Foster and Practice Core Socialist Values from Childhood

从小积极培育和践行社会主义核心价值观

How should children foster and practice the core socialist values? They should do so in a different way from adults, a way which conforms to their ages and traits. Here I want to raise four points: remembering the requirements, following role models, starting from childhood and accepting help.

少年儿童如何培育和践行社会主义核心价值观呢？应该同成年人不一样，要适应少年儿童的年龄和特点。我看，主要是要做到记住要求、心有榜样、从小做起、接受帮助。

First, remembering the requirements means that children need to learn by heart the core socialist values, and always keep these values in mind. You pupils are still studying at school and don't have much social experience; so you may not thoroughly understand the meanings of these values. But you will acquire more knowledge and experience as you grow up, and thus gain a better understanding of them, as long as you bear them in mind. In this process, you need to think about the requirements and acquire a better understanding in your studies and life. Through the ages, most people with great achievements have been strict with themselves since childhood.

——记住要求，就是要把社会主义核心价值观的基本内容熟记熟背，让它们融化在心灵里、铭刻在脑子中。由于大家还在学习阶段，社会阅历不多，对社会主义核心价值观的涵义不一定能理解得很深，但只要牢记在心，随着自己年龄、知识、阅历不断增长，会明白得更多、更深、更透。在成长过程中，要结合学习和生活等实践，不断想想所记住的这些要求，不断加深理解。古往今来，大凡很有作为的人，都是在少年时代就能够严格要求自己。

Second, following role models means that children need to learn from heroes and advanced figures, and to cultivate good characters through study. There are many young heroes in our history and in the revolution, construction and reform drive of our people under the leadership of the Party. You may have heard some of their names from films such as Red Children, Zhang Ga the Soldier Boy, The Feathered Letter, Little Hero Soldier and Young Heroic Sisters of the Mongolian Grassland. Now we have more exemplary children. I know that some students in your school have won the title of “the most beautiful children.” Besides, there are many other role models from all professions whose examples we should follow. For example, astronauts, Olympic champions, scientists, model workers, young volunteers, and many other people who are ready to help others or to take on a just cause, and who are honest, trustworthy, filial, or dedicated to their work. The power of role models is infinite. You should take them as examples in pursuing virtues. Confucius said, “When we see men of virtue, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should examine ourselves.”

——心有榜样，就是要学习英雄人物、先进人物、美好事物，在学习中养成好的思想品德追求。我国历史上有很多少年英雄的故事，在中国共产党领导人民进行的革命、建设、改革事业中也涌现了大批少年英雄，他们中不少人的名字同学们可能都听说过。过去电影《红孩子》、《小兵张嘎》、《鸡毛信》、《英雄小八路》、《草原英雄小姐妹》等说的就是一些少年英雄的故事。今天，好儿童、好少年就更多了。你们学校也有被评为“最美少年”的。另外，各行各业都有很多值得我们学习的榜样，包括航天英雄、奥运冠军、大科学家、劳动模范、青年志愿者，还有那些助人为乐、见义勇为、诚实守信、敬业奉献、孝老爱亲的好人，等等。榜样的力量是无穷的。大家要把他们立为心中的标杆，向他们看齐，像他们那样追求美好的思想品德。这就是孔子讲的：“见贤思齐焉，见不贤而内自省也。”

Third, starting from childhood means that children need to start with themselves, and make every possible effort to cultivate good morality. “A young idler, an old beggar.” And “a journey of one thousand miles begins with the first step.” Everyone's life consists of small matters. Starting with small virtues, you can nurture great virtues. Being young, you may not be able to do as many things for our society as adults do. But you can start from minor things. You can ask yourself everyday: Do I love my country? Do I love my school? Do I study hard? Do I care about my classmates? Do I respect my teachers? Do I honor my parents? Do I conform to social morality? Do I admire good people and good deeds? Do I feel angry at bad people and bad things? The more you think, the more you will urge yourself to act; the more you act, the more virtues you will acquire. I heard that some students like to compete with each other in food, clothes or parents' jobs, and some even take pride in having cars to take them to school and then back home. Such competition makes them stray from the correct path. You should never vie with each other in these matters. “A hard life breeds great talents, whereas an easy life is not the way to cultivate great men.” “Work hard when young, and you will have a future; time flies, and you should not slacken your efforts.” However, you can compete with each other as to who is more ambitious, who works harder, who loves work more, who loves physical training more or who is more caring.

——从小做起，就是要从自己做起、从身边做起、从小事做起，一点一滴积累，养成好思想、好品德。“少壮不努力，老大徒伤悲。”千里之行，始于足下。每个人的生活都是由一件件小事组成的，养小德才能成大德。少年儿童不可能像大人那样为社会做很多事，但可以从小做起，每天都可以想一想，对祖国热爱吗？对集体热爱吗？学习努力吗？对同学们关心吗？对老师尊敬吗？在家孝敬父母吗？在社会上遵守社会公德吗？对好人好事有敬佩感吗？对坏人坏事有义愤感吗？这样多想一想，就会促使自己多做一做，日积月累，自己身上的好思想、好品德就会越来越多了。听说有的同学喜欢比吃穿，比有没有车接车送，比爸爸妈妈是干什么工作的，这样就比偏了。一定不能比这些。“自古雄才多磨难，从来纨绔少伟男”、“少年辛苦终身事，莫向光阴惰寸功”。要比就比谁更有志气、谁更勤奋学习、谁更热爱劳动、谁更爱锻炼身体、谁更有爱心。

Fourth, accepting help means that children need to accept both suggestions and criticisms, and grow up in a good environment where you correct your mistakes and make yourself a better person. No one is flawless. We make progress by overcoming shortcomings and correcting mistakes. As the saying goes , “A jade uncut will not be a useful vessel; a man without learning will not know the way.” At your age, you children are establishing a world view, an outlook on life and values, and you need help. Don't complain that parents talk too much, that teachers are too strict, or that classmates are overreaching. Think about whether they are right, or if they are doing so for your good. If they are, you should accept their admonitions.

——接受帮助，就是要听得进意见，受得了批评，在知错就改、越改越好的氛围中健康成长。一个人不可能十全十美，总是在克服缺点、纠正错误的过程中进步的，正所谓“玉不琢，不成器；人不学，不知义”。少年儿童正在形成世界观、人生观、价值观的过程中，需要得到帮助。不要嫌父母说得多，不要嫌老师管得严，不要嫌同学们管得宽，首先要想想说得管得对不对、是不是为自己好，对了就要听。

信息来源：《从小积极培育和践行社会主义核心价值观》，出自《习近平谈治国理政》第一卷

文字整理人：陈慧敏

送审人：李响林、翟洁

审核人：唐琳、张景新