Why I Bring My Kids to Vote with Me

And, when we’re old enough, we can vote for those we want representing us. No one wakes up on their 18th birthday automatically knowing how to participate in democracy. We have to teach it. More importantly, we have to model it. Our kids watch how we treat people, how we respond to problems, and how we care for our communities. They watch how we participate, too. 

Let me be clear: this doesn’t mean telling our children what to think or whom they should someday vote for. In fact, I want the opposite for my kids. I want them to grow into people who ask questions, seek out reliable information, listen to others, and reach their own conclusions. 

When they exchange their “future voter” stickers for “I voted,” I hope that, in addition to being momentous and exciting, the experience also feels familiar. I hope they know how to find reliable information. I hope they ask questions. And I hope they understand that they don’t have to agree with me—or anyone else—about every issue.