In the midst of a heated presidential election, political coverage and commentary can feel inevitable. Kids aren’t immune — they’re picking up information about race from adults in their lives, on vacation or on social media. As much as parents may think their kids are oblivious, research shows that kids, including very young ones, are paying attention. A study found that almost all children surveyed were between the ages of 5 and 11 Can name the candidates Running for president in 2016.
“Kids as young as kindergarten and first grade can name the candidates when they see their pictures,” says Erin Pahlke“And they have an idea of what the candidates believe,” says Whitman College associate professor of psychology and co-author of the study.
You don’t have to have an in-depth discussion with your child every time they come across a political issue. When it comes to political conversations with kids, experts say you should answer their questions about the civic process and assuage any fears they may have — but avoid telling them how to think.
When children are young, teach them about 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. Clinical psychologists say children of all ages can learn about civic engagement through activities like mock elections at school or going to the polls with their parents on election day. Melissa Goldberg Mintzits author you have children has been 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 understand that voters are choosing between two major candidates from opposing parties and for laws that affect where they live, Pahlke said. If an elementary school-aged child has a special interest — perhaps they like trains and buses — you can explain how the proposed law would affect transportation in your town or city, says Goldberg Mintz.
But don’t get into the weeds or too prescriptive. “Something we don’t want to do,” he said, “is that with global climate change and increasing natural disasters, our cities will be destroyed if we don’t have these protective flood systems in place.”
Allow children to lead the dialogue
Although children are exposed to more political information than their parents realize, their understanding or the conclusions they draw are sometimes wrong, Pahlke said. 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, says Nicole CaporinoAssociate Professor of Psychology at American University. If a story evokes fear or confusion, you can discuss the possibility that their fears will come true, mention hopeful news, and reassure them that the family will work through any potential challenges together, Caporino says.
Caporino’s research suggests so Most children and teenagers were worried About political issues. Don’t discount their concerns, 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 afraid. You can say, “I hear you’re worried about that, and I have some concerns too. But we’ll figure out a way to get through it when it happens.”
Parents should open the door to these conversations, because children are likely already thinking about these issues, says Pahlke. However, if your child is not interested, you should not give too many details. For example, if you ask your elementary-aged child, “The presidential election is coming up. Have you heard 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 volunteer gory details or gory information that kids don’t already know,” says Goldberg Mintz. “We want to be a trusted source for them. And if we don’t know the answer, we want to show them how to go to a trusted source.”
Teens near voting age can lead discussions about specific policies, and parents can explain different perspectives and possible outcomes, Pahlke said. Goldberg Mintz says parents can talk to their teens about the importance of voting.
Encourage them to verify what they see on social media
is a teenager Increasingly turning to social media To be aware, a 2022 survey found that half of Gen Z are teenagers Source their news from online platforms. If your child asks you a question about something they saw on social media (or feels like it originated there), use it as an opportunity to verify those claims with them. Check the formula for example Ap fact check, PolitifactAnd Snopes And show them where they can get reliable reporting. per Determine the credibility of a sourceThe News Literacy Project recommends quickly researching your news source, determining whether the organization has ethical standards, and evaluating the quality of other outlets’ coverage.
“We never want to volunteer gory details or gory information that kids don’t already know.”
If what your teen is seeing online doesn’t come directly to you, you need to have a gentle conversation. In the case of a viral disinformation campaign, you can ask your child, “Have you seen people talking about this on social media?” This way you can gather information about what your child is viewing online and correct any inaccuracies.
Let them come to their own conclusions
High school students will have a more nuanced understanding of some current events and policies, and it’s appropriate to discuss these topics with them, Pahlke said. But instead of painting different candidates or perspectives as “good” or “bad,” help them consider different perspectives. Explain why people with different experiences will have different opinions on a topic. If they align with a particular candidate or policy, that’s fine, but they should also be able to see where the other side is coming from. Perspective taking can also help them in other relationships, says Pahlke.
Teens can also have a clear sense of their personal values, Goldberg Mintz says, and can reflect on how certain candidates or policies reflect these values and goals. You can show your teen where to find it Reliable information from Trusted news sources on specific candidates and policies and let them make up their minds.
Goldberg Mintz said, “This is the candidate that our family can support and that’s because XYZ’ is trying to define a kid’s faith for them rather than trying to get into the weeds on it. “We let our kids make their own decisions.”
