Election 2024: How to talk to kids about politics

As the presidential election heats up, political coverage and commentary can feel inevitable. Children are not immune either. Children may receive information about race from adults during recess or on social media. Parents may think their children don’t notice, but research shows that children, including young children, do pay attention. One study found that nearly all 5- to 11-year-olds surveyed were able to name the candidates running for president in 2016.

“Kids as young as kindergarteners and first graders can name a candidate by looking at a picture of themselves,” said Erin Paalke, an associate professor of psychology at Whitman College and co-author of the study. “They understand who the candidate is,” he said. believe. “

You don’t need to have a thorough discussion with your child every time you come across a political topic. When having political conversations with kids, experts say answer their questions about civic engagement and ease any fears they may have, but avoid trying to tell them how to think. .

Teach your children about civic participation while they are young.

Five-year-olds have already been shown to have a basic understanding of presidents and elections, so we can use this early exposure to teach and inform knowledge. Melissa Goldberg Mintz, a clinical psychologist and author of Has Your Child Been Traumatized? Through these activities, students can learn about participation in civic activities. What to know and do to promote healing and recovery.

You can use this experience to teach your children how elections work. Paalke said even children as young as 5 can understand that voters are choosing between two major candidates from opposing parties and which laws will affect where they live. If your elementary school-age child has a special interest, perhaps a love of trains and buses, being able to explain how the proposed bill would affect transportation in your city or town is golden. Berg Mintz says.

But don’t get too caught up in the weeds or too prescriptive. “What we don’t want to do is say, ‘With global climate change and increasing natural disasters, our cities are doomed without these flood protection measures,'” she said. I say.

Allow children to lead the dialogue

Children are exposed to more political information than their parents realize, but their understanding and conclusions are sometimes wrong, Paalke said. Parents have a responsibility to clear up these misconceptions, so ask your kids what they know about a particular topic, she continues. Nicole Caporino, an associate professor of psychology at American University, says watching or reading the news together can be an effective way to start a conversation. If a story causes fear or confusion, discuss the possibility of that fear becoming a reality, point out hopeful news, and ensure that the family deals with potential challenges together. Capolino says you can do that.

Capolino’s research suggests that most children and adolescents worry about political issues. Don’t discount their concerns, says Goldberg Mintz. Please do your best to answer honestly. Even if you feel scared, try not to give in to fear or negative thoughts. You might say, “I hear you’re worried about that, and I’m a little concerned too.” But if it happens, we’ll find a way to get through it. ”

Parents should open the door to these conversations because children are likely already thinking about these topics, Paalke said. However, if your child is not interested, don’t give too many details. For example, if you ask an elementary school kid, “There’s a presidential election coming up, have you heard anything?” and they say they don’t have strong opinions or haven’t talked about it with their friends, leave it at that. It’s okay to leave it alone.

“We’re not going to volunteer gory details or gory information that kids don’t already know,” Goldberg Mintz says. “We want to be a trusted source of information for them. If they don’t know the answer, we want to show them how to get to a trusted source.”

Perlke said teens near voting age can be open to discussions about specific policies, and parents can explain different viewpoints and potential consequences. Parents can also talk to their teens about the importance of voting, Goldberg Mintz said.

Encourage people to fact-check what they see on social media

Teens are increasingly turning to social media for information, with one 2022 study finding that half of Gen Z youth get their news from online platforms. . If your child asks a question about something they’ve seen on social media (or something that sounds like something coming from social media), use this as an opportunity to fact-check their claims. Check out sources like AP Fact Check, Politifact, and Snopes to show you where to find trusted reporting. The News Literacy Project quickly investigates news sources to determine their credibility, determine whether an organization has ethical standards, and assess the quality of other reporting in news organizations. is recommended.

If your child doesn’t directly tell you what they’re seeing online, you may need to gently start the conversation. If it’s a viral disinformation campaign, you can ask your child, “Have you seen anyone talking about this on social media?” This way, you can collect information about what your child is watching online and correct any inaccuracies.

let them draw their own conclusions

Paalke says it’s appropriate to discuss these topics with high school students because they have a more nuanced understanding of certain current events and policies. But instead of labeling different candidates and perspectives as “good” or “bad,” help them consider different perspectives. Explain why people with different experiences have different opinions on a topic. It’s okay for them to align with a particular candidate or policy, but they also need to be able to understand where the other side is coming from. Having an objective perspective can also be helpful in other relationships, says Paalke.

Teens also have a clear understanding of their personal values ​​and may be able to reflect on how particular candidates and policies reflect those values ​​and goals. says Goldberg Mintz. Show your teen where they can find reliable information from reliable news sources about a particular candidate or policy, and let them make their own decisions.

“Instead of trying to get into the weeds of, ‘This is a candidate that my family can support because it’s XYZ,’ you’re trying to define for them what their beliefs are,” Goldberg-Mintz says. “We’re letting the kids decide for themselves.”