Book Project: How to Raise a Citizen
Nurturing Tomorrow’s Leaders: A Parent’s Guide to Instilling Civic Responsibility
A few years ago, amidst the hustle and bustle of raising my eight-year-old daughter, nicknamed “Bunny”, a realization struck me. Despite having read countless parenting books on many topics, from sleep training to fostering reading skills, I found a glaring gap in the literary world — a comprehensive guide on nurturing active, engaged citizens for a flourishing democracy.
Now, 8 year olds are a long way away from being able to do things like vote, but in my working life I spend my days with 18–22 year olds. These students can vote — but like my daughter, they likely grew up in households where their parents also had no instruction on how to teach them to be citizens. I wrote last week about how our institutions play a big game of hot potato on who is meant to teach civics to our kids. Understanding this undeniable reality I’ve set out to work on how more parents and children can be equipped with the power to participate fully in our democracy.
As a professor of political science and a mom deeply entrenched in the world of civic affairs, I took it upon myself to fill this void.
I’m on a sabbatical from teaching this year and plan to use the time to spread the message in all the ways I know how to, writing, recording, and conversation. I embarked on a journey to craft a narrative that serves as a beacon for parents navigating the intricate world of politics with their children. This work should culminate in a book, and along the way I’ll have a set of these sorts of shorter posts to share. This book project is an attempt to foster a generation that embraces citizenship and a well-rooted understanding of the democratic fabric that holds our society together.
Bridging the Gap in Political Conversations
As I took to writing this book, the realization dawned upon me that while resources abound for nurturing athletes or scholars, the sphere of cultivating young citizens remains decently under-explored. This is a concern for me — especially in today’s polarized environment where politics can sometimes seem like a battleground (though I maintain it really doens’t have to feel that way).
In this project, I aim to offer insights and strategies to initiate political conversations within families. Through these dialogues, not only can we bolster the critical thinking abilities of our children but also foster a climate of understanding and empathy, essential elements in the nurturing of responsible citizens — and healing our politics.
A Change in Perspective
Politics doesn’t have to be the horror show that it often appears to be. As I have experienced in my professional journey, it can indeed be a domain of positive change, insights, and collaboration. Through this project, I aspire to lend parents and their children lens to view politics, one that is grounded in knowledge and patience for a process of ongoing development.
In my interaction with students, I have often witnessed a gap in political understanding and civic engagement. These bright minds, on the cusp of full adulthood, often find themselves at a loss when it comes to deciphering the intricate maze of politics and government functioning. And not only are they lost, in feeling adrift they become turned off by the whole system.
Of course, it is never too late to turn things around. As parents we hold the potential to steer our collective political discourse in a positive direction. It is up to us to take up the charge of nurturing informed, responsible citizens for the future.
In a world that seems increasingly fragmented, it is necessary to cultivate points of unity and understanding. This project seeks to guide parents in nurturing children who are not bound by partisan lines but are, instead, informed and engaged citizens, understanding the rules of the political game, rather than deciding which team to play for.
A Roadmap for the Project
In taking this on, I do not mean to add to the ever-growing list of parenting responsibilities — that list already seems so large! Instead, I want to be a parent ally, aiding families in ways to foster an on-going, open dialogue with children about the nuances of politics and governance.
I firmly believe it is time we moved away from the misguided notions that we do better parenting when we try to fully shield our children from the complex realities of the world. Let us embrace the responsibility of raising informed, resilient individuals who can navigate the political landscape with awareness. After all, our efforts today can sow the seeds for a robust, vibrant democracy of tomorrow.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. I’m really looking forward to doing my part in paving a path for future generations that embody the spirit of democracy, who wear the badge of informed citizenship with pride and responsibility.
