Digital Smarts - The PBS Website on the Election for Kids 6 to 8

The Presidential election could be tough to talk about with early elementary kids because much of it will probably go over their heads, but that doesn’t mean they are not interested in what is going on. PBS KIDS has launched a website called PBS KIDS YOU CHOOSE to teach kids ages 6 to 8 about the Presidential election process in an entertaining and fun way, reminding them that even though they are unable to vote, their voice still matters. The site allows kids to “Meet the candidates” and learn fun and important facts about them, as well as collect trading cards of past presidents and their spouses. There are also videos featuring favorite PBS KIDS characters and new role models discussing democracy, elections, and other government related topics.

Older children from middle and high school (and grownups too) can turn to PBS LearningMedia’s new interactive Electoral Decoder, a scrubbable timeline of Presidential elections. Kids can run different scenarios to see what states a candidate must win in order to achieve to the key number of 270 electoral votes. The best part is that it is free and accessible to all. These recent additions to the larger PBS ELECTION CENTRAL initiative gets entire families and kids of all ages to be involved in the Presidential elections.