It is more important than ever for parents to think about the most appropriate way to explain politics to their kids. The ever-changing political field can make it seem daunting for parents who have never done so, but it remains important to teach your children early. Here are tips that can make the conversation smooth and productive.
Talk to your kids at different ages, and tailor the conversation
According to Care.com, parents should not only begin talking to their children at an early age, but they should tailor the language to the child’s age. Essentially, this means that parents should slowly begin the conversation by covering basic information. An example of this could include a discussion about what a president is, and what he does. Learning about politics can be a confusing process for a child, so patience remains important, particularly in the early phase.
Try to keep the conversation neutral
While politics has been known to bring out passion and emotion during a discussion, but it is important to stay somewhat impartial when entering the conversation. This will oftentimes be the child’s first time discussing the topic, so parents should strive to keep the conversation free of bias. While it is nearly impossible to engage in a discussion without any bias, but the goal should be to keep it the conversation equal. This allows the children to receive a more well-rounded lesson about politics.
Do not focus on the negative parts of politics, but the positive
As we all know, it is very difficult to keep your personal viewpoints out of the conversation, especially if there are a lot of questions. Some of the questions may prompt your desire to begin talking negatively in your answer, but parents should make an effort to keep it positive. This keeps your child’s mind open to differing opinions as they grow up.
Make it a conversation
Children learn when they have the ability to ask questions about a confusing topic. The parents should encourage the child to ask plenty of questions and answer them to the best of their ability. As children ask more questions, they slowly begin to pick up on more complex concepts along the way.
As the children continue to get older, parents should make it a point to discuss politics regularly. This ensures that they are informed about what is going on the world. There are other ways to encourage children to become involved in politics. For example, middle schools have student government that they can get involved in. Giving children the opportunity to learn about politics from different sources will allow them to develop their understanding and involvement in politics.