Denise Yearian

Start simple. Talk about leaders and authority figures in your home and community. Discuss what responsibility is. Show your child pictures of those in the political spotlight and discuss what form of leadership he/she holds or is campaigning for.

Reason with relevance. Talk about how government affects your child’s life right now through everyday things—regulations on items they use or money needed for places they frequent—parks and libraries.

Lean on literature. Use juvenile literature such as biographies and historical and fiction works as a springboard for discussions and to hone their understanding of governmental affairs. America Votes: How Our President is Elected by Linda Granfield.

Hail to the Chief: The American Presidency by Don Robb, If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier. So You Want to Be President by Judith St. George and

Vote! by Eileen Christelow.

Worthwhile websites. Political and civic-oriented websites designed for children have information and activities to teach kids about government and current affairs. www.whitehousekids.gov, www.pbskids.org, www.cnn.com/studentnews

Network with the news. Watch news and political debates and read the newspaper aloud then discuss it together.

Challenge to change. Teach your child that when things happen he has the ability to affect change. Identify neighborhood problems, such as a littered park, and talk about what he can do to change it.

Rally with letter writing. Encourage your child to write letters to local, state and national politicians about issues of concern. Children usually receive a letter in return.

Make a mock. Encourage school and extracurricular groups to organize mock elections and hold mini debates as this introduces political concepts.

Design day trips. Take trips to state and national historical and governmental sites. If possible, make prior arrangements to meet with representatives. Have your child make a list of questions to ask officials before leaving home.

Practice at the polls. Take your child with you to vote. This will familiarize him with voting processes.

Value volunteering. Participate in community family volunteer opportunities throughout the year and during campaign time. Parents and children can help with neighborhood mailings, drop off literature, distribute buttons or put up campaign signs.

Early election encounters. Encourage your child to run for school or class office. This will give him a jump start on leadership roles and is a tangible way to teach him about the campaigning process.

Be consistent. Studies show that parents who regularly discuss political issues with their kids have a better chance of raising politically-minded children.

Mentor and model. Let your child see you reading the newspaper, watching the news, being active in civic volunteering and voting. Unspoken modeling has a lasting effect.

Denise Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children.