Families in Action: Showing Up for Democracy, Together

This coming Saturday, April 5, 2025, is Hands Off! A National Day of Action. It's being called “a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history.” We’re not even 100 days into Trump’s presidency, and already we’re seeing aggressive attempts to slash funding for Social Security, libraries, public education, and veteran affairs. On top of that, the trans community and immigrants have been major targets of hate and restrictive legislation.

And while Trump is the figurehead of this “movement,” we can’t place all the blame solely on him. Elon Musk — an unelected, appointed member of this administration — is working to gut our government based on his own dangerous opinions. The Republican party holds the majority in both the House and Senate, making it easier for some of these harmful policies to sail through.

This National Day of Action comes on the heels of two major wins for Democrats: the election of a liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court justice (Reuters) despite Elon Musk’s billion-dollar backing of her opponent, and Senator Cory Booker’s 24+ hour speech on the Senate floor (AP News), rallying resistance to the GOP agenda. These events have really lit a fire under me — and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

While there’s plenty of information out there about how you, as an adult, can participate in Hands Off!, I've put on my early education hat to help families guide and include their children in the day’s activities. As I’ve said before, the First Amendment covers children, too. Their right to protest and raise their voice is constitutionally protected. Before we jump right into attending a Hands Off! event near you, it’s important we do some prep-work with the children.

Prepping for the Day of Action

Book List

Books are some of my very favorite teaching tools. In fact, I require my early education students to create a week-long curriculum based on a children’s book as one of their final projects. Books have a way of showing children other perspectives, encouraging empathy, and finding inspiration to follow their hearts. Below you’ll find a list of children’s books that fit in with some of the different topics Hands Off! will be focusing on. This curated list of picture books will help you talk about justice, equity, and activism with young readers. These stories highlight the power of community, the importance of speaking up, and the impact of everyday actions.These books are beautiful and bring powerful messages to their readers but just reading them through once is not enough. Engaging children in conversation around these books and topics is key to making sure children really grasp the concepts and can find a place for them in their own world. Because of this, each book also has a few prompts for you to use when discussing the book with your child/ren. There is a printable list of these books below for you to print and take to your local library! The best way to keep these important titles in our library during a time where book banning is rampant is to circulate the books. If your local or school library does not have these books, I would suggest purchasing them from a local bookstore or from the online platform BookShop.Org. This e-commerce site allows users to choose a local bookstore to have the sales go to. This is a good option if you cannot make it to a physical store. Scroll through the images below to see information about each book.

Books for Raising Brave Kids.pdf

Download PDF • 264KB

Discussion Prompts

Once you’ve done the initial introduction of these topics to children through literature, you can narrow your focus to explaining the Hands Off! event you will be participating in. I find the most tangible way to do this is to have a sign making party! Go to your local craft store and stock up on poster board, markers, paint, glitter, stickers, etc. Don’t forget to grab snacks! Then as a family you can sit down and create the signs you are going to hold during the event. This will give you a space to connect, learn, and talk about what this all means. Below are some kid-friendly discussion prompts you can use during a sign-making gathering.

Why We’re Demonstrating

• What are some things we want to speak up about?

• Who are we standing up for today?

• How do you feel when you see something unfair?

• What do you hope people learn when they see your sign?

  
  

The First Amendment & Our Rights

Explain simply: “The First Amendment is a rule in the Constitution that says people have the right to say what they think, believe what they want, and gather together peacefully.”

• Did you know the Constitution says we’re allowed to speak up like this?

• Why do you think it's important to have freedom of speech?

• How do you think people used this right in the past? (e.g., civil rights marches, protests to protect the environment, etc.)

• What does “peaceful protest” mean to you?

  
  

Participating in Democracy

Explain simply: “We live in a democracy. A democracy is when the people help make the rules.”

• Can kids help make change too? How?

• What are some ways grownups can speak up? What are some ways kids can?

• Why is it important to vote? Can signs like ours help grownups understand what matters?

  
  

Thinking About Others

• Who might feel scared or sad because of new rules or laws?

• How can we help those people feel seen and supported

• Why is it important to listen to people who are different from us?

• What does it mean to be an ally?

  
  

Sign-Making Creativity Starters

• What do you want your sign to say?

• What colors or pictures will help people understand your message?

• If your sign could talk, what would it shout out loud?

Sign-Making Ideas

Need some help coming up with kid-friendly sign slogans? Here are a few to get your creative juices flowing:

General Justice & Action

• My Voice Matters!

• Kids for Justice

• Tiny But Mighty

• I Care, I Speak Up

• Little Hands, Big Change

• Fighting for Fairness

• I'm Here for What's Right

• The Future Is Watching

• Raise Kind, Brave Kids

Public Institutions (Libraries, Schools, etc.)

