The Importance of Civics Education in Preschools

In a sun-filled Virginia preschool classroom, a different kind of balloting was taking place as lawmakers voted on a budget deal at the U.S. Capitol. The adorable students at the ACCA Child Development Center were busy deciding which animated dog from “PAW Patrol” was their favorite character. The final showdown was between Chase, the brave police German shepherd, and Skye, the compassionate pup with a pink “pup pack.” After an intense voting session, it was a tie: five votes for each character.

At just 3 and 4 years old, these children were engaging in a civics exercise that aimed to teach them valuable lessons about decision-making and social interaction. ACCA is one of many preschools across the country incorporating civics education into their curriculum to foster good citizenship and strengthen the foundation of democracy from an early age.

While these youngsters may not fully grasp the intricacies of government processes, they are learning essential skills like problem-solving, empathy, and conflict resolution. These are qualities that are often overlooked in today’s political landscape marred by division and negativity.

“We’re all here to help develop these children to become better citizens … to be better problem-solvers and to be better equipped socially, emotionally,” said Mary Folks, a teacher at the school. “Because once they have a handle on that, I feel like things they accomplish and things they do will have a better impact on this world.”

Engaging with toddlers in ways that make them feel their voice matters is important groundwork, said Rachel Robertson, the chief academic officer for Bright Horizons, which embraces democratic ideals in its early education approach.

At ACCA, children are given autonomy to explore their interests, make choices, and participate in democratic processes like voting on study topics and snack preferences. This empowers them and reinforces the idea that their opinions are valued.

María-Isabel Ballivian, the preschool’s executive director, emphasized the importance of instilling a sense of belonging and resilience in children from diverse backgrounds. She believes that by teaching children these foundational values, we can prepare them for a better future.

As the students at ACCA celebrated Skye’s victory in the “PAW Patrol” election, it was evident that the seeds of civic engagement had been planted in these young minds, setting them on a path towards becoming thoughtful, empathetic, and responsible members of society.