With the presidential elections fast approaching, it is an undeniable fact that children may become curious about the adult topic. It is important that parents can help raise politically aware kids. It is the role of parents to help kids understand the election.
The election can be a complex idea for the young minds to understand but there are ways to help the children get involved in an enjoyable process. CNN's website even posts an article with different ways to help youngsters from various age groups to understand the elections. Here are some techniques to help children understand the election:
1) Introduce Elections. Introduce the concept of elections using age-appropriate examples and vocabularies. Start from the simplest idea moving towards the more complex details of elections. Like for the younger children, parents can sight examples like picking leaders in a classroom or choosing the best player in a game. Parents can guide the kids in deciding the criteria for selecting the candidates.
2) Share The Importance Of Elections. After introducing elections to the kids, it would be easier to share the importance of elections. Given that they now know the roles of leaders in a classroom or a play group, it is going to be less difficult to emphasize the need to select leaders for the country. Letting them share consequences of not having leaders in a group will let them understand the importance of having leaders.
3) Read All About It. According to Education World, using books is an effective strategy to help kids understand the elections.A number of books would be fitting for specific ages from 4 to 12. It is essential that parents can read with the kids or at least expound on the topics for them.
4) Discuss With Family. Talking about political issues within the family will help raise politically aware kids. This would be an opportunity to simplify news topics, poll reports and issues on campaigns. Family discussions will also teach children to respectfully debate and allow them to witness healthy ways of conversing about sensitive issues like the politics.
5) Bring Them To The Voting Booth. An article from Working Mother's website shares to take kids to the voting booth. Involving them in a process that they rarely experience will keep them excited for the next elections to come. It will give them an exact picture of how people vote and makes them fully involved in the process.
Helping kids understand the election is a vital part of their growing up. It is essential that they learn each and everyone's role in a democratic country. Keeping them involved in the adult controversies and discussions on elections would make them feel that they too have a big role in the future of the nation. Elections might be a big adult thing, but the presidents and leaders we are picking now are after-all for our children and their future.