• Books Not Billionaires

• Save Our Libraries

• Protect Our Schools

• Learning Is Power

• Education for All

• Fund Our Future

LGBTQ+ & Inclusion

• Love Makes a Family

• All Kids Deserve Respect

• Different is Beautiful

• Everyone Belongs

• Be Kind, Be Proud, Be You

Immigration, Belonging, Anti-Hate

• Families Belong Together

• No One Is Illegal

• All Are Welcome Here

• My Friends Are Not Criminals

• We All Belong

More Creative/Fun Ones

• Even Kids Know This Is Wrong

• I Deserve a Future Too

• Sharing Is Caring (Even in Congress)

• If I Can Be Nice, So Can Lawmakers

• Read Books, Not Budgets

Day of Action!

There are going to be Hands Off! events in most major cities. I do think it is possible for families to bring their young children to these bigger events but if this is your first time doing something like this as a family that may feel overwhelming for you. Luckily, there are also going to be more local events that will be smaller and easier to navigate. You can find the full list of Hands Off! events here: https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/

A core principle behind Hands Off! is a commitment to nonviolent action. This is a major reason why I feel comfortable even recommending these actions to families. Bringing kids to a demonstration like Hands Off! can be empowering, memorable, and even fun — but a little prep goes a long way when it comes to keeping everyone safe and comfortable. Start with basics: sneakers or sturdy shoes for lots of walking and standing, water bottles to stay hydrated, and sunscreen and hats for sun protection. Demonstrations can get loud, so child-friendly headphones or earplugs can help protect little ears (and prevent sensory overload). AirTags or other tracking devices discreetly attached to your child’s clothes or backpack can offer peace of mind in a crowd. Consider making or pinning a “safety card” to their clothes with your name and phone number, and snap a quick photo of your child that morning so you have a current image of what they’re wearing. Pack snacks, tissues, and a small first-aid kit in your bag. Talk ahead of time about staying together, identifying “safe grownups” (like those wearing safety vests or with signs that say "volunteer" or "marshal"), and what to do if you get separated. Finally, know your exit plan: where to go if you need a break or if things shift from peaceful to overwhelming. A little planning helps ensure the day is meaningful and manageable for everyone involved.

Once you’re there, your main job is to stay present, stay safe, and support your child in engaging however feels right for them. Show them how to hold their sign proudly, listen to the speakers, and join in chants if they want to — but don’t push it if they’re feeling shy or overwhelmed. Take breaks when needed (this is why snacks and shade matter!), point out cool signs or peaceful protest moments, and talk about what’s happening around you in real time. Let your child ask questions, even if they’re tough or surprising — this is all part of learning what it means to be an active participant in a democracy. And don’t forget to document the day: photos of their sign, a video of the crowd chanting together, or even a quick voice memo where they share how they’re feeling can be a powerful memory later. Keep checking in with your kid — physically and emotionally — and know that even just being there is a big, brave act of showing up together.

After Day of Action

Just because the event is over doesn’t mean we are done thinking about it. After participating in something as big and emotional as a protest, kids need time and space to process what they saw, heard, and felt. Debriefing helps them make sense of the experience, ask questions, and express any emotions that might have come up — from excitement to confusion to worry. These conversations also reinforce the values behind why you showed up in the first place: empathy, justice, community, and action. By talking about the day, you’re not just helping them process it — you’re helping them connect the dots between showing up and continuing the work in everyday life. Plus, you’re modeling that reflection is a powerful part of being engaged in our democracy.

Here’s a list of kid-friendly discussion prompts you can use to guide meaningful conversations after the event. They will help children process what they saw, felt, and learned. These can work well as a casual car ride convo, bedtime reflection, or even journaling prompts if your child likes to write or draw:

Feelings & Experience

• How did it feel to be part of the demonstration?

• What was your favorite part of the day?

• Was there anything that surprised you?

• Did anything make you feel confused, nervous, or excited?

Observation & Learning

• What kinds of signs did you see? What messages stood out to you?

• Did you hear any chants or songs you liked?

• Did you see people helping or supporting each other? What did that look like?

Thinking About Others

• Who do you think we were standing up for today?

• How do you think those people would feel if they saw our signs or heard our chants?

• Why do you think people from different backgrounds came together today?

Next Steps & Empowerment

• What do you want to do next to help?

• Is there anything you want to tell your friends or teacher about the demonstration?

• If you could plan your own demonstration, what would it be about?

Let’s Keep Learning

• Is there anything we saw today that you want to learn more about?

• Are there any books we can read together to learn more about what we saw?

The truth is, our children are watching us — not just what we say, but what we do. When we show up for justice, bring our kids into the conversation, and empower them to take part, we are modeling the kind of courage and compassion we hope they’ll carry into their futures. The Hands Off! National Day of Action isn’t just about resisting harmful policies — it’s about affirming what we do believe in: equity, community care, truth-telling, and the power of people coming together.

Whether you attend a big city protest or host a small backyard sign-making party with your neighbors, you are planting seeds. These moments help kids understand their place in the world — not just as bystanders, but as changemakers. So keep having the hard conversations. Keep showing up. Keep making space for children to feel their power. The more we involve them now, the more ready they’ll be to take the torch when it’s their turn.