Involving Kids in the US Presidential Elections

Deciding how to vote can be challenging enough without trying to explain the complicated process to kids. Luckily, the Internet provides a wealth of information for kids on the democratic process, the presidential election and the candidates.

One of my favorite sites for kids is Nickelodeon's Kids Pick the President. The site has brief biographies on the candidates for president and vice president. It also has basics on the election process and a message board where kids can have their own debate. If your kids are excited about the election, they can watch "Kids Pick the President" on Nickelodeon on Sunday, October 12 at 9pm. They can then visit Kids Pick the President online to vote. Results will be announced on October 20.

Educational site, BrainPop, also has informational videos on the presidential election, democracy, voting, political parties and more. There are also quizzes, worksheets and fun activities. This site is a great resource for homeschoolers.

Many people in the United States take the right to vote for granted. PBS Kids.org has an area called the Democracy Project. One of the sections is an interactive "time machine" that allows kids to look into the past to see when various groups got the right to vote. This site also has some high-quality learning activities geared towards kids in grades 3-6.

If your kids are older, they may already understand the election process. Help them remain engaged in US politics by directing them to a website such as iVote. This site is geared towards high school and college students in Georgia, but is relevant to students nationwide. There is also the popular Rock the Vote website, which can help young people register and also find their local polling station.

Building civic responsibility is a tasks that really falls on parents. If your children see you engaged in the election process, they will want to be involved, too. For parents who have questions about the election process, PresidentialElection.com is a great non-partisan resource. And why not take your kids with you when you go to vote? Take Your Kids 2 Vote explains why this is important and how you can join the movement.

Make sure your voice is heard, and help your children learn to make their voices heard as well.

This blog post is a part of the October All About Parenting Blog Carnival. For information on future blog carnivals, visit our blog carnival information page.