Distinctions between political socialization as beliefs about ideals, beliefs about the realities of governmental structure, as attempts at cognitive consistency, and as affective orientations toward the system, map out most children's political orientations. The objects of these orientations are: 1) America as a nation and patriotic attachment; 2) government institutions and their personal representatives; 3) role of citizens as they comply with laws and participate in the democratic process; and, 4) elections and political parties as organizers of conflict. The paper focuses on a description of the changes occuring with age in elementary school children along with considerations of the schools' roles in the process. Included also are sections on: the factors that produce differences between childrens' attitudes and the ways teachers and parents participate in the socialization process; the characteristics of children that influence political socialization; and, models of the socialization process. (DJB)