Census Bureau Launches Children Count Too Campaign with Dora the Explorer

Tuesday, the Census Bureau launched a campaign, “Children Count Too,” highlighting the importance of counting infants and young children in the 2010 census.

As part of the campaign, the bureau partnered with Nickelodeon to produce television and radio public service announcements in English and Spanish that feature the popular cartoon character Dora the Explorer encouraging children – and their parents – to make every person count. 

“A complete and accurate count of our nation’s youngest is critical to their health and education and the future strength of our communities and labor force,” Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said.

Children historically have been missed more than any other age group in the census, with minority children at greatest risk of being uncounted. According to a recent study, the 2000 census missed more than 750,000, or nearly four percent, of children under age five. 

Dora is featured prominently in The Leadership Conference Education Fund’s new “Kids and the Census” materials, which are designed to raise awareness and understanding among lower income and minority stakeholders of the importance of the decennial count to the well-being of their communities and their families. The Education Fund and its coalition partners are disseminating these materials nationwide as part of a national campaign to encourage census participation among hard-to-count populations.

View photos from the event: