How to Raise an Activist
Over the past few years, I admit that there have been times when I threw up my hands and said, “Our kids need to fix the mess we’ve made for them. They already seem to be more capable than we ever were. ” Of course, I would prefer we had a better understanding of things like gun control, climate change and human rights violations before we hand over the world to them. But to be honest, they will probably have to climb several major ecological and political mountains in their lifetime.
It is no longer enough to just take them with you to vote and recognize this as a degree of civic duty (although, yes, we also need to continue to do so). We must educate them not just to take care of them, but to put that concern into practice.
“I think teenagers today are braver and less shy than I was as a child, and I think they are more aware of their strength in the world, their ability to make changes,” says Suzanne Daniel in response to questions about her new book Girl Activist , co-written by her with Louise Camps and Michelle Wildgen. “I think they care less about what other people think and care more about race, hunger, human rights and environmental issues than we do.”
Books like Girl Activist are a good start; written for children as young as nine, it describes a diverse group of women lawyers, from Susan B. Anthony and Rosa Parks to newcomers like Madison Stewart and Yara Shahidi. It is clearly geared towards girls, but its lessons can – and should – inspire boys too. Shannon Watts , founder of Moms Demand Action , wrote an introduction to Girl Activist , giving readers tips on how to get started:
Think about the problems that give you goosebumps, cry, or touch your soul in some way. Then do some research. How is the problem solved? How can you help? Can you join existing groups already working on an issue, or do you need to create your own? What skills do you have to help solve the problem? (By the way, if you can call or send an email, you have the skills!)
Help them choose a problem
Activists are not about participating in one protest or volunteering at one garbage collection event in a local park. Activism is a long game; often it has more to do with improvement and progress towards a goal (baby steps) than with a quick decision. This is why it is good to encourage your child to pick one problem that they are deeply concerned about or with in some way.
This does not mean that they should choose their life passion at the age of 12. But narrowing their interests down to focusing on one problem can keep them from being overwhelmed and burned out. And the skills they develop through their childhood activity will later serve them as professionals and activists, regardless of whether they continue to champion this particular cause or not.
Show them examples
Children don’t just want to see what adults can and did. They want to see how other children like them have influenced the situation. Search for stories of child activists and share them with your children for inspiration.
Meghan Markle could be a duchess now, but she was once an 11-year-old feminist fighting for gender equality, an issue she continued to actively champion into adulthood:
The Complex has a large roster of child activists aged six and over who tackle all sorts of issues, from education to climate change and children’s rights.
Encourage direct participation
Activism is about small steps, but it is also about a physical phenomenon. Donating toys to your local childcare agency’s holiday party is great. Actually going to the toy store with social workers and then handing out gifts to the kids at the party is even better.
Children – and adults, for that matter – feel more connected to a problem when they interact with those affected. This is the fuel for the fight. It is also helpful to find other like-minded activists of their age in the community, school, or online groups who can help them feel like they have allies in this endeavor.
Join them
Show them that what is important to them is important to you. Purchase the tablets they need to get around the neighborhood, help decorate the protest signs, open your living room (and stock it with snacks) for a planning meeting they have with their fellow activists.
If you take them seriously, they will take themselves seriously. And then maybe they can really fix some of the mess we left them.
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