While numerous studies have examined civic engagement among adolescents and adults, there is limited research on civic engagement in preadolescent populations. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by examining the child dispositions and family processes related to children’s civic participation. Specifically, this study explored the degree to which children’s civic dispositions (i.e., social responsibility, civic values) and parents’ civic engagement (i.e., humanitarian-egalitarian values, civic participation) were associated with children’s volunteering. Survey data were collected from 359 ethnically and economically diverse 4th-6th grade students (M age = 10.56) and their parents. Results from logistic regressions showed that children with a greater sense of community responsibility were more likely to volunteer. Additionally, parents who more strongly endorsed humanitarian-egalitarian values and those with greater civic participation were more likely to have children who volunteered, even after controlling for child and family background variables. Findings suggest that parent values and civic participation, and children’s own beliefs about social responsibility contribute to children’s civic participation. Practical implications are discussed.

虽然许多研究调查了青少年和成人的公民参与，但关于青春期前人群公民参与的研究有限。目前的研究旨在通过检查与儿童公民参与相关的儿童性格和家庭过程来解决文献中的这一空白。具体而言，本研究探讨了儿童的公民倾向（即社会责任、公民价值观）和父母的公民参与（即人道主义平等价值观、公民参与）与儿童志愿服务的相关程度。调查数据来自 359 名不同种族和经济的 4-6 年级学生（M年龄 = 10.56）和他们的父母。逻辑回归的结果表明，具有更强社区责任感的儿童更有可能参加志愿活动。此外，即使在控制了儿童和家庭背景变量后，更强烈支持人道主义平等价值观和公民参与程度更高的父母更有可能生下志愿服务的孩子。调查结果表明，父母的价值观和公民参与，以及儿童自己对社会责任的信念有助于儿童的公民参与。讨论了实际意义。