A Good Child at Home
FoundationLearn from Huang Xiang and Kong Rong, do your own things, share the housework, understand your family, and say your love aloud.
- Do your own things yourself, and share the simple housework.
- Huang Xiang and Kong Rong show filial love and courtesy.
- Get along with family by understanding and helping one another.
文體小知識：文化知識說明文把美德故事講給你聽。這一篇學孔融讓梨和黃香扇枕溫衾，做個家中的好孩子。
§Text Passage
1Everyone has a role at home: parents work and care for us. Though we are small, we too have duties — being a good child at home. Put away your own toys after play; help set the table before meals; pack your own schoolbag after school; water the plants and fold the clothes. Sharing the housework is a way of loving our home.
2The Chinese people have long treasured the virtue of loving and honouring parents, told in touching stories. In the Eastern Han dynasty, nine-year-old Huang Xiang, on hot summer nights, fanned his father's pillow and mat cool before inviting him to sleep; on cold winter nights he slipped into the quilt first and warmed it with his own body. This is the story of Fanning the Pillow and Warming the Quilt.
3Another story is Kong Rong Gives Up the Pears. At four, when sharing pears, Kong Rong kept the smallest for himself and gave the bigger ones to his elder brothers. Asked why, he said: I am the youngest, so I should take the small one; the big ones are for my brothers. His young courtesy has been a model for children for a thousand years.
4Getting along means understanding one another: when Daddy comes home tired from overtime, we play quietly; when Mummy cooks, we say thank you; when brothers and sisters argue, we yield to each other like Kong Rong. Say your love aloud: goodbye when leaving, goodnight before sleep, a hug and I love you. Filial love need not wait until we grow up — we can begin today!
1Summary 重點摘要
Learn from Huang Xiang and Kong Rong, do your own things, share the housework, understand your family, and say your love aloud.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Loving, respecting and caring for parents and elders.
Daily work at home, such as sweeping and washing dishes.
What we should do ourselves, such as tidying our toys.
Understanding others' tiredness and difficulties.
To give the better share to others without minding.
Remembering others' kindness and saying thanks.
Each does a part so the work is done together.
A good quality worth learning, such as filial love and courtesy.
The part or duty one holds at home.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Know your role at homeHome is a team, and every member has a role. Parents go out to work, earn the family's living and care for our daily needs. As members of the family, we have roles too: to learn happily, and to share the housework we can manage. Some think, I am still small; housework is for adults. In fact a child's jobs can be very simple: tidying toys, setting the table, feeding the fish and watering the plants. They all serve the family, and they warm our parents' hearts.
- Step 2: Do your own things yourselfThe first lesson of a good child is self-care: fold your quilt after getting up; put toys back after play; put dirty clothes in the basket; pack your schoolbag and tidy your desk for homework. Small as they seem, these jobs lighten our parents' load and build our sense of responsibility. Try making a self-care checklist for your door and tick off each job; count them after a week and see how capable you are — self-care is easier than you thought.
- Step 3: Help with simple houseworkBesides self-care, share the housework and work in partnership with the family: set the table and carry dishes before meals; clear the table and sweep after; help fold clothes and wipe the table; water the flowers and feed the fish. Be safe while working: carry hot soup only with an adult, sweep and wipe slowly, and never touch the stove or power sockets. After the chores, listen to your parents' praise and feel sweet inside — I can care for this home too, and I have grown.
- Step 4: Learn the stories of filial virtueChinese culture keeps many stories of filial love worth learning. Huang Xiang at nine fanned the pillow and mat cool in summer and warmed the quilt with his body in winter. Kong Rong at four gave up the bigger pears to his brothers. They were hardly older than we are, yet they knew to give comfort to elders and good things to brothers. After hearing the stories, think: what small thing can I do for my family today? A cup of water for Daddy working late — a little Huang Xiang already.
- Step 5: Understand one another at homeFamily members grow tired and worried too, so we must learn to understand. When Daddy comes home late from overtime, do not fuss for play; when Mummy is in a bad mood, quietly do your own things and bring her a cup of water; when brothers and sisters fight over toys, yield first, like Kong Rong. Sometimes we upset our family too: listen humbly when corrected, and say sorry when wrong. A family that understands has fewer quarrels and more laughter, and everyone feels loved — home is the warmest place on earth.
- Step 6: Express love and gratitudeLove must be spoken for the family to know it. Every day we can: greet the family good morning when we rise; say Daddy, Mummy, goodbye when leaving for school; say I am home when we return; after dinner say Thank you, Mummy, for cooking; say goodnight before bed and give the family a hug. On Father's Day, Mother's Day and grandparents' birthdays, draw a thank-you card with your own words. One small sentence, one hug, one card warms the family more than any gift.
5Worked example Example
Example: Mummy has a bad cold and is resting in bed; Daddy will not be home until evening. As a member of the family, name five things you can do.
- One: play quietly — read or draw — and let Mummy rest.
- Two: bring a cup of warm water and, with an adult checking, her medicine to her bedside, saying Get well soon, Mummy.
- Three: pack your schoolbag and lay out tomorrow's uniform yourself, so she need not worry.
- Four: help with simple chores — tidy the toys, wipe the table.
- Five: tell Daddy how Mummy is when he comes home; hug Mummy and say I love you.
- Answer: When Mummy is ill, a good child can play quietly, bring her water and care, manage his own schoolbag and uniform, help with simple chores, and work with Daddy to look after her, showing love with hugs and words. Understanding and sharing — that is the best filial love.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Who is the story of Fanning the Pillow and Warming the Quilt about?
Q2Which pear did Kong Rong keep for himself?
Q3What can you help with before dinner?
Q4What should you do when Daddy comes home tired?
Q5How do you show love and thanks to your family?
8Recap Recap
- Do your own things yourself, and share the simple housework.
- Huang Xiang and Kong Rong show filial love and courtesy.
- Get along with family by understanding and helping one another.
- Say your love aloud: greetings, thanks and hugs.
- Filial love need not wait — begin today.