My 7-year-old son likes board games so he makes me play them with him as his sisters will generally not play board games with or without him. With the upcoming presidential election, I thought it might be a good way to explain our United States slightly convoluted election process to him.
Games for Kids About Presidential Election
The most daunting thing for me is to figure out the rules of any new game. The Presidential Game does not make it easy because the rules are not that clear. Can you arbitrarily choose to get votes versus raising money ?! Another frustration was trying to keep all the electoral votes, as symbolized with small plastic disks, on the board within the state. Our setup was on a bed and it wasn’t perfectly flat so the disks kept sliding out of their spots.
Still, we liked the game. We liked tracking our electoral votes online at The Presidential Game website. We liked the cards that rewarded or punished based on what would happen in real life during a campaign from scandals to successful fundraising events.
We actually liked the vagueness of the rules. With just the two of us, we could bend them at will to speed the game up in time for bedtime.
Who is the audience for this game? This is a great game for teachers who use board games in the classroom! Homeschooling kids would also enjoy this if they had an election unit. Families that like to discuss politics at home around the dinner table would have a blast chortling over the scenarios in the cards and perhaps injecting real-life stories from campaigns past and present.
Me? I’m not very politically inclined though I do make it a point to vote. My husband was a Political Science major so this is right up his alley and he should be the one to play this game to teach voting to kids. He’d love it and they would too!
To purchase or check out, you’ll need to go to their site. It’s $35 and recommended for ages 11 and up.
9 Great Picture Books about Elections
Vote for Me by Ben Clanton
If you like Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willen, then you’ll like this book with Donkey and Elephant who duke it out, election style, as they campaign. They stoop to mudslinging (as do our presidential elections!), bribery, and familial connections to try to win votes. Who wins? Well, you’ll just have to read the story! Finally, an election picture book that both amuses and shows how childish candidates can be, both in picture books and in real life!
Duck for President by Doreen Cronin
Charismatic Duck from Click, Clack, Moo is back with a bid to win the presidency but he finds that it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. I don’t blame him. We think this book is so funny and it does give young kids a good understanding of what it takes to win elections.
The Ballot Box Battle by Emily Arnold McCully
It wasn’t that long ago when women in the United States were not allowed to vote, and Cordelia learned a little from her neighbor, the great suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton. As Stanton shares her story of how she was treated when she fought for the right to vote for women, Cordelia is inspired to an act of courage as well.
Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio
If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier
If you ran for president, you would have to do a lot of hard work. You would study the nation’s problems, tell the American people about your platform, select a running mate, and debate your opponents on live television.
Vote! by Eileen Christelow
In a presidential election year, when selecting a new leader will be the focus of national attention, what could be more timely than an upbeat and informative introduction to voting? Eileen Christelow’s Vote! is now available in a special paperback edition at a bargain price, to give even more young readers the chance to understand the process.
Parties, voter registration, campaigns, rallies, debates, Election Day, even a recount . . . all are clearly presented in a graphic format as the story of a local election unfolds, with hilarious commentary by the candidates’ pets.
Choosing our own government is one of our most cherished rights. This book is the perfect guide to how our democracy works.
See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House by Susan E. Goodman
Presidential elections are big news — in the media, in classrooms, in Iowa and New Hampshire! But do you really know how the whole process works? For the home, for the classroom, for kids and adults, this is the one book every reader (and future voter) should have to understand our country’s most important decision-making process.
My Teacher for President by Kay Winters
Just in time for election season, a nomination teachers and students alike will endorse.
Oliver has been learning about the president’s job, and his teacher would be the perfect candidate. She loves white houses, she’s used to being followed everywhere, she attends lots of meetings, she finds jobs for people, and she believes in peace. Images of Oliver’s teacher depicted during a typical school day are contrasted with scenes of his heroine carrying out presidential duties.
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I think Duck for President is more my speed than the game, but I can def. see how it would be a great choice for the classroom. Still, I love that you can buy board games for just about every topic to help kids learn.
Hi Artchoo,
Duck for President is one of our favorite books too! No need to play the game until your kiddos want to learn about the election process!
What a great idea for a post! We’re Canadian, but I have an American Presidents puzzle and my kids love it!. We also have a collection of American President trivia cards. Thanks for the book recommendations as well – my kids will probably enjoy some of these.
Hi Ruth,
I’m so glad you liked the book list! I’m hoping my kids get into the USA presidential election this fall by reading a few of these books and following the campaigns a little.
Duck would make a great president! Great timely finds, Pragmatic Mom!
Hi Ann,
I love Duck for President! He is such a great character! Are your kids interested in the upcoming election at all?
ya know, i can see the teens and i enjoying and learning from this board game. i make sure to vote too, but i really don’t know enough about the whole system to fill a shoebox.
so confusing.
thanks girl.
love these books too!
Hi Vanita,
Are your girls interested in the election? Who are they rooting for? Our electoral system is confusing!
this year we’re just hoping the worst candidate doesn’t win. Vanessa watched the debate the night before and she was just so upset. She said “we’re doomed mom”
Hi Vanita,
The debate might have a big impact on the election as it’s so closely contested but deeper wallets have the edge. I guess now is the time to donate money or volunteer on behalf of the candidate you believe in.
As The Presidential Game also illustrates, it’s public gaffes and performances and well as the ability to raise money that determines the winner of an election. I hope the worst candidate loses as well!