Methodological Guidance for Conducting Ideological and Political Education of Children

Children are the future of the motherland and the hope of the Chinese nation. Ideological and political education is an important pathway for guiding children to solidify their ideals and convictions and to shape correct values. At this year’s National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “We must persist in advancing the construction of ideological and political courses and the theoretical innovation of the Party in tandem, ensuring that ideological and political courses and curriculum-based ideological and political education move in the same direction, effectively integrating the ‘small classroom’ of ideological and political education with the ‘big classroom’ of society, and making moral education work more thorough and effective.” To conduct ideological and political education for children well, we must adhere to scientific methods, adapt to the age and characteristics of children, and transform abstract content requirements into concrete actions.

少年儿童是祖国的未来，是中华民族的希望。思想政治教育是引领少年儿童筑牢理想信念、塑造正确价值观的重要途径。在今年全国两会上，习近平总书记指出：“要坚持思政课建设和党的创新理论武装同步推进、思政课程和课程思政同向同行，把思政教育‘小课堂’和社会‘大课堂’有效融合起来，把德育工作做得更到位、更有效。”做好少年儿童的思想政治教育，必须坚持科学的方法，适应少年儿童的年龄和特点，将抽象内容要求转化为具体行动。

General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the ideological and political education of children. In 2014, while participating in the celebration of International Children’s Day at the Minzu Primary School in Haidian District, Beijing, he put forward the “sixteen-character” requirement for children to cultivate and practice the core socialist values, namely: “Remember the requirements, have role models in mind, start from small things, and accept help.” [1]1 The “sixteen-character” requirement (记住要求、心有榜样、从小做起、接受帮助) was proposed by Xi Jinping in 2014 as a methodological guide for children to internalize and practice the core socialist values. This provides methodological guidance for our work on children’s ideological and political education. Contemporary Chinese children are the future force for advancing the great cause of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation. We must firmly grasp the “sixteen-character” requirement proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, persist in educating people for the Party and nurturing talent for the country, and guide hundreds of millions of children to be ready at all times to realize the great cause of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation.

习近平总书记高度重视少年儿童思想政治教育，2014年在参加北京市海淀区民族小学庆祝“六一”国际儿童节活动时就提出了少年儿童培育和践行社会主义核心价值观的“十六字”要求，即“记住要求、心有榜样、从小做起、接受帮助”，为我们做好少年儿童思想政治教育提供了方法论指引。当代中国少年儿童是推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的未来生力军。我们必须牢牢把握习近平总书记提出的“十六字”要求，坚持为党育人、为国育才，教育引导亿万少年儿童为实现强国建设、民族复兴伟业时刻准备着。

It manifests the educational concept of the unity of knowledge and action. Ideological and political education differs significantly from knowledge education; it does not merely impart theoretical knowledge but aims at the unity of knowledge and action, requiring the educated to deeply understand and identify with the thoughts, concepts, and value systems contained in the education, and to actively practice them in daily life and study. Knowledge is the beginning of action; “remember the requirements” is the basic requirement for “knowledge.” Only by educating and guiding children to memorize and recite the basic content of the core socialist values can it enter the mind and heart, laying the ideological foundation for practicing the core socialist values. “Have role models in mind” provides concrete practical references and a source of motivation for the unity of knowledge and action. The excellent qualities displayed by role models can stimulate children’s strong desire to imitate and practice, transforming “knowledge” into “action,” and in the process of practice, they constantly compare and reflect based on their own actual circumstances, further deepening their understanding of “knowledge.” Action is the completion of knowledge; “start from small things” is a specific guide for “action,” encouraging children to put “knowledge” into “action,” and through bit-by-bit practice and reflection on every move, cultivate good thoughts and good character. “Accept help” plays an indispensable auxiliary and driving role in the process of the unity of knowledge and action. In the process of practicing the core socialist values, children will inevitably encounter various difficulties and doubts. At this time, suggestions and guidance from teachers and parents can help children better transform cognition into practical action, achieving an effective connection from “knowledge” to “action.”

彰显知行合一的教育理念。思想政治教育与知识教育有着重要区别，它并非单纯传授理论知识，而是以知行合一为目标，要求教育对象深刻理解并认同教育所蕴含的思想、观念与价值体系，并在日常生活学习中积极践行。知是行之始，“记住要求”是对“知”的基础要求。只有教育引导少年儿童把社会主义核心价值观基本内容熟记熟背，才能入脑入心，奠定践行社会主义核心价值观的思想基础。“心有榜样”为知行合一提供了具体的实践参照和动力源泉。榜样所展现出的优秀品质，能够激发起少年儿童模仿、实践的强烈欲望，使“知”转化为“行”，并且在实践过程中根据自身实际情况不断比较和思考，进一步深化对“知”的理解。行是知之成，“从小做起”是对“行”的具体指引，是鼓励少年儿童将“知”付之于“行”，并在一点一滴的实践中、在一举一动的反思里养成好思想、好品德。“接受帮助”在“知行合一”过程中起到不可或缺的辅助和推动作用。少年儿童在践行社会主义核心价值观的过程中，难免会遇到各种各样的困难和疑惑。这时，来自老师、家长的建议和指导能使少年儿童更好地将认知转化为实际行动，实现从“知”到“行”的有效衔接。

