Elections 2024: How do you talk to children about politics?

In the midst of a heated presidential election, political reporting and commentary can seem unavoidable. Children are not immune; they may pick up information about the race from the adults in their lives, during recess or on social media. As much as parents think their children are oblivious, research shows that children, including very young children, pay attention. One study found that almost all children surveyed were between the ages of 5 and 11 could name the candidates to run for president in 2016.

“Children as young as kindergarten and first grade can name candidates when they see their pictures,” says Erin Pahlkeassociate 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 have to have an in-depth conversation with your child every time your child encounters a political topic. When it comes to political conversations with children, experts say to answer their questions about the civic process and quell any fears — but avoid telling them how to think.

When children are young, teach them about community involvement

Because children as young as five appear to have a basic understanding of presidents and elections, you can use this early introduction to guide and inform their learning. Children of all ages can learn about civic engagement through activities such as mock elections at school or by accompanying their parents to the polls on Election Day, says clinical psychologist Melissa Goldberg Mintzauthor of Does your child have Been Traumatized? How to promote healing and recovery and what to do.

You can use this experience to teach children how elections work. Children as young as five can understand that voters are choosing between two major candidates from opposing parties and laws that affect where they live, Pahlke says. If an elementary school-age child has specific interests (maybe they like trains and buses), you can explain how the proposed legislation will impact transportation in your city or town, says Goldberg Mintz.

But don’t get too confused or too prescriptive. “One thing we wouldn’t want to do,” she says, “is talk about, ‘Global climate change and increasing natural disasters will doom our city if we don’t take these flood protection measures.’”

Let children lead the dialogue

Although children are exposed to more political information than their parents realize, their understanding or the conclusions they draw are sometimes incorrect, Pahlke says. Parents have a responsibility to clear up these misunderstandings, she continues, so ask your children 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 psychology at American University. If there are stories that trigger fear or confusion, you can discuss the likelihood that their fears will come true, point them to hopeful news stories, and reassure them that the family will face any challenges together, says Caporino.

Caporino’s research has suggested as much most children and adolescents were concerned on political issues. Don’t downplay 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 might say, “I hear you’re worried about that, and I have some concerns too. But if that happens, we will figure out ways to get through it.”

Parents should open the door to these conversations because chances are children are already thinking about these topics, Pahlke says. However, you shouldn’t give away too many details if your child isn’t interested. For example, if you ask your elementary school-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 release gory details or gory information that children aren’t already aware of,” 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 trusted source.”

Teens closer to voting age can handle discussions about specific policies, Pahlke says, 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

Teenagers are increasingly use social media to stay informed, with a 2022 study finding that half of Gen Z adolescents their news comes from online platforms. If your child asks you a question about something he saw on social media (or sounds like it came from there), use this as an opportunity to check those claims with him. Check sources such as AP Fact Bill, Political factAnd Snacking and show them where they can find reliable reporting. Nasty determine the credibility of a sourceThe News Literacy Project recommends that you quickly research the source of your news, determine whether the organization has ethical standards, and assess the quality of the news source’s other reporting.

If your teen doesn’t come straight to you with what they’ve been watching online, you may need to gently broach the conversation. In the case of viral misinformation campaigns, you can ask your child, “Have you seen people talking about this on social media?” This way you can collect information about what your child sees online and correct any inaccuracies.

Let them come to their own conclusions

High school students will have a more nuanced understanding of certain current events and policies, and it’s appropriate to discuss these topics with them, Pahlke says. But instead of portraying different candidates or positions as “good” or “bad,” help them consider different perspectives. Explain why people with different experiences would have different opinions on a topic. It’s fine if they align with a particular candidate or policy, but they also need to be able to see where the other side is coming from. Perspective-taking can help them in other relationships, too, Pahlke says.

Teens may also have a clear understanding of their personal values ​​and can think about how certain candidates or policies reflect those values ​​and goals, says Goldberg Mintz. You can show your teen where to find it credible information by trusted news sources on specific candidates and policies, and let them make a decision.

“Instead of trying to get into the discussion of ‘This is the candidate our family can support, and that’s because XYZ’ is trying to define a child’s beliefs for them,” says Goldberg Mintz. “We let our children decide for themselves.”