We are less than 24 hours away from the 2020 Election, and it's safe to say that the majority of us are consumed by the news.
But what about children? What do they make of all this? Where do they stand? If you'd like your kids to get a taste of politics—and all of its ups and downs—check out the resources below. Sure your little ones might not be able to vote for some time, but that doesn't mean they can't get involved.
New York Public Library
In honor of the upcoming election, the NYPL has released a 2020 Election Reading List for three age groups: children, teens and adults. The selections focus on voter issues such as climate change, foreign policy and healthcare, among others.
Kids' selections include Around America to Win the Vote by Mara Rockliff, Dreamers by Yuyi Morales and Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson. Teen picks feature Displacement by Kiku Hughes, Dissenter on the Bench: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Life & Work by Victoria Ortiz and It's Getting Hot in Here by Bridget Heos.
Scholastic
The children's book publisher doesn't miss a trick: From lesson plans for teachers, to book lists for students and discussion guides, Scholastic offers a plethora of guidance for kids about how our democracy works. These resources are best for students in elementary and middle school.
The Children's Museum of Manhattan
If you have time for a quick museum visit this week, check out CMOM's new "Right to Vote" exhibit for those 2 and up. It commemorates the centennial of women’s suffrage and, of course, the 2020 election. It intends to emphasizes the importance of working for the greater good, listening to others' opinions and thoughtful decision making.
PBS Learning Media: The Election Collection
A comprehensive list of videos, articles, lesson plans and other materials from the PBS Election Collection will help students learn about the current election, the history of our country's political system and how voter rights have changed over time.
Best for those in grades six and up, The Election Collection also encourages tweens and teens to take a proactive look at what's happening in the country by submitting videos to the KQED Youth Media Challenge: Let's Talk About Election 2020 and exploring the Electoral Decoder to predict how races of years' past will affect the 2020 results.
Kiddle
The kid-friendly search engine shares encyclopedia facts that provide insight into the political process. Expect background info, statistics and newsy tidbits on Kiddle.
Teaching Tolerance
Teaching Tolerance provides complimentary resources to all grade levels in order to promote a diverse democracy. Visit the Digital Literacy page to help steer kids towards reliable sources as they work to formulate their own opinions.
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