Explaining Politics to Kids

Having a curious child keeps you on your toes as a parent, but it's a great quality for them because it clarifies and answers their questions. I love that my boys come to me with questions because they bring such great discussion. But then come the questions about politics and the election, and I find it challenging as a mom.

I never know how much information to divulge or how far I can go with my first-grader. I love how curious he is because curiosity is a big part of learning new concepts and ideas, fostering his creativity and problem-solving skills. But explaining politics to young children when I sometimes feel like I can’t even digest the political landscape around us is tricky.

Election season brings with it a toxicity kids shouldn't be exposed to, but the reality is, it's out there. So, although discussing heated rhetoric, attack ads, and tense conversations is less fun than talking about their school activities that day, we need to know how to respond if it does come up.

Spoiler alert: It’s not as complicated as we make it if we are willing to simplify the process.

1.??? Be honest about different beliefs – This can be similar to how we teach our children about familial values. In our house, we always mention that other families may have different beliefs but that respecting differences is important. This lesson can help explain why there are various political parties and candidates to vote for and why people hold differing opinions.

2.??? Leave the political terms to the experts – Make sure the words you use are age-appropriate and don’t lead to further confusion. Sometimes, we might slip into political slang without realizing it, which can lead them to check out of the conversation or stare at you blankly. If we miss the opportunity to answer their questions about politics, they will get their answers from somewhere else – whether that’s a friend, social media, or at school. The narrative is then out of our control and put into someone else's hands. ?

3.??? Involve your children when it makes sense to – Bring them to vote with you or have them help you fill out your mail-in ballot. Explain to them why you're voting, and if they want to dig further, explain who you are voting for and why. In the same breath, this is where you can share that people have their reasons for supporting a different party or candidate. Again, it goes back to respecting differences yet holding tight to the morals you believe in.

4.??? Reiterate your values – Politics in the present day bring about a different level of tension, which means it's your job as the parent to keep your child inside the lines of where your family's values lie. The negativity they'll hear directly or indirectly regarding politics might be intense. Make sure the foundation of values you believe in comes with more strength behind it because that will guide them back to where your family's moral compass lies.

5.??? Remain open to the questions – Kids have so many questions about so many things, and that's awesome because the answers help them learn. Questions about politics aren't the ones I'm most excited to answer. They make me a bit uncomfortable, but using these questions as a teaching tool is important. Think of it as a way to help them develop their language skills and communication ability, even if the conversation might leave you sweating.