Civic Involvement: A Family Affair

 

Parents, grandparents, and guardians:  you are the most important influence on your children’s future civic involvement and voting.  There is a lot you can do to nurture a sense of civic responsibility and engagement in your children. Also, be sure to visit our links page for other valuable education and civics resources.

 

10 Things  Families Can Do to Get Ready for the 2008 Election

 

  1. Read the newspaper, blogs, and other in-depth new sources with your child.

  2. Do talk politics at the dinner table.

Find out what issues are important to your kids and what they think we should be doing about them.

 

  1. Research the candidates and issues.parent quote

 

  1. Volunteer together.  Adopting and running a Kids Voting polling site on Nov. 4 is a great parent/child experience while the kids are out of school.  The rest of the year, the Volunteer Center of Durham (www.thevolunteercenter.org) has family-focused opportunities.

  2. Write a letter to the editor, post to a blog, or upload a video to YouTube.  Share your opinions on important community issues and start a conversation with others.

 

  1. Share your thoughts with an elected official.  Write a family letter, call, or send an email to a local official, a Congressperson or Senator, and the President and let them know what you want for your community.

  2. Download the Kids Voting Family Guide voting at Kids Voting’s Family Guide/Guía Familiar.  This bilingual guide has fun and meaningful activities for parents or other relatives and children to do together.

 

  1. Set an example.  Stay informed about current issues, educate yourself about how our government works, be active in your community, and be open to genuine dialogue about our community’s challenges and promises. 

  2. Read books to your child that promote civic involvement and good citizenship.  You can find a list of age-appropriate non-fiction and fiction books at www.kidsvotingdurham.org.

 

  1. VOTE November 4th! – and take your child with you when you do.  Not only can your kids get in the habit of voting by participating in Kids Voting at your precinct, but studies show that kids whose parents vote regularly will grow up to be active and informed voters themselves.parent quote

Kids Voting offers voting sites for kids at the majority of adult precincts on Election Day.  The program is based at Durham County Cooperative Extension and also provides year-round civics education and youth involvement for Durham’s young people.  Call Carolyn Kreuger at 560-7321 for more information or to volunteer.

 

 

Kids Voting Durham is a project of the Durham Cooperative Extension
and an affiliate of [Kids Voting North Carolina] and [Kids Voting USA]