the best citizens possible.    

Instilling Patriotism in Children

Uncategorized, , , ,

Instilling Patriotism in Children

by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; When the Stars Fall Down; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon; Barnes & Noble; patlambchristianauthor.com

Train up a child…

Instilling Patriotism in Children

         There may be no better time than Independence Day for parents to instill in children the attitude and feeling of patriotism.  As children experience the beautiful fireworks displays and understand that the same thing is happening throughout our nation, they can’t help but think about what it means to be living in America.  Adults need to take advantage of this “teachable moment” to encourage the feeling of pride for country and help the children understand, as much as possible, the cost paid for our freedom by our forefathers.

         One way to give a better understanding of our forefathers is to check the Internet for information regarding some of those individuals.  Children will be interested to learn about some of the inventions of Ben Franklin.  He invented bifocals, the lightning rod, a grasping tool, and even a musical instrument using glasses filled with different amounts of water.  He designed a ship with compartments so that if one compartment sprung a leak, the leak could not sink the ship.  

         Only two of Thomas Jefferson’s six children survived into adulthood.  He had specific instructions as to what he wanted on his tombstone.  He wrote a political pamphlet in which he stated, “The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time:  the hand of force may destroy but cannot disjoin them.”  He designed his home, Monticello, in detail and had it built on property inherited from his family. 

         At the age of 16, George Washington helped survey Shenandoah lands.  He was very interested in western expansion of our country.  It will fascinate children to learn that he invented wooden false teeth.  It has been said that we always see pictures of him with his mouth closed because of his wooden false teeth.

         There are many, many interesting things to learn about our founding fathers and our country if we just take the time to explore with the children.  A visit to the library will uncover many interesting books for the children to read during the summer months.  

         It is easy to develop an appreciation of the history of our country.  What is not so easy is to develop a feeling of appreciation for our country now.  It is difficult as a teacher to help the children learn to respect authority of our government when they hear so much criticism from parents, grandparents, and others.  When children hear parents say, “They are all a bunch of crooks!” they wonder why, then, are they supposed to obey laws made by those “crooks”.  It was a real struggle in my GED classes to get students to understand that our government is “we”, not “they”.  

         We need to be very careful to discuss policies of our government without “badmouthing” the people making those policies.  It is very difficult in times of frustration to separate what our politicians do from who they are.  We are commanded in the Bible to pray for our leaders, and we should do just that.  Instead of venting our anger to those around us, we need to be finding ways to make the changes that we believe are needed in a respectful way.  

         Our country has had many problems since its beginning.  We need to help our children join us in praying for our country and deciding how we can be the best citizens possible.    

July 4 is More Than Fireworks

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by Pat Lamb (Author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…) Books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble; and www.patlambchristianauthor.com.

Children can learn much about the 4th of July

July 4 is More than Fireworks

Train up a child…

July 4 is more than Fireworks

         July 4th presents a wonderful time for the family to get together and have fun.  Many good memories are made on this holiday.  Included in those good memories could be storytelling by parents about the history of our country and its founding fathers.

         It is very difficult to teach children to be patriotic in today’s climate of friction in our country. When children hear parents and others “badmouth” our leaders, they tend to form negative ideas rather than to become patriotic.  It is important that we separate actions of individuals from intent of the makers of our constitution.  Children need to understand that the basis for our government is sound.  When things do not work right, it is not because of the way our Constitution is written, but rather it is the result, most often, of individuals not following that Constitution. A focus on the history and individuals involved in forming our country will help to develop patriotism in children.

         Parents could take one historical figure each year and concentrate on stories about that person. Children get enthralled with the heroic stories and just hearing them stimulates children to be heroic themselves.  The libraries in most areas have good books of stories that can be read or told to the children. The Internet contains a wealth of information as well.

         Here are some quotes of George Washington that can be used with children:

  • “A slender acquaintance with the world must convince every man that actions, not words, are the true criterion of the attachment of friends.” 
  • “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”
  • “Be courteous with all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence.”
  • “Discipline is the soul of an army.  It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.”
  • “Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples’ liberty’s teeth.”
  • “Friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.”
  • “Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.”

         When translated into modern day language, it is easy to see that these principles apply today as well as in the past.  As children learn to respect the great character of our founders, they will automatically apply some of these traits to themselves. 

         Let’s all enjoy our holiday, but let’s never forget to be thankful for those deeply religious men and women who sacrificed so very much to make our celebration possible. Our example of thankfulness and patriotism will transfer to our children.

Helping Children Learn to Earn

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(Pat Lamb is author of: Let the Children Come; Children, Come to Me; When the Stars Fall Down; Widening the Church Doors to Teach the Narrow Way; My Thinking Book; Love is…)

Train up a child…

Helping Children Learn to Earn

     Considering the situation, we find our country in right now, few people doubt that the future holds less benefit in the form of entitlements than we are presently enjoying.  Simple math tells us that we cannot keep spending more than we are taking in and when half of our country is taking from the government instead of giving to it in the form of taxes, we must admit there is a problem. Our present-day children will live with this problem as adults.  One quality they must possess to cope in the future is to have the attitude of earning their own benefits instead of expecting the government or others to care for them.

      To develop the desire to earn, there are practices that must not be done as well as actions we should take.  The realization that life is not fair and that nothing is truly free will help children develop an attitude of earning.

     We need to stop rewarding children when it is not earned. Why would anyone want to work for something that they can get for free? Where is the logic in thinking that we can give children everything they want or desire and then when they are grown expect them to suddenly think, “Oh, you don’t have to give me everything anymore.  Now I will work for it?” If they have been given everything without having to earn it, they will most likely expect that they will continue to receive things without working for them. Someone remarked that they had seen a sign in a national park advising guests not to feed the animals lest the animals forget how to forage for themselves.  Doesn’t the same principle apply to people? When children are given a prize that they didn’t earn just to keep them from feeling badly, they are learning that they don’t have to earn a prize and they come to expect rewards without the required effort.  The notion that all should be winners is wrong.  Each of us is unique.  Some are better at one thing, and some are better at another.  We do not all excel in the same things.  Sometimes “feeling badly” is the motivation children need to improve. Good-intentioned parents, grandparents, and teachers have unknowingly (or perhaps knowingly) taught our children the attitude of entitlement.  

     If parents will talk with children and help them set goals to achieve, then require that they work for those goals, children will learn to earn unless the parent jumps in and “rescues” the child.  Is it possible that we give our children too much?  I think so.  They do not always have to have what others have.  If it is important to them to compete with friends for more expensive items, they should have to get jobs doing yard work, washing windows, etc. to earn the money to make up the difference in a moderately priced item and the more expensive item.  When children earn their own money, they come to realize how hard the parents must work to provide for them.  Children need to be told that what they may think of as government money is really money from hardworking people who pay taxes and that it is not fair for some to work while others enjoy things without working for them.

     “The Greatest Generation” grew up right after the Great Depression when things were in short supply.  They knew they had to earn what they got if they were to have anything.  Things did not come easy.  As a result, we had a generation of people who knew how to work and did not have the entitlement attitude.  If we don’t teach our children to earn, they may have to learn the hard way.