Regardless of what our own political affiliation or inclinations may be, our children may need to learn more about national elections and why voting is so important. When children are very young, we often hear that parents are their first and most important teachers. This is actually true for many, many years.
We know that parents shape their children’s world view and that this view can last a lifetime.
Civics is a course in high school that has been left out of most school curricula for decades. Today, it is up to parents and grandparents to tackle this vital part of every child and teenagers education.
Why do we vote? Who does the President represent? Who do the Congress and Senators represent? How often do we vote for these elected officials? What sort of decisions do they make and how do those decisions affect us?
Why do you choose to vote and how do you decide which candidates to vote for?
Talk with your children about elections and why they matter. Answer their questions and be proud to be a citizen of a country where votes matter.
The following resources from PBS contain helpful and fun information:
https://www.pbs.org/parents/lets-vote
https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/9-picture-books-about-voting-and-elections