This summer the presidential election race began heating up as the candidates have traveled around the country raising money and leaving some interesting, if not downright controversial, sound-bytes in their wake.  But don't dismiss these early rumblings as the simply the inconsequential opening act before the big show next November.  Instead, recognize it for the incredible teaching opportunity it affords us all.

As we head into Election '08, momready will be serving up a myriad of activities designed to not only teach, but also involve your whole family in the democratic process.  Our first article will be published next week, but in the meantime we'd love to hear how your family takes part in the presidential election process (click on the Comment link at the end of the article).

Whether you are a Democrat or Republican isn't the issue here.  It's about a year long teaching movement where we can all help our children learn about democracy, getting out the vote, and teaching our kids to stand up for what they believe in.

By involving our kids in the democratic process, they learn to not just stand by and let their world happen to them.  They will see first hand that they can make a difference.  Who knows, by the time they reach voting age maybe the percentage of American's voting in the Presidential election can be raised from the apathetic 63% where it currently stands.  

Now that is bi-partisanship we can all stand up for.

©2007 photo istockphoto.com/Stefan Klein