Kids Vote at the Discovery Center

Kids vote every Election Day at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center.

Kids Vote at the Discovery Center

Every election is an opportunity for adults to shape their communities. At the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, it’s also an opportunity for children to begin understanding how democracy works through the power of play.

This fall, the Discovery Center is introducing its first-ever pop-up exhibit dedicated entirely to voting and elections. While the museum has welcomed child voters on Election Day for years, this expanded experience gives families much more to explore. The exhibit, inside the Hall of Bright Ideas, helps children and families explore the voting process. Through hands-on activities, stories, and a realistic polling place, kids can discover what elections are, who makes decisions in our communities, how votes are counted, and why every vote matters.

Why do kids vote at the Discovery Center? Because playing pretend, or dramatic play, has significant educational and social benefits for children. Pretend voters can explore new interests and roles, plus develop early math concepts by counting, comparing quantities and communicating results.

Beyond the educational benefits, educating children about voting helps encourage lifelong voting habits and civic participation. The Discovery Center polling station includes age-appropriate voter education materials, including books families can read to learn more about voting, government, and history.

Election Resources for FamiliesExhibit Books

Election Resources for Families

A special thank you to the Shawnee County Election Office for sharing their expertise and helping ensure our exhibit accurately reflects the real voting process in our community. The exhibit is included with museum admission and will be open when early voting begins in Shawnee County until Election Day.

Kids Voting USA
Resources for parents and educators organizing voting events for children.
Visit Kids Vote USA

Let’s Vote! Talking to Children About Voting from PBS Kids
A great collection of voting activities and videos for families.
Visit Let’s Vote from PBS Kids

KSVotes.org Online Voter Registration Service
Check your voter registration status or polling place.
Visit KSVotes.org

Shawnee County Election Office
Visit www.snco.gov/election/

Exhibit Books

Board Books

This Little Voter by Little Bee Books by Ann Bonwill, illustrated by Carol Herring
Go Vote, Baby! by Nancy Lambert, illustrated by Brandon Dorman

Voting Rights History

Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America by Deborah Diesen, illustrated by Magdalena Mora
Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Shane W. Evans

Kansas Voting Rights History

A Vote for Susanna: The First Woman Mayor by Karen M. Greenwald, illustrated by Sian James
Farmers Unite!: Planting a Protest for Fair Prices by Lindsay H. Metcalf illustrated by Jaime Kim

Civic Engagement and Voting

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez / Sofía Valdez, presidenta tal vez by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type / Clic, Clac, Muu: Vacas Escritoras by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Monster Needs Your Vote by Paul Czajak, illustrated by Wendy Grieb
Vote for Our Future! by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Micah Player
Leo’s First Vote! / ¡El primer voto de Leo! by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Isabel Roxas
Learn Along Bingo for Ages 2-5: Let’s Vote, a free, printable activity packet from PBS Kids