As the local TV commercials and your mailbox contents have probably informed you, there’s a big election coming up. This is a milestone election year for our family, as our oldest child is now 18 years old and will be voting for the first time. It may seem like your kids are too young to understand civic engagement and elections, however, there are ways to lay the groundwork for them to become responsible and informed voters.
Vote:
The most meaningful way that you can raise a voter is to be a voter yourself. Research shows that kids are more likely to become voters if their parents (specifically their mom) are voters. Whether it’s watching you fill out and submit your mail-in ballot or standing next to you at the ballot box — as our kids have done throughout the years.— involve your kids.
October 11 is the last day for Oklahoma citizens to register to vote in the 2024 General Election. If you haven’t registered yet, there are several ways that you can do so.
- Online: Oklahoma Voter Registration
- By Mail: Print a copy of the Voter Registration Form to fill out and mail to your county election board before October 11. You can also get a form at your local tag agency, post office or library.
- In Person: Find your County Election Board location and go to their offices during business hours.
Observe:
Oxford defines “observe” as “to notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant.” Encourage your family to observe their community. What do they observe about their school? Their neighborhood? Their favorite places to visit? When you take notice of what is all around you, you realize the things that are significant to you.
Serving our community is important to our family. For several years, our family spent time volunteering at the local client-choice food bank. Seeing kids their own ages selecting food items with their families helped my kids realize that there are kids who don’t have enough food in their homes. This realization is something they can consider when they themselves are able to vote.
Talk:
My husband and I have had age-appropriate conversations often with our kids about issues that affect them, our family and our communities. As our kids have gotten older the conversations have become more consequential. For example: our recent family conversations about social media have informed my husband and I about issues that we didn’t face when we were their age. Talking to one another can give you and your family a different perspective that can influence you as you vote.
Educate:
Now, more than ever, we have access to an unlimited supply of information literally at the tips of our fingertips. The plus: we have resources to educate ourselves about our community, nation and world. The minus: unreliable sources are plentiful, making it harder and harder to distinguish truth from, well, fake news. Look for reliable sources to educate your family about the issues that matter most to each of you. Here are a few resources to get you started.
- Common Sense Media has a great list of kid-friendly and non-partisan news sources
- Common Sense Education provides tips for helping kids learn how to spot fake news and become critical thinkers.
- Additional tips in this MetroFamily Magazine blog.
When it comes to election cycles, the message that our kids have heard and will always hear from us is that who you vote for at the end of the day isn’t anyone’s business, but that you vote is what matters. How does your family approach elections?
Christina Mushi-Brunt is a former professor turned freelance writer and public health research consultant. Christina, her husband and their three kids reside in Moore, where she is active in the education community.
