Election 2024: How to talk to children about politics

In the midst of a heated presidential election, political coverage and commentary can seem inevitable. Kids aren’t immune—they can pick up information about race from adults in their lives, at recess, or on social media. Although parents may think their children don’t notice, studies show that children, including very young children, do. One study found that almost all children surveyed were between the ages of 5 and 11 could name candidates run for president in 2016.

“Kids from kindergarten through first grade can name the candidates when they see their pictures,” he says Erin Palkeassociate professor of psychology at Whitman College and co-author of the study, “and they have an idea of ​​what the candidates believe.”

You don’t need to have an in-depth discussion with your child every time they come across a political topic. When it comes to talking politics with kids, experts say you should answer their questions about the civics process and quell any fears they may have, but avoid telling them what to think.

When children are young, teach them civic engagement

Since children as young as 5 have been shown to already have a basic understanding of presidents and elections, you can use this early exposure to guide and inform their knowledge. Children of all ages can learn about civic engagement through activities like mock elections at school or accompanying parents to the polls on Election Day, says a clinical psychologist Melissa Goldberg Mintzauthor There is your child was Injured? How to know and what to do to promote healing and recovery.

You can use this experience to teach children how elections work. Children as young as 5 can understand that voters are choosing between two primary candidates from opposing parties and laws that affect where they live, Palke says. If an elementary school-aged child has special interests—perhaps they like trains and buses—you can explain how the proposed legislation will affect transportation in your city, says Goldberg Mintz.

But don’t get bogged down in the weeds or too prescriptive. “We don’t want to say that because of global climate change and an increase in natural disasters, our city will be doomed if we don’t take these flood protection measures,” she says.

Let the children have a dialogue

Although children receive more political information than their parents realize, their understanding or the conclusions they draw are sometimes wrong, Palke says. Parents have a responsibility to clear up these misunderstandings, she continues, so ask your kids what they know about certain topics. Watching or reading the news together can be an effective way to start a conversation, he says Nicole CaporinoAssociate Professor of the Department of Psychology at the American University. If any stories cause fear or confusion, you can discuss the likelihood that their fears will materialize, point to encouraging news, and reassure them that the family will work through any potential challenges together, Caporino says.

Caporino’s research showed this children and teenagers were most worried about political issues. Don’t downplay their problems, says Goldberg Mintz. Do your best to give them an honest answer, but try not to give in to fear or negativity, even if you are scared. You can say, “I hear you’re worried about this, and I have some concerns too. But we’ll find ways to overcome it if it happens.”

Parents should open the door to such conversations because children are likely already thinking about these topics, Palke says. However, you should not offer too many details if your child is not interested. For example, if you ask your elementary-aged child, “The presidential election is coming up. Did you hear anything?” and they don’t have a strong opinion or say they haven’t talked to their friends about it, you can leave it at that.

“We never want to give gory details or gory information that kids don’t already know,” says Goldberg Mintz. “We want to be a reliable source for them. And if we don’t know the answer, we want to show them how to get to a reliable source.”

Pahlke says teens closer to voting age can lead discussions about specific policies, and parents can explain different perspectives and possible outcomes. Parents can also talk to their teens about the importance of voting, says Goldberg Mintz.

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

There are teenagers increasingly turn to social networks be aware, as one 2022 survey found that half of Gen Z teens get your news from online platforms. If your child asks you a question about something they saw on social media (or sounds like it originated there), use this as an opportunity to check these claims with them. Check sources like AP Fact Check it out, a political factand Snopes and show them where they can find reliable reports. to determine the credibility of the sourceThe News Literacy Project recommends quickly researching the source of your news, determining whether the organization adheres to ethical standards, and evaluating the quality of other news coverage.

If your teen doesn’t come to you directly about what they’ve been watching online, you may want to start the conversation gently. In the case of viral misinformation campaigns, you might ask your child, “Have you seen people talk about this on social media?” This way you can get information about what your child is seeing online and correct any inaccuracies.

Let them draw their own conclusions

High schoolers will have a more detailed understanding of certain current events and politics, and it’s appropriate to discuss those topics with them, Palke says. But instead of describing different candidates or points of view as “good” or “bad,” help them consider different points of view. Explain why people with different backgrounds have different opinions about a certain topic. It’s fine if they support a certain candidate or policy, but they should also be able to see where the other side is coming from. Perspective can help them in other relationships as well, Palke says.

Teens may also have a clear sense of their personal values ​​and may think about how certain candidates or policies reflect those values ​​and goals, says Goldberg Mintz. You can show your teen where to look reliable information from reliable news sources about specific candidates and policies, and let them decide.

“Instead of trying to get bogged down in ‘This is the candidate our family can support and it’s because XYZ,’ try to define the child’s beliefs for them,” says Goldberg Mintz. “We let our kids make their own decisions.”