We’re a matter of weeks away from what may arguably be one of the biggest presidential elections of our lifetimes—Election Day is on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. As adults, we know that voting is a right and a privilege for all Americans and it’s the best way to make our voices heard, but do your kids know that too?

Even though any child under the age of 18 can't yet cast their vote, as parents, we can (and should!) teach them about democracy, about standing up for our beliefs, and about this historical election specifically (and, by the way, we’re not just voting for president, but also for 468 seats in the US congress, among other important positions). As of the time of this writing, the Trump vs. Harris presidential polls are tight, and it’s really anyone’s race.

Here are 5 ways to supplement your kids’ current events lessons in social studies to make sure they’re informed future voters as the first Tuesday of November approaches:

Introduce grade-level reading materials.

Whether they’re 5, 10, or 15 years away from casting their own vote, it’s important for our kiddos to understand the election basics, such as branches of the U.S. government and how the electoral college works, depending on grade level. And hey, maybe even a little professional and personal background on both our 2024 Republican and Democratic candidates would be helpful trivia too. Google around or ask your child’s teacher for some free online resources that help explain all this and more to kids; we suggest Everbright Kids’ Guide to the Presidential Election for the younger set, or, for more established learners, the downloadable Race to the Ballot Guidebook by ourwhitehouse.org. Your library will likely have some helpful books too about elections in general, but not about the Harris vs. Trump race specifically.

Try election-related print-outs and crafts.

Sometimes you don’t even need books to explain; simple crafts and printable activities can help get the points across, especially with the younger set. Brightly, a brand that encourages little ones to read, curated these helpful voting and election activities for kids, including presidential Mad Libs, word searches, and coloring pages. Alternatively, try these artsy election activities from Moms Rising, which include flag crafts, campaign poster print-outs, and prompts to get your child thinking about what they’d do as president to enact change in our country.

Explain key issues in age-appropriate ways.

Granted, your little one might not need to know where Harris and Trump each stand on abortion, climate control, or immigration reform (though these are among the key issues for young adult voters). But some issues are relevant to their lives and could directly affect their futures, such as gun control, childcare regulations, and the economy. Start by asking your kids what they know about each topic, then fill in the gaps in a way that makes sense for their age.

Take kids with you to cast your vote.

Many schools around the country are closed on Election Day (and some, including my son’s public school, are used as local voting sites), so why not take your kids to the polls with you? Children are allowed at polling sites in all 50 states, and may even be permitted to pull the lever, push the button, or help feed your ballot into the machine (you can check specific polling place restrictions for accompanied minors in your state at VOTE411.org). Bonus: On the way out, your kid may even get a “future voter” sticker, and that's a pretty cool souvenir!

If you’re voting by mail instead, have your child watch you fill out your paper ballot and then accompany you to drop it off at the post office. And if you’re a girl mom, take this opportunity to give your daughter(s) a brief history lesson on the women’s suffrage movement—a great excuse for a Mary Poppins rewatch if I’ve ever heard one.

Supplement with educational election videos.

For the visual learners in your family, educational YouTube videos (not election misinformation on TikTok, please!) can help drive home some important info about the election and what’s at stake. For example, pick and choose topics of interest from OOPA’s World of Words Election Collection playlist, where each clip explains a different term such as “democracy” and “leader,” or watch the Kids Academy voting series, with chapters about the voting process and why it’s important.

PS: Stay tuned to our upcoming Starglow newsletters for even more Election Day content and resources for kids!

How are you teaching your kid about the election?

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