Bare your soul. Come up with a hot-button issue that you and your children care about. Then put your passion into words in a convincing letter to the editor.

When writing such a letter, pick a specific topic. Clear focus makes every word count. Don’t ever settle for sending the first draft. Keep at it until you’ve said exactly what you meant to say. Your message should be short and, if not sweet, at least respectful.

Many communiqués are ignored because the writer went for the jugular rather than approaching a delicate subject with finesse. There’s a right way and a rude way to handle things. All too often logical thoughts get muddled because the letter writer’s tone cuts cruelly instead of coming across as convincing.

The challenge in today’s I-can-scream-louder-than-you-can society is to break through the harshness and get to the listening side, the place of peace. Your children should never be afraid to stand up for their convictions. But they must realize that their tone and approach tell others as much about them as the words chosen. Fill your letter with fussing and fuming and you’ll come across as an irritating, clanging gong—not the voice of reason. Don’t waste the time and energy.

Show them ways to win others over to their side with humor and kindheartedness. No one likes to feel forced into a choice. Conviction often creeps in quietly. Remember, you and your kids won’t solve all the world’s problems in a letter to the editor. But it’s a way to speak out, to make their voices heard, to take responsibility for their citizenship, to get involved—and that’s a powerful tool to give them before they launch out on their own.