Beltway Bambinos

It’s Election Day! Hopefully you already voted or plan to vote today. We’ve got a few ways to get your Bambinos involved in the day!

Make a poll at home—
It can be as simple as everyone votes for their favorite dinner or ice cream flavor and then you celebrate by eating the winning flavor. You can create a ballot box using a shoebox or even a tupperware container. Or you could hop on the bandwagon and create a fun ‘would you rather’ questionnaire.

Map it—
Older kids can start watching election night news to see how the electoral college works in action and color the states red or blue. Print this map or use a blank interactive one.

Songs & performances—
Some popular songs include PBS Kids, Sesame Street and Hip Hop Harry. You can watch a virtual performance of TheaterWorks USA’s children’s musical We the People: America Rocks! It was recently filmed without an audience at the Paper Mill Playhouse. The show follows American’s Founding Fathers as they help a teen win her school election.

Crafts—
Make posters to hang around the house while twirling red, white and blue crepe paper around banisters. Bambinos can spend the day crafting and recipe making with the help of The Week Junior. Of course there are many delicious recipes you can make and ideas runneth over on Pinterest.

Since my kids are off school, I will have some printable activities for them as well as some books they can read about voting and elections.

Print—
Election day ABC order worksheet
Election day for kids
Election day word searches and more

Books—
I voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference
Sofia Valdez, Future Prez
V is for Voting
If I were President
Splat the Cat for President

Games—
Election Night
Monopoly: House Divided

Eat—
Many restaurants and bakeries offer fun election day deals.