- Definition
A citizen is someone who lives in a country and has the legal right to enjoy its freedoms and follow its laws.
A child who helps pick up litter at the local park is acting as a good citizen of their town.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A citizen is like a player on a team — everyone is part of the group and has a role to play.
Ask your child: What are some good things we can do for our neighbourhood?
Common mix-up: Kids may think being a citizen just means you live in a place. It also means being an active member of the community with responsibilities, even as a kid.
Examples
- Following classroom rules so that everyone gets a chance to learn.
- Waiting your turn on the playground slide is being a good citizen of the school.
citizen is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
