Strollerderby
Strollerderby Playdate: Do Toddlers Belong in the Voting Booth?
Sure, there have already been some pretty important primaries and caucuses, blah, blah. But even if you didn’t vote yesterday, you have to admit: Super Tuesday felt pretty important and somewhat all-consuming. So it feels appropriate to call a playdate with our favorite parents ‘n’ politics blogs.
Political Nanny started an election scrapbook (without the cutsie baby bottle and paci embellishments you might find among your civilian scrappers). There are baby pictures and a roundup of the candidates’ more interesting kids. She keeps you posted on every tear Hillary sheds and some of the more interesting (questionably relevant) endorsements.
MomMania tackles a question I hope you will also answer in the comments: whether to take kids into the voting booth with you. Did you drag your unpredictable toddler to this teachable moment?
PunditMom has a bit to say about these elections too.
What about you? Who are you inviting to the political parents’ Strollerderby Playdate? Drop your favorite personal political blogs’ url in the comments.
Photo: Salt Lake Tribune
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12 Comments
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI’m planning on taking my 13 month old (who will then be 14 months old and hopefully walking a few steps) into the voting booth with me and I plan on getting someone to take a few pictures. The last time a voted, it was a senate election and things weren’t very busy at all. This time may be different, because I am in a different area and it will be the primaries in PA which everyone here is considering a big deal since the candidates are running neck and neck, we all have the mentality that we may be the state that determines who will run for president. I come from a very political family so being as this is the first primary that I can vote in and the first time my daughter will be able come with me to the voting booth, it will be a big deal in our house.
TheNewsJunkie commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amBookmama, I always wondered about people with kids in caucus states. That’s great you took your baby! But Erin … now I get it. More than one and they walk? You have to hire a sitter (or stay home). That seems unfair.
Thanks for the comments, everybody! I’m all about taking the kids, too.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amEasy answer on kids in the voting booth — Hell, YES!
SrndptyGddss commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amWe took our nine-week-old to the polls with us to this monumental election. We wanted to create a memory and start the learning early. I asked Z who I should vote for, and he watched as drew the line to my candidate. The poll workers gave him an “I Voted” sticker, and we have a cute picture for his baby book. So, yes, I suppose children do have a place at the polls.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI have always taken my kids with me to vote in the past. But now that Kansas has a caucus, it wasn’t really an option. I couldn’t very well stand in a line in the snow and then in a hot gym for 2 hrs with three young kids. So only my husband voted.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI don’t have a political blog, but I wasn’t above dragging my son to the polling place and voting yesterday and blogging about it. It was quick and easy and sets good habits!
bookmama commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amWe have caucuses in Colorado, and our 10 month old was along last night for the entire 3 hours. She was really a trooper! Of course, take the kids. My mom always took me.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI let my 4-year-old daughter pull the lever.
mnijtnc commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amMy kids come with us. At 4 and 2, they don’t understand what it’s about, but they know it’s important. Plus, if we go at a time when it’s not that busy, the sweet old ladies who serve as election judges in our district will help keep an eye on them if they get bored watching me punch my card.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amI’ve always taken my kids. They have waited in hour long lines and sat on their hands when I thought they were going to mess up the touch screen.
I also take lollipops with me to keep them busy if there is a long line. My experience is that lollipops will make anything worthwhile.
Anonymous commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amMy daughter has gone with me to vote every single election since she was born–just the way my mother did with me. There is no more important civic duty than voting and being politically aware, and I can’t think of a better way to teach kids that lesson than by example.
RachelZ commented on Jan 01 70 at 12:00 amWhy not take your kid with you? What’s the alternative, leaving them out there unsupervised? How long does a normal person spend in the booth anyhow? If you are standing there trying to decide, that’s a bit late, I think.
It takes 30 seconds to vote. I don’t think the question of whether or not to take your kid in the booth with you is an earth-shattering one.
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