Let's teach our children Patriotic Manners

Fourth of July is upon us and it is a good opportunity to teach children from a very young age that there are certain ways to behave that show respect for our country. It is what we call Patriotic Manners, and even adults can use a little polishing of those.

There are two upcoming events that constitute great opportunities for showing our children how to  respect our flag and our national anthem. One is the Celebration of the Fourth of July, our Day of Independence, and the other is the Olympic Games that will be held in London at the end of July.

As we celebrate July 4th, remind them to listen respectfully, without talking, while the anthem is played, if wearing a baseball cap, remove it and face the flag with the right hand over their hearts.

Have your children watch the medal award ceremonies of the Olympics, explain to them the importance that it has when the flag is displayed and the anthem played whenever the U.S. athletes are the winners of a particular sports discipline. Have them appreciate the emotions of the athletes from every country when their flags and anthems are played. We are teaching values that are far from trivial, love and pride of country, respect for our national symbols and that of  other nations and cultures as we see their flags also being displayed with pride.