How much do your kids know about government? A September 2016 Washington Post article discussed how many Americans are unfamiliar with how our government works. For example, one survey found that only a quarter of citizens could name all three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial—in case you were wondering). This is unfortunate since research shows that we are happier when we build relationships and open up with others in our community.
Benefits Of Civic Engagement
There is a clear link between social connection and happiness, when we interact with our neighbors on issues that impact our lives we can experience a greater sense of connection to those we otherwise would not have met. Experts have found that civic involvement helps us build personal connections. When we participate in social action, community service, and political groups, we increase personal satisfaction as we engage with others on issues of mutual interest. These activities also involve participating in the decision-making process, which has been found to boost our happiness. Finally, we feel happier when we help others less fortunate than ourselves.
The largest survey on American civic engagement, involving 30,000 people, from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, revealed that quality of life and happiness are highest in communities where residents are more socially connected. Results showed that civic engagement predicted the quality of community life and residents’ happiness better than education or income. The survey also showed that if other individuals in a community had higher civic engagement, the whole community was happier overall.
The connection between community involvement and happiness for children and teens has also been evaluated. According to youth.gov, youth who volunteer are more likely to feel connected to their communities, do better in school, and are less likely to engage in risky behavior. In fact, students who performed voluntary community service were 19 percent more likely to graduate from college.
Some suggestions:
Our children will spend some time in school learning about American history and government, but you can enhance their experience from a young age by doing the following:
- Read books about American politics and government based on their age and interests.
- Discuss who you will be voting for and why. Show them a ballot and have them be present when you fill yours out.
- Watch movies and documentaries about history and government.
- Volunteer together as a family to instill community service values.
- Encourage them to join the student government or debate team at school.
- Bring them to a political event or rally.
- Learn together online using resources like iCivics, Kids in the House and Kids.gov
Sandi Schwartz is a writer and blogger. You can find her work at www.sandischwartz.com.