It grasps the laws of children’s ideological and cognitive development. Children have diverse growth backgrounds, differentiated cognitive characteristics, and dynamically developing psychological and behavioral laws, which place higher demands on children’s ideological and political education. Only by following the epistemological law of “practice—cognition—re-practice—re-cognition,” through the cyclical process of “educational practice—cognitive deepening—improved practice—cognitive sublimation,” can we educate and guide children to transform the seeds of the core socialist values from initial perception into conscious action. “Remember the requirements” emphasizes internalizing theoretical norms in the mind, but it does not require rote memorization; rather, it combines them with real life, integrating them into specific practical activities such as daily learning, life, and interpersonal interactions, making them behavioral norms and judgment standards. “Have role models in mind” emphasizes the concrete, emotional, and scenario-based demonstration effect of role models; by establishing advanced models with excellent qualities and exemplary behavior, it guides children to achieve the unity of internalization and externalization of ideological and moral character. “Start from small things” emphasizes respecting the laws of children’s physical and mental development and the laws of education and teaching, guiding children to achieve qualitative change through the quantitative accumulation of every small good deed and every minor action that follows the requirements, gradually forming good behavioral habits and moral qualities, thereby effectively solving the problem of disconnection between theory and practice in traditional ideological and political education. “Accept help” emphasizes enabling children to solve common and individual problems in practicing the core socialist values by accepting help from others, thereby solidifying children’s faith in the core socialist values.

把握少年儿童的思想认识发展规律。少年儿童具有多元化的成长背景、差异化的认知特征和动态发展的心理行为规律，这对少年儿童思想政治教育提出了更高要求。只有遵循“实践—认识—再实践—再认识”的认识论规律，通过“教育实践—认知深化—改进实践—认知升华”的循环往复过程，才能教育引导少年儿童将社会主义核心价值观的种子从初步感知转化为自觉行动。“记住要求”强调将理论层面的规范内化于心，但并非要求死记硬背，而是将其与实际生活相结合，融入日常学习、生活、人际交往等具体实践活动中，使其成为行为规范、判断标准；“心有榜样”强调通过榜样这种具象化、情感化、场景化的示范作用，通过树立具有优秀品质和模范行为的先进典型，引导少年儿童实现思想品德内化与外化的统一；“从小做起”强调尊重少年儿童身心发展规律和教育教学规律，引导少年儿童在每一个小小的善举、每一次遵循要求的微小行动的量变中实现质变，逐渐形成良好的行为习惯和道德品质，从而有效破解传统思政教育中理论与实践脱节的难题；“接受帮助”强调让少年儿童通过接受来自他人的帮助，解决践行社会主义核心价值观中的共性与个性问题，树牢少年儿童对社会主义核心价值观的信仰。

It follows the teaching principle of teaching students according to their aptitude. From the perspective of the Marxist worldview and methodology, the four aspects of “remember the requirements, have role models in mind, start from small things, and accept help” are closely linked. They not only comprehensively and profoundly reflect how to promote children’s ideological and moral growth and all-round development in a scientific way based on following objective laws, but also directly embody the combination of serious reasoning and cordial instruction, representing a high degree of unity of educational methods, educational principles, and the art of language. Children are young and have limited social experience; they often find it difficult to deeply understand profound, serious big principles and grand narratives. To thoroughly explain the principles, we must teach according to their aptitude, pay attention to educational strategies, use the charm of language, take story weaving and analogy enlightenment as bridges, adopt an entertaining and guiding approach, and explain those profound and difficult principles to children in a simple and clear way, thereby enhancing the appeal and effectiveness of values education, making the knowledge of the core socialist values “come alive,” transforming it into a vivid, perceptible, and life-close existence, and making it better understood and practiced by children.

