Greetings to all from Randolph County! November is upon us, and Election Day 2022 is right around the corner on Tuesday, November 8. When I go to the polls to cast my ballot, I love seeing children accompanying their parents, grandparents or other adults. There are plenty of opportunities for teachable moments while standing in those lines, chatting with the candidates, talking about how elections oftentimes are won or lost by very close margins and observing others who take civic responsibility seriously. Of course, throughout all the weeks and months leading up to Election Day, there are even more opportunities to speak with our young ones about American democracy and the absolute importance of an engaged citizenry.
In contemporary times, political division has become one of our country’s most polarizing issues—so much so that the word “politics” often evokes feelings of uncertainty, angst and even disgust. Most people agree that the American political system is far from perfect. Most of us know that the American democracy isn’t equally democratic for all—yet. I am a big, big, big believer that to achieve a more just and equitable society, including a more democratic democracy, our best hopes are our children.
In my work within the early childhood sector, we know that helping young children acquire a critical consciousness and true self-awareness are key in sustaining and perfecting the American democracy. Participatory democracy is founded on the recognition that every person is a person in their own right, and there are no age requirements. Rich, dynamic, inclusive opportunities—whether in childcare programs or in our homes and families—for children and adults to work together as equal and competent partners provide chances for children to participate.
For young children to participate in a participatory democracy, there are endless opportunities beyond accompanying their adults at the polls. Here are a few suggestions that resonate with me (adapted from tips found at KinderCare.com):
Illustrate the Concept of Voting. Enact friendly family votes around what to make for dinner, what game to play or what book to read.
Share Your Beliefs. Talk about the things that are important to you and your family. Decisions made in political elections—from environmental protection to affordable education and job creation—will impact your children as they grow.
Teach Respectful Disagreement. Be civil even if the politicians aren’t. It’s extremely important that we teach our children that it’s okay and even good for people to have differing opinions—on everything from what’s our favorite food or game to play to how to manage our governments. We adults can model and help our children practice listening to other ideas with respect.
Reassure Them. During election season, media stories about hard-to-understand issues may cause children concern. One of the best tactics to alleviate worry is to focus on kid-sized solutions. For example, if children are concerned about people being healthy and cared for, give them opportunities to help in ways that are understandable and immediate like, “We can help people stay healthy by sneezing into our elbows,” or “We can help people feel cared for by using kind words and offering to be a friend.”
Generate Excitement Around Elections. Whether you vote by mail or in person, show your children the ballot (most states have sample ballots online) and even help them create their own. You can set up a little voting booth and make them an “I Voted” sticker or button/badge for after they’ve cast their vote.
Use Math to Explain Election Results. Represent the election results of a particular campaign with a jar of bottle caps, crayons or other household objects. Start with 100 objects and then divide them into two (or three, if there is an Independent candidate) jars to represent the percentage of vote each candidate received. Use words like more and fewer with younger children. Older children may want to help you count or write numbers on cards to label the jar for each candidate.
Point Out Signs of Election Season. There are lots of clues an election is near, including bumper stickers, election signs, television commercials and even campaign phone calls that sometimes interrupt dinner. Point out these concrete examples of election season and encourage your child to notice them as well. After all, these signals encourage us to learn about the candidates and remind us to vote.
Of course, one of the easiest and most fun and engaging ways to help young children think about what it means to participate in the American democracy is to sit down together and share a good book. Here are just a few titles that caught my eye:
Lisa Hayworth is Randolph County’s Rootle Ambassador and a firm believer in the power of education. She has devoted much of her professional life and nonprofit career thus far to making education more accessible, equitable and enriching. Setting people up for educational success is a driving force for Hayworth, who has served since 2015 as the Executive Director for the Randolph County Partnership for Children.