I’m not afraid to admit it—I’m a civics junkie. Back in 8th grade, one of our assignments was to memorize the Preamble to the Constitution. Thanks to a little help from Schoolhouse Rock, I was the first to nail it. Ever since, I’ve been fascinated by the inner workings of our government. But what I love even more is making sure kids understand how our government works too.
After the last presidential election, my passion for helping children and families become active citizens only grew stronger. Kids learn best from the people they’re closest to, and family is at the top of that list. As adults, we’re role models for the children in our lives. They need to see us participating as citizens—whether it’s taking them to the voting booth or writing letters to our Representatives and Senators with them. Introducing children to civics at an early age will help ensure they continue to engage with and value our civic system as they grow.
But voting and letter-writing aren’t the only ways families can engage in civic education together. I’ve always wondered what else parents and kids can do to further their civic knowledge. That’s when I came across iCivics, a company I follow, which is gearing up to launch an initiative called Democracy at Play. iCivics provides free, nonpartisan civic education games, lessons, and resources. Founded in 2009 by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, iCivics was born from a simple yet powerful vision: “To cultivate a new generation of students for thoughtful and active citizenship. Civic knowledge is a prerequisite for civic participation.”
I was immediately drawn to iCivics’ philosophy but had some reservations about the whole “educational games” aspect. Before endorsing the initiative, I wanted to ensure I was fully aligned with the company’s mission. While I’m not typically a fan of tech-based learning games, I decided to give them a try. An hour and a half later, I was still completely engrossed. These games don’t just focus on memorizing facts—they encourage players to apply what they’ve learned. In education, it’s not just about knowing the facts but about teaching in a way that allows students to actively apply their knowledge to their daily lives. iCivics games seamlessly blend civics knowledge with real-world application in a fun, interactive, and engaging online environment. I can see a lot of potential for these games and resources to be integrated into both schools and homes. I’m even more excited now for the launch of their Democracy at Play initiative!
Democracy at Play is more than just an initiative; it’s a civic challenge for families. Through this campaign, iCivics is encouraging families to talk with their children about civics and politics. Politics touch so many aspects of children’s lives, and it’s crucial for them to know they have a voice! To support families in this effort, iCivics has developed four games, family discussion questions (available in English and Spanish), a downloadable Bingo Game (also in English and Spanish), and a coloring activity book for elementary school kids. The best part? It’s all FREE! iCivics is funded by the generous donations of organizations and individuals who believe in the importance of civic engagement.
Democracy at Play will be launching soon, so keep an eye on their website and Twitter feed for updates. I hope this information helps you bring civic education and engagement to the young children in your lives!
This post is an edited version of an original blog post I previously published.
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