Teaching Kids About Voting: Ideas and Resources

Our country is living a busy election year. As parents, we need to teach our kids why voting is important and how every vote impacts our present and future. Children are the next electorate and we can help them to become voters, too.

Let me share a few ideas and resources to teach kids about voting.

Discuss It

Children may be exposed to hear or see something related to the elections. This is why it is a great idea to talk about it with them. Despite your personal side, take the political situation as an opportunity to discuss voting as the right and the privilege that we have to choose our leaders and how people in some countries are not able to do so.

Use Resources

Books are my favorite resources to teach new concepts. Plus, books are fun and engaging! Here are my favorite ones about voting:

Today On Election Day by Catherine Stier

If I Ran For President by Catherine Stier

Vote! by Eileen Christelow

Amelia Bedelia’s First Vote by Herman Parish

Grace For President by Kelly DiPucchio

Duck For President by Doreen Cronin

There are also great educational websites that can help you to teach your kids about the presidential candidates, how the federal government works, how the electoral college works and the history of voting.

Involve Them

A week ago, I brought my seven-year old and four-year old to a family voting program sponsored by NC MomsRising and Kids Voting USA. My kids had fun pretending to vote. It is interesting how easily they can grasp the idea of what voting is when they are involved in election related activities or events.

If you don’t have the opportunity to attend such events, you can plan your own activities at home. Simple examples to illustrate the idea:

Play having a vote between the members of the family about something that will have a significant effect on the family.
Make a countdown until election day.
Write letters to your favorite candidate.

Teach By Example

I was born and raised in Ecuador where voting is mandatory and everyone that is eligible is required to vote. This inspired me to look forward to also vote in the future. Despite the fact that voting is optional in the United States, I hope my children look forward to having their voices heard. The best thing that I can do to make sure that they see their vote as a right, duty and privilege is taking them when I vote. I know that teaching by example is the best resource to raise future voters.