遵循因材施教的教学原则。从马克思主义的世界观和方法论看，“记住要求、心有榜样、从小做起、接受帮助”这4个方面紧密相连，既全面深刻反映如何在遵循客观规律的基础上，以科学方式推动少年儿童的思想道德成长和全面发展，又直接体现了严肃说理与亲切说教的结合，是教育方法、教育原则以及语言艺术的高度统一。少年儿童年龄尚小、社会阅历不多，对于深奥的、严肃的大道理和宏大叙事往往难以深入理解。为了把道理说透，必须因材施教，讲究教育策略，借助语言的魅力，以故事编织和类比启迪为桥梁，采用寓教于乐的引导方式，把那些高深难懂的道理用简单明白的方式说给少年儿童听，提高价值观教育的吸引力和实效性，使社会主义核心价值观知识“活”起来，转变为鲜活、可感、贴近生活的存在，更好地被少年儿童理解和践行。

It promptly responds to the contemporary issues of values education. While specifically elaborating on the “sixteen-character” requirement, General Secretary Xi Jinping also profoundly pointed out some prominent problems in the current values learning of children. For example, regarding some children who like to compare who wears better clothes, who has a car to pick them up and drop them off, or what their parents do for a living, he pointed out that “this kind of comparison is misguided” and “compare who is more ambitious, who studies harder, who loves labor more, who exercises more, and who is more caring.” Regarding the phenomenon of some children being self-centered, not listening to the advice of parents and teachers, and acting willfully, he pointed out: “Children are in the process of forming their worldview, outlook on life, and values, and they need help. Don’t dislike your parents for talking too much, don’t dislike your teachers for being strict, don’t dislike your classmates for being nosy. First, think about whether what they say is right and whether it is for your own good. If it is right, you should listen.” [2]2 These remarks by Xi Jinping were made during his 2014 visit to Minzu Primary School, addressing specific behavioral issues among children to guide values education. These important statements are highly targeted; they not only promptly respond to problems in children’s growth but also point the direction for doing a good job in ideological and political education. They help guide children to focus their attention on those who truly possess excellent qualities and can represent correct values, gradually form and consolidate correct values, and truly transform their cognition, emotions, and will regarding the core socialist values into daily behavioral methods and habits.

及时回应价值观教育的时代问题。习近平总书记在具体阐述“十六字”要求的同时，也深刻指出了当前少年儿童价值观学习中的一些突出问题。比如，针对部分少年儿童喜欢比吃穿、比有没有车接车送、比爸爸妈妈是干什么工作的，指出“这样就比偏了”“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”；针对部分少年儿童身上存在以自我为中心的现象，听不进家长和老师的劝导，一意孤行等，指出“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”；等等。这些重要论述具有很强的针对性，既及时回应了少年儿童成长中的问题，又为做好思想政治教育工作指明了方向，有利于引导少年儿童将目光投向那些真正具有优秀品质、能够代表正确价值观的人物身上，逐步形成和巩固正确的价值观，真正把对社会主义核心价值观的认知、情感、意志转化为日常的行为方式和习惯。

In summary, the “sixteen-character” requirement of “remember the requirements, have role models in mind, start from small things, and accept help” is easy to understand, concise, and contains rich and profound methodological connotations. Over the past decade or more, the education system has taken this “sixteen-character” requirement as guidance, promoting children’s ideological and political education to achieve tangible results. The main channel role of courses has been continuously strengthened, the exemplary and leading role of the teacher team has been continuously exerted, the practical education system has been continuously improved, and a good social atmosphere for cultivating and practicing the core socialist values has been formed. At the same time, it must be recognized that in the information age, children’s self-awareness is continuously strengthening, and their channels for obtaining information are increasingly rich. This not only highlights the growth vitality of the new generation empowered by technology but also continuously poses new requirements and challenges for ideological and political education. Under the new circumstances, we must firmly grasp the “sixteen-character” requirement, under the leadership of the Party, rely closely on and extensively mobilize forces from all sides, create favorable conditions for the healthy growth of children, guide the vast number of children to cultivate beautiful hearts and set lofty aspirations, and grow up to become useful people for the construction of the motherland.

总之，“记住要求、心有榜样、从小做起、接受帮助”，这“十六字”要求通俗易懂、言简意赅，蕴含丰富深刻的方法论内涵。10多年来，教育系统以这“十六字”要求为指引，推动少年儿童思想政治教育取得明显实效，课程的主渠道作用不断强化，教师队伍的榜样示范引领作用不断发挥，实践育人体系不断完善，形成了全社会培育和践行社会主义核心价值观的良好氛围。同时需要看到，信息化时代，少年儿童自我意识不断增强，获取信息渠道日益丰富，既彰显了技术赋能下新生代的成长活力，也对思想政治教育不断提出新要求新挑战。新形势下，我们要牢牢把握“十六字”要求，在党的领导下，紧紧依靠和广泛发动各方面力量，为少年儿童茁壮成长创造有利条件，引导广大少年儿童培育美好心灵、树立远大志向，长大后成为对祖国建设有用的人。

(The author is Secretary of the Party Committee of the China National Academy of Educational Sciences)

（作者为中国教育科学研究院党委书记）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心