The Preschool Presidential Election

It was the 2012 Presidential Election at Pilgrim Community Preschool and we really had a great time.  (Although trying to help children understand what "democracy" means is really too big of  a concept at this age ... but it was still pretty fun.)  We started by making a real preschool voter registration card complete with a picture and signature and talked about the candidates just a little bit.  (Of course this was really too big of a concept also...but is was still pretty fun.)  Then we made a line at the voting booth and told our precinct manager the important things on our voter registration card to verify our name, address and birthday.  Then we voted by dropping a picture of our favorite candidate into the really cute voting box.  It was pretty cool.  And we even earned a sticker for voting.  (All just like the real voting process, right?)  Of course one of our children asked the question, "why can't we earn a piece of candy for voting instead of a sticker?"  And being the true open minded individual that I am responded by saying "I don't know that sounds like a great idea."  So maybe we should think about this for future elections because it seems these days that "a prize" seems to solicit a better response for some adults in the United States, rather than the sense of pride of exercising an individual voice in the choice for the Office of President of the United States of America.  (Okay enough of my soap box.)  Well all of the four year old students voted and at the end of the day, we re-elected Barack Obama with 20 votes to 15 votes for Mitt Romney.  I think it was a great way to expose our students to the election process and many are very excited at the idea of going to vote with parents tomorrow.  We also spent some time talking about why you do not share who you voted for with your friends and tried to understand what it means when we say that is "private."  Of course it is totally appropriate to talk to parents about our choices, but friends are not always so understanding.  (Again a pretty big concept for a four year old.)  I think next year we might vote for our favorite meal...hamburger or hot dog.  I think that may make way more sense than your favorite candidate for public office.  I know it does for me...but that would be a tough choice because I do love a hamburger and a hot dog. What a dilemma this would be?