OK, little world-changers – who is ready to DO? We’re big believers that you’re never too young to start changing our world for the better…but where to begin…?
Find a Picture Book to Inspire Activism
Note: We prefer to shop locally or use what we have at home, but this list contains Woodpeckers Crafts, Etsy, Blick Art Materials, Bookshop.org and/or Amazon affiliate links for reference. As affiliates (and Amazon Associates), we make a small commission on qualifying purchases.*
- Woke Baby by Mahogany L. Browne
- No!: My First Book of Protest by Julie Merberg
- A is For Activist, Counting on Community, and M is for Movement by Innosanto Nagara
- We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders by Harry Belafonte
- Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman
- A Voice Like Yours by Frank Murphy and April Groman
- Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights by Rob Sanders
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
- The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi
- Hey, Wall: A Story of Art & Community by Susan Verde
- I Walk with Vanessa: A Picture Book Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët
- The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad
- Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor
- Kid Activists: True Tales of Childhood from Champions of Change by Robin Stevenson
12 Hands-On Ways to Get Kids Involved in Creating Positive Change
1. Take Part in a Community Cleanup
Grab those garbage bags and gloves! Find or organize a park, beach, or neighborhood cleanup event kids can participate in (or spearhead themselves with a little help).
This teaches respect for the environment and community pride (and is also a great way to enjoy a little outdoor time together).
2. Gather Trash for a Recycled Art-Making Party
Teach kids about recycling and reducing waste by turning trash into treasure. Using items like old magazines, plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, or fabric scraps, kids can create unique crafts and artwork.
This can be a fun way to talk about the importance of reducing waste and finding creative ways to give items a second life.
3. Put Everything to a Vote!
Did you know that we have a HUGE free printable voting kit to help your kids learn about our democratic voting process?
Better yet, the full post includes lots of resources to help teach your kids about how we vote and why it’s such an important outlet for using our voices to create change.
4. Write Letters to Local Reps
Ever wanted to tell the mayor what’s what? Here’s your chance! Pen a letter to your local representative about that hole in the playground slide. Let’s get that thing fixed before we find Narnia!
Seriously though, encouraging kids to write letters to their local representatives about issues they care about is a great way to help them understand the democratic process and the power of their voices.
5. Bake Something for Charity
Encourage your kids to embrace their inner Duff Goldman, Tabitha Brown, Ina Garten, or Molly Yeh and make or bake something delicious to raise a bit of dough for a cause they love (pardon the puns).
The process of baking, selling, and donating the proceeds can teach them valuable lessons about entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and the power of small actions to create big change.
6. Start a Banned Book Kids Book Club
Start a book club where children read books about social issues, then discuss them. Select books that tackle issues like diversity, inequality, environmentalism, etc. Need somewhere to begin? Check out our banned book kids reading challenges with resources and free printables to help you get an *extra* exciting club going.
These discussions can help children to think critically, develop empathy for different experiences, and understand the world around them more deeply.
7. Start a Neighborhood Garden
Kids can learn how to plant, care for, and harvest various types of plants. They can also learn about the importance of bees and other pollinators, composting, and how food grows – and maybe even donate some of the produce to local food banks. This experience can foster a deeper connection with nature and the food we eat.
8. Make Posters or Protest Art
Kids can research the cause they care about and then express their understanding and passion through art. This activity encourages creativity and communication skills, as well as an understanding of how to raise awareness and influence others.
9. March!
10. Volunteer at an Animal Shelter
Feel like being a superhero for a day? Volunteer! Whether you’re saving puppies or serving up soup, every little bit helps.
Whether it’s bo supplies to give away, serving meals, planting trees, walking a dog, or raking leaves for axin older neighbor, volunteering can provide kids with a sense of purpose and connection to their community and can foster empathy for others, as well as gratitude for what they have.
11. Organize a Toy Swap
Got a closet full of clothes you don’t wear and toys you don’t play with? Let’s swap ’em! One kid’s forgotten teddy bear could be another kid’s new best friend.
This event encourages kids to declutter their rooms, consider what items they truly need, and understand the value of reusing and recycling. It also demonstrates how communities can support each other and reduce the need for new items.
12. Have a Movie Night
Pick a few (age-appropriate) films that cover a range of topics – from climate change to human rights. Bust out the popcorn, turn down the lights, then allow some time afterward for their questions or open-ended discussion.
Engaging in open conversations about these topics post-viewing can deepen children’s understanding of these issues and help them think about how they can contribute to solutions.
Wow – I wish there had been something like this around when I was a kid. With projects that range from hosting a park clean-up rally, to creating an anti-bullying comic, to acting as PR rep for your local animal shelter – this site is an ahhh-mazing tool for budding activists (really good inspiration for adults too!)
What a great way to show kids how far some knowledge, planning, effort, and care can go in the fight for good. While this is definitely geared toward older kids, there are lots of good ideas and inspiration for projects you could tweak to be used with younger ones as well.
In their own words: “One of the largest global organizations for young people and social change, our 4.8 million members in 130 countries tackle volunteer campaigns that impact every cause. Poverty. Discrimination. The environment. And everything else. Our promise: Any cause, anytime, anywhere.“
Some of our favorite things about it:
- It doesn’t just share causes – it gives great information and facts
- Encourages group participation & sharing
- Utilizes social media, but doesn’t require it
- Promotes goal-setting, activism, volunteering & community service
- The search provides a super-simple way to find the right cause/project
- Offers TONS of creative projects and ideas for involvement
- Multiple projects can be followed
*Heads Up: In addition to tackling some pretty serious issues that may need more explanation, the activities on this website invite users to create an account in order to participate. An email address is required to set up an account and a cell number is optional for texts – so we’d say this is definitely (at least in the beginning) a kid + parent thing.
GETTING READY TO TRY this?
I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
