- Social & Emotional
What Being a 'Global Citizen' Means for Our Little Ones
Written by
Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith
Associate Professor, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Wright Institute
Mom of Three (Ages 12, 10, and 3)
What does it mean to be a ‘global citizen’?
While this concept might seem complex, we can actually keep it pretty simple. The main idea here is that we are all connected. Think about it this way: Imagine the ripples on water after we throw in a pebble. We can think of our actions (the pebble) as reaching out into larger and larger circles – our family, our friends, our community, our neighborhood, our country, our world. Even our little kids can see and feel these ripples and be taught that they can make big impacts through small actions.
How do I teach my child to be a global citizen?
Think about stories you can share that illustrate how small actions can lead to big impact…maybe even a personal one about someone in your family. Kids can also learn about how many communities (ripples) they belong to through our own stories and connections. For example, everyone and/or their family has moved from one place to another, whether from different homes, different towns, different states, or different countries. For many folks it isn’t too hard to tell the story of a big move – either one that’s recent or even one from hundreds of years ago. These stories of movement help us expand the world to our children.
Why is global citizenship important for kids?
Ultimately, being a global citizen means recognizing that you are not only a part of your immediate family and neighborhood communities, but that you also belong to a worldwide community that is made up of people from different countries and cultures. The choices we make and actions we take can broaden our understanding of and respect for other people and things. We can do our part to collaborate with other members in our global community to help to build a kind and fair world that we all share – leaving it a better place for future generations.
How can a child become a global citizen?
We teach our children about these ideas every day when we point out the connections we have with others (“we share the same language” or “they eat rice just like we do”). We can also link how their small actions can make a big impact: “When we pick up the trash on the beach, we help out the animals who live here and also make sure it doesn’t float away to make other beaches dirty.” Don’t be afraid to get big – to think globally. Our kids love learning about connections, and they are capable of understanding big concepts. Ask questions about the connections your kids are seeing (“How is that neighborhood similar to ours?”), and keep sharing stories about the connections that are meaningful to you!
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