The folks at Kiddie Academy offer their advice on talking your children through this media-saturated election cycle.
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I swear, I could quarantine my kids this election year—turn the TV off, hide the iPad, rip the radio out of my car—and they’d still come home asking questions about any number of things related to the upcoming election. No matter your child’s age, the media is a prevalent force that finds its way into classrooms, playgrounds, lunch rooms.
As parents, it’s our job to teach our kids that politics aren’t simply about elections and debates. Thanks to Kiddie Academy (leaders of educational childcare) your job just got easier. They’ve compiled seven tips on how to positively engage your kids in conversations regarding politics. Check them out below.
- Explain What Political Parties Are: For kids who associate candles and balloons with the term “party,” the idea of a political party can be confusing. Explain how each political party is a group of people that have similar opinions who elect a leader to represent them.
- Talk History: To add some perspective, you’ll need to do some investigating! Look up historical debates and issues and discuss how they are the same or different than our current version. Even discussing the difference between media (TV, radio, newspaper) is a cool idea!
- Pick a Cause: It’s possible that your kids have strong opinions on local issues, especially those that may directly impact their lives, such as school or sports topics. Ask your kid’s opinion about a current topic of debate to get them thinking about topics that affect them directly.
- Run for Office: Most schools, including elementary schools, have some form of student government association. Encourage your kid to get involved. And, hey, if they aren’t feeling it, that’s okay too! You just want to point out the fact that that democracy functions on many levels—not just presidentially!
- Respond with Age-Appropriate Answers: This one might seem obvious, but here it is. If your kids are younger, you may simply want to teach them what an election is, in the most basic terms. Older kids are obviously going to want more details, as they can handle more information about politics.
- Write a Letter: Writing a letter to a politician is a great way to demonstrate the democratic process, and the importance of sharing opinions. Most elected officials now have email addresses listed publically (and, hey, if they’re like us, they probably check it at least once a day.)
- Cast Your Vote Together: Take your kid with you when you cast your vote. Set the example!
That’s easy enough, right? Always remember that your kids are listening to you and absorbing the things you teach them. If we want our kids’ generation to be strategic thinkers, optimistic, and responsible, we need to teach them about the importance of civic engagement—for our sake, for their sakes, for their kids’ sake (but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves).
Take these seven simple steps, and make this conversations fun. If you want to download Kiddie Academy’s tips, visit: http://www.kafamilyessentials.com/2016/02/happy-presidents-day/
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Kiddie Academy is dedicated to delivering the highest quality educational child care possible in order to positively shape the lives of children, families and communities everywhere. Headquartered in Abingdon, Maryland, located just north of Baltimore, Kiddie Academy operates more than 147 academies in 23 states. Its programs are designed to help young children build confidence, develop social skills and cultivate independence, which are important building blocks for future academic and personal success. For more information about Kiddie Academy or to find a location near you, please visit www.kiddieacademy.com.