How To Raise An American

Tip of the Day: “Breaking Away”

Have an All-American movie night, complete with popcorn, at least, a couple of times a month.  A very American movie that the whole family will want to curl up and watch, “Breaking Away” takes place in Bloomington, Indiana, the hometown of the University of Indiana.  It is about kids and parents, the problems of growing up and ends with a great bike race that will have everyone cheering. 

Tip of the Day: Family Vacation

Plan a family vacation to the mother lode of historic sites: Washington DC.  Places not to miss include the Washington Monument and the major memorials including Lincoln, Jefferson, World War II, Vietnam.  Don’t forget the National Archives, the Smithsonian, especially the Air and Space Museum, the Library of Congress, the White House and the Mint.  Kids also love the Newseum, the Spy Museum and Ford’s Theater.  Nearby is Arlington  Cemetery and George Washington’s Mt. Vernon.   Kids usually leave asking, “When do we come back?”

Tip of the Day: Hometown Flag

Learn about your own home town’s government.  Take your kids--along with a couple of their friends for a tour of City Hall.    If you call ahead, and the group is large enough, you may get a special tour by an elected official and even a chance to meet the Mayor or Town Manager.    Have the kids say thank-you by designing a flag for the town.  They can find out how on www.nava.org.   Bet the local paper would write a story about the visit and publish a picture of the flag they create.

Tip of the Day: Those Who Served

Remember those who served.  Ask your children to write a letter to their school’s principal suggesting that local veterans of different generations speak about their experiences at a school assembly.  Your local chapters of the American Legion or the Veterans of Foreign Wars will be able to supply speakers for the assembly or to speak to different classes.   A great idea for Veterans or Memorial Day.

Tip of the Day: Sign the Declaration of Independence.

Yes ,your kids can do it !  Find the Declaration at the website of the National Archives www.archives.gov.   On that site you can look at the original, read a transcript, and download a copy of the original.  Then have them add their John Hancock to America's birth certificate!

Tip of the Day: Felicity

A book girls with love “Felicity: An American Girl” about a girl growing up during Colonial times which is part of the American Girl series.  There is also a movie about “Felicity” that the whole family would enjoy.   Buy "Felicity: An American Girl" at amazon.com.

Tip of the Day: Jr. G-Men (and women)

A great government website that children will really enjoy: FBI For Kids www.fbi.gov/fbifk.htm.  It includes games, stories, and tales of heroic bomb-sniffing dogs.  Lots of fun!

Tip of the Day: American Ingenuity

Part of America’s story is the story of American ingenuity.   Do you have a young inventor in the house?  You can find out a lot about young inventors and how your own children can come up with an invention--and win prize money for doing it on www.bkfk.com 

Tip of the Day: “A Patriot’s History of the United States”

A history book that belongs in every family’s library is “A Patriot’s History of the United States” by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen, both professors.  Unlike many textbooks your kids may be reading, this book offer a thorough balanced look at out past, written with flair and a sense of humor.   Have it on your shelf and consult it if you disagree with the views in your child’s history text book. Buy "A Patriot's History of the United States" at amazon.com.

Tip of the Day: Happy Birthday!

On your child’s next birthday, commemorate that day in history by making a time capsule.  Take a box or jar and put in some things that will be a record of the day --like the front page of a newspaper, a printout from a website, a photo of your family or an audio or video recording.  Along with some “original documents” like a copy of his or her birth certificate.  Include photos of what is important to him like a photo of your house, a favorite toy, the family pet.  Ask him to include a letter to whomever finds it.  Then seal it and put it away in the attic or even bury it in the yard so someone in the future will know what life was really like today.