Grades 3-5
Heroes are everywhere. Sharing stories about them with children can help them understand that heroes come from many different walks of life and that their courageous acts occur in many different places and times.
What You Need
Family photographs; newspaper and pictures from books or the Internet of both local and national figures who have been recognized for community service, bravery or selfless acts
What to Do
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Select a photo of someone in your family who has an admirable quality or who performed a courageous act. You might choose a grandparent who left everything behind to immigrate to the United States or your mother who sacrificed so that you could have a good education or your father who fought in a war or your brother who took a stand on a controversial issue. Sit with your child and tell him about the relative’s life. Talk with him about the qualities of heroism that the relative showed—courage, self-discipline, responsibility, citizenship and so forth.
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Show your child newspaper pictures of local people who have performed acts of courage or service to the community. Talk with him about what the people did and why they are considered heroes. In addition to individuals, choose groups of people who have been called heroes, such as firefighters and policemen.
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Show your child pictures of historical figures who have been called heroes. Choose people whom you admire and feel comfortable talking about with your child. Choose groups as well, such as the abolitionists who opposed slavery before the Civil War or the people who participated in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Ask your child:
What does it mean to be a hero? Is it easy and fun to be a hero? What qualities do heroes seem to have? Who are your heroes? Why? What would you like to tell one of your heroes?
Parenting viewpoints from parents in the trenches, because parenting doesn’t come with a manual. In addition to