Kids and Politics

Posted by Diane Laney Fitzpatrick Jun 5, 2008

Unless you've been living in a cave for the past 16 months, you're aware that we're at the peak of political fever here in the U.S. This past week the party primary elections ended and the general election campaigning for U.S. president has begun.

Your kids are never too young to be exposed to elections and how government works. OK, maybe your toddler won't want to sit and watch CNN with you, but not too far beyond that, children can start learning the ABCs of our political election process.

How can you help expose your kids to the world of politics and government?

• Talk about politics at the dinner table. Ask your kids what's one thing they would change if they were president, or if they could have dinner with one president from history, would would it be? Politics is a rousing dinner table conversation.
• Watch the news with them. They may not understand most of it, but pick up on something that has a spark of interest and explain it to them in simple terms. Don't be afraid to say you don't understand something. Look it up together.
• Take them to vote with you. It's fun, it's cool, it's secret and it's a good chance to explain to your kids that our right to vote is a privilege that many people around the world don't have.
• Encourage your children to develop their own opinions about issues and candidates. Tell them they're not being disobedient by not agreeing with your views. Help them to form their own opinions and back them up with supporting facts.

The Professor's House has more suggestions on how to teach kids about politics. If you start early, by the time they're old enough to vote, they'll be well informed and ready to participate in the process.