4 Tips to Talk to Kids About the 2024 Election
With the 2024 election on the horizon, it's normal for kids to have questions about it. It’s likely they have heard about it at school or seen the many ads on TV at home. Talking about the upcoming election with your child can be a meaningful learning experience that allows them to form and share their own opinions.
Here are some talking tips that promote openness, curiosity, and critical thinking.
Understanding the importance of voting and elections
💬 Kickoff with the basics: What are elections and why do they matter?
Introduce the topic: Some questions you might get asked are “What is voting?” or “What’s an election?” or “Why is everyone talking about the election?” Explain that voting is the method we use to make collective decisions about who should lead our country and what is important to us when it comes to how we live our lives: schools, community, health, etc. Share that elections let people choose who they believe will make the best decisions for all, much like how a class might choose a representative or leader. This simplification helps kids see voting as both a unique choice and a shared responsibility.
Why elections matter: Elections amplify everyone’s voice. Voting lets people communicate what matters to them, like schools, health, and the environment. By casting their vote, they help pick leaders who will make crucial decisions on these issues. Tell your child that when adults vote, they’re shaping the future—just as one day, your child will too.
Explaining voting and the election process to kids
Break it down for them! Make it simple and fun. 😄
Keep it age-appropriate: For younger kids, keep it super simple. Focus on the idea that voting means “making a choice,” and an election is like a massive group decision. For older kids, you can provide more details about the different types of elections—like presidential, congressional, and local—and why each one is important.
Use simple words: Avoid diving into heavy jargon. Stick to key concepts like voting, fairness, responsibility, and community. Break down words like “candidate” as “someone who wants to be a leader” and phrases like “running for office” to “trying to get a leadership role.”
Share stories and examples: Stories can make elections relatable. If you can think of a leader in a tv show they watch, that could help elucidate things. Maybe talk about a character who aims to be the “leader of the park” and holds a vote to revamp the playground. Describe how friends vote based on who has the best ideas for everyone.
Teaching kids about elections builds civic responsibility
It’s more than just voting
Helping kids grasp elections goes beyond the mechanics of voting. It’s also about fostering their sense of community and their place within it.
Why civic responsibility matters
Teaching kids early on about civic responsibility helps them care about their community and the wider world. When they see everyone has a part in shaping society, they’re more inclined to be responsible.
Encourage questions and curiosity
Show kids that questioning is key to learning and engagement. When they ask, “Why aren’t kids in charge?” or “What if no one agrees?” it’s the perfect chance to discuss why rules exist and how people find common ground. Support their curiosity. Let them know that being engaged and asking questions helps make informed choices in elections and everyday life.
4 practical tips for talking about elections with kids
Now that we’ve got the basics, here are four key tips to make those election talks with your kids meaningful and open.
Emphasize openness
Differing opinions exist everywhere surrounding the election! Teach your kid to respect others’ views and beliefs. Model this by speaking openly and respectfully about the candidates and those who support them.
You could say something like: "People have different ideas about what’s best for our country, and that’s okay. It’s important to listen even when we don’t agree."
Encourage curiosity
Children will be curious about what they see and hear, so encourage them to ask questions. When your child feels comfortable asking you questions, they will be more open to learning about different things with you.
They might ask questions like: “Are you going to vote?” and “Why are people arguing so much about [candidate’s name]?”
Answer questions
Kids may ask questions that are quite challenging to answer (like in the second question above 👆). Respond honestly in a way that your child can understand.
If they are under 8 years old, provide a simple explanation that they can relate to like: "People sometimes argue about [candidate's name] because some think they will make good decisions that will help everyone, while others think they will make bad decisions that won’t help."
If they are older, reference news stories to discuss topics that interest them in more depth like: "When people argue about [candidate's name], it’s likely that they have strong feelings about what this person does. You may have seen the recent news about what this candidate said about [specific policy]. Some people agree with this and think it will bring good changes, while others disagree and worry it might cause problems.”
Focus on values
Elections provide an opportunity to teach kids about values like fairness, kindness, responsibility, and hope. One of the most important things to share with your child that could spark hope instead of doom is something like: “No matter who wins the election, we will be okay.”
To explore your kid’s values more, you can ask questions like: “What kind of leader would you want to be?” and “Why is it important to listen to people’s opinions?”
Talking to your child about the election can empower them to grow into responsible citizens that respect and value others and our democracy.