The American presidential elections may seem to be an exclusive matter that concerns adults, but little do parents know that this has an implication towards a child's developing mores or way of life. Unknowingly, children pick up certain values whether or not they are explicitly stated.
Take Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, for instance. Clearly, the business magnate influences the voting perception of adult Americans, but his influence is evident with children's values as well, thanks to an easily accessible media exposure. Per New York Times, Trump's Democrat counterpart, Hillary Clinton, said that "Trump effect"--or an increase in school bullying occurrences--was seen evident.
Children can be likened to a porous sponge which can absorb a lot from what they observe around them. Moreover, if the children retain what they observed during their formative years, and if not addressed early on, these traits can be adapted to adulthood.
If children acquire--say, Trump's prejudice--at a young age, there is a greater chance that this trait will be practiced until it becomes normal to them. Growing up, children who become discriminators can gravely affect other's health. According to CSUN Today, teens who are discriminated tend to have higher levels of stress hormones called cortisol, which in turn, can be associated with health risks like cardiovascular diseases and even cancer.
More importantly, it should be noted that children are more likely to remember negative information than the positive ones. Like if a kid asks about Trump badmouthing races and women as seen in a news segment, chances are it will be remembered more than a values-oriented children's show.
Ultimately, parents do not really have to worry about what can affect their kids if consistent correction is applied. According to research, persistent countervailing of negative information can lead to these undesirable learnings being forgotten. Hence, it is still up to the parents no matter how intense these negative stimuli are.
