5 Ways to Build Character and Civic Skills to Celebrate Cesar Chavez's Legacy
Reading and talking about civic leaders like Cesar Chavez is a great strategy to help kids develop early civics skills.
Growing up in California, Cesar Chavez was shy, teased, and saw firsthand the poor working conditions for farm laborers like his family. As an adult, Chavez led peaceful protests against those unfair conditions. In 1966, he organized a 340-mile march across California to raise awareness of the issue and call for change. He used his voice as an activist to negotiate and encouraged laborers to join the movement.
As an "upstander," Chavez worked tirelessly to unite laborers and help bring about fair wages and benefits for farmworkers nationwide. As you celebrate Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, learn more about him with your kids using these free, kid-friendly resources and books available from PBS KIDS and the Los Angeles Public Library.
- The characters from "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum" learn with Cesar Chaves that we can all "do a lot by working together." Then, play the "Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum" "Hero Maker" game so you can create your own hero! You can watch the episode for free on PBS KIDS.
- "Cosechando Esperanza/Harvesting Hope" (Ages 4-7), written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Yuyi Morales, is an award-winning children's biography about Cesar Chavez.
- "Side by Side/Lado a lado: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez/La historia de Dolores Huerta y Cesar Chavez" (Ages 4-8), written by Monica Brown and illustrated by Joe Cepeda, brings to life how Dolores Huerta, another activist for farmworkers' rights, and Cesar Chavez, collaborated to create positive change.
- "Clic, Clac, Muu: Vacas Escritoras/Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type" (Ages 3-5), written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by Betsy Lewin, tells the story of cows that use civic skills and go on strike to negotiate with Farmer Brown.
After you read, watch, and play with your child, talk a little more about why Cesar Chavez could accomplish what he did and model those skills and behaviors. When parents and caregivers model strategies and empower kids to work together and solve conflicts independently, as Chavez did, they set the stage for collaboration, conflict resolution and confidence down the road. Here are ways you can build character and civic skills for your children at home:
1. Character Builder: Think About What is Important to You
Chavez was confident in his convictions and beliefs. Promote self-awareness and self-confidence by talking with your children about their values. You can model respectful communication and encourage children to share ideas confidently. You might have children depict the people, places and ideas they value with their own stamps like the Cesar Chavez United States Postal Service stamp honors Cesar Chavez.
2. Civic Skill: Work Together
As Xavier Riddle finds out from Chavez himself, remind your kids that we can do a lot when we work together. Tackle house chores by each taking a small part to accomplish the larger task. Work in your community as active citizens with age-appropriate collective activities. Contributing to a neighborhood or beach clean-up shows that we can make our communities shine when we all work together! Teach your child about contributing to a larger project or goal by participating in a citizen science project.
3. Character Builder: Stand Up for Yourself and Others
Cesar Chavez was an "upstander." Watch real families have child-friendly conversations about standing up for themselves and others who need help in this video about standing up for yourself from PBS KIDS. Then consider having a similar dialogue with your family, starting with open questions like, "How can we make a change in the world?" or "How can we help others" and "What does it mean to be a hero?"
4. Civic Skill: Practice Conflict Resolution
Chavez was a supporter of nonviolent social change. You can teach children how to resolve conflict through constructive methods. "As children mature, they can better understand the perspectives of other people and can negotiate more constructively with peers to resolve conflicts," explains the California Preschool Framework Curriculum. Practice at home by asking your child what to do when there is only one apple for four members of your family or one toy for multiple siblings. You might watch this "Taking Sides" clip from "Arthur" and talk about how the characters resolved their dispute. Or, try the "Think It Through" strategy from "Alma'sWay," which encourages children to pause, think and find a solution.
5. Character Builder: Courage
Making positive change takes courage. As it is said at PBS KIDS for Parents, "Helping kids become brave doesn't have to happen all at once." Help your child take a step-by-step approach to build confidence. Start by discussing what makes them nervous, and then find small ways to conquer those fears. Using different night lights might help your child sleep with the lights off at home. If they are afraid of heights, it might be climbing to different heights each time at the playground until they feel confident to scale to the top. Celebrate each milestone and praise their efforts.
By reading, watching, and modeling positive strategies together, you empower kids to use civic and character skills throughout their lives. And that certainly is a win-win.
