Raising kids who vote


Dictator for a Day

Message: In a democracy, you have the right to vote.

How to play:

  1. Explain the concept of a dictatorship, like North Korea, to your kids.
  2. Choose one person in the family to be Dictator for a Day.
  3. The dictator gets to make all of the important decisions that day. If she wants ice cream, she gets it. If she wants others to get none, it's her call. Bedtime, dinner, snacks, books-the Dictator decides.

It's especially effective to play Dictator for a Day after you've already done the Mock Ballot game. When your kids have experienced both sides-having their say and having no say at all-it's not hard for them to figure out that they're lucky to have a vote and to want to exercise it.

