Politics has become more rancorous than ever. The divisiveness played out daily in the media may be intended for adult-eyes only, but our kids are affected -- and sometimes even targeted -- by the polarized political environment we live in.
But wait! Ever the parental optimist, I believe the current election cycle is an ideal opportunity to advance three key aims:
1. Educate our children -- of all ages -- about the democratic process and our role in it as members of the body politic.
2. Share and demonstrate how our personal values shape not only our parenting decisions but all our life choices, including who we vote for and the issues we engage in.
3. Foster the development of our kids’ values and be respectful, even when (especially when) their burgeoning political perspectives differ from our own.
Not to mention, even the most unsavory aspects of the current climate can become object lessons when we create the lens through which our kids view such political discourse.
For example, uncivil speech and name-calling can be lessons in how not to communicate about issues and/or with adversaries. We can also help our kids decode the messaging in political ads, separating fiction from facts…just like we teach them to see how advertisers try to influence them in commercials and social media.
And the parade of political pundits and polls? Let’s help our kids learn how to challenge the news. An opinion expressed on a news channel can be rightly shown to be just that, an opinion. And polls, as we well know, are incomplete and often wrong (cue the 2016 election).
Just how can parents make politics a family affair for kids of all ages?
PRESCHOOLERS
· Political posters and garden flags are just about their height, so while you’re on a walk with little ones, tailor your comments to their level of understanding. While three-year-olds can’t process a lecture about the three branches of government, they can grasp what it means to be someone who’s in charge.
· Speaking of which, you might ask them what would they do if they were the president. Developmentally, of course, they think it means they’d be the boss of everything. Help them see that it’s like at home, where mommies and daddies are in charge of important things, but kids can have opinions and preferences, too. That it’s the well-being of the whole family that really matters.
GRADESCHOOLERS
· Because of how powerful we parents still are to children this age, be judicious when discussing politics with grade school-aged children. It’s possible to be resolute about your values without legislating your kid’s stance.
· Introduce the importance of voting by taking them to the polling place with you. Let them know you can use notes and outside resources, and that leaving something blank because you aren’t well-enough informed doesn’t negate the rest of your ballot.
· Even if it’s not happening on the national stage, model consensus building at home.
o Demonstrate a key tenet of democracy -- majority rules -- by scheduling a family meeting about where to go on a family vacation or some other decision where everyone’s input is appropriate.
o Be sure to talk about the importance of the minority opinion – and how it can help inform and shape the majority. After all, our president still needs to represent 100% of the people no matter the outcome of the election.
· Point out how more and more women and people of color are running for office, ensuring that diverse voices and viewpoints become standard.
· Read kid’s books with political themes together. Share and discuss a political cartoon. And when traveling, visit state capitols and/or historical museums.
TEENS
· One of my parenting values is that teenagers get to figure out what’s important to them. Encourage teens to do their own research and figure out how they feel about the candidates and the issues.
· Another value is respecting their stances -- even when they’re molded by idealism or age-induced immaturity. Challenge their thinking, of course, but do so respectfully and in a manner that demonstrates how to give airtime to alternate sides of an issue.
· Be supportive if they express a lot of passion about gun control or the environment, issues that teens often feel particularly impacted by.
· Watch debates together while simultaneously logged onto a fact-checker site.
· Reach out to friends and colleagues who are more engaged in politics and enlist them as resources for teens who have questions beyond your ability to answer.
· Advise them to be mindful of social media’s role and influence on politics. Teens are less discerning about what they see on social media, so be sure to talk about the use of targeted and negative ads used to sway voters.
COLLEGE-AGE
· Remind college students to register to vote in their college state, where their vote might make more of an impact than a vote at home; let them know about absentee ballots if they prefer to vote in their home state.
· Encourage young adults to get involved in campaigns if they feel strongly about the issues or a particular candidate.
· When they’re home during breaks pre-election, engage with them. Ask about their political perspectives on topical issues.
A chief parental role -- and one of our highest hopes -- is to grow our kids into young adults who can engage in and contribute to society. Politics is a real-life opportunity to create civic-minded offspring, so be sure to take advantage of it.