During every presidential election season that I’ve paid attention to (I’m young, so this is only the fourth) I’ve read news stories that predicted record numbers of young voters would show up on election day to ensure victory for one candidate or another. Historically, this has failed to happen, as was seen in the 1996 and 2000 elections, which saw only 36 percent participation among voters ages 18-24, an all-time low since the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1972.

However, this failure among young voters to show up and vote is beginning to change. In the 2004 election, young voter participation jumped 11 points to 47 percent, and a recent Harvard University study reported that 61 percent of those 18-24 years old say they will definitely be voting in the 2008 presidential election.

What we are seeing is an entire generation of young people who want to get involved and believe that they can change the world. They are part of what social scientist William Strauss calls a “civic generation” that is drawn to issues of community, politics and deeds rather than the issues of self, culture and morals that defined previous generations.

An important contributing factor in this outlook among today’s youth is parents. A study conducted by the American Political Science Association found that teens who live in homes where politics and current events are regularly discussed have a greater interest in politics and are more likely to participate in community meetings, raise money for charities and volunteer.

This positive civic attitude and interest in America’s political process is important for today’s young people because they are, in fact, the future of our nation. As we consider the complex challenges that we will be facing in the near future, it is imperative that we prepare our young people to become engaged adults who are able to address the global problems that lie before us. As parents, there are several ways you can do this:

n Involve them in the voting process. If your teen is old enough to vote, fill out voting registration forms with him or her and on Election Day, go to the polling station together to cast your ballots.

Consider taking teens between 14 and 17 to the polling station with you. Even if they are not permitted inside for security reasons, the visit will demystify the voting process.

Make it fun for your teen. Many teens may be disinterested in current events and politics because they see watching the news and reading the paper as boring. However, teens can find an abundance of political content on Web sites like Drudge Report, they can watch political commercials and debates on YouTube, and they can even be entertained as they are updated on current events by TV shows like Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”

Make it relevant. By discussing issues and news stories that are significant to your teen, they will become more invested in what is happening in the world around them. Explain to them how issues like taxes, war, climate change and the economy affect them. The key is to engage teens with issues they will find relevant to their lives.

By taking these steps to encourage civic and political interest and involvement among teens, you are doing more than simply helping your child become a more informed and knowledgeable citizen. You are, in fact, investing in our nation’s future by providing critical preparation for the next generation of leaders, enabling them to positively impact the world.

Mat Anderson is the staff writer and research specialist at The Bridge in Joplin. For more information visit www.futureparadigm.org.