If you had asked me last month about the 2020 Presidential Election, I would have responded that I cannot wait for it to be over. I think most people would also have included that they cannot wait for 2020 to come to an end. 2020 has been a year not only punctuated by the usual natural disasters, earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, and tsunamis, but it has also been a year of many questions about human rights. The global civil unrest has been an opportunity for discussions about the rights of the seen and often unseen person. Do all lives matter? If they do, should we be doing things differently? This year we also added COVID-19 to the list of stressful, catastrophic occurrences.
What about the presidential election? For some, it also falls into this category because, during the process, the results and their consequences are also unknown. It is natural for adults to feel overwhelmed by the process, the news coverage of the debates, who did what, and how terrible the world will be if a person is elected or a prop is passed.
On Election Day, I noticed a man standing on the street corner with a sign that said, “No matter which party wins, let us come together and move forward as a nation!” Great idea, and one I hope will come to fruition. As an outsider, I have heard the arguments from both sides. What concerns me most is the rhetoric used to describe the politicians. These types of conversations impact the adults having them and the children listening to them. For 2e children who are often sensitive to the feelings and fears of those around them, this can increase their anxiety.
Many 2e students find politics fascinating, which makes an election year the perfect time to explore political issues and the propositions on the ballot. People do not always agree, and by preparing for unpreferred outcomes, anxiety levels of children and adults can be reduced.
But how do I talk to my 2e child about politics?
I use the KWL method for topics like this. That is: What do you
know? What do you
want to know? What did you
learn?
- The best place to start is always by asking what your child already knows and understands regarding politics and if they are interested in learning more. Then you can tailor your conversation to meet their level of understanding and interests.
- Then share with your child your thoughts on the issues and why you believe what you do. Also, provide the opposing point of view. Do not demonize people who have an opposite opinion to you. Emphasizing the negative may cause your child continued and unnecessary anxiety.
- Then ask them what they understood about what you have discussed with them and any questions they still have.
It is best to have these conversations at times that make sense. I call them teachable moments. For example, if while watching television, something controversial is seen or said, that would be an ideal time to ask your child what they think that meant. Then, follow up using steps 2 and 3 above.
An example of this was a recent news headline. It stated that the parents of 545 children separated at the border could not be found. I was with some friends having dinner so when the topic came up, I asked their five-year-old to explain what she thought it meant to be separated and what the purpose of the border was. She understood both concepts so we were able to discuss how scared the children were and an alternative for the children detained. She said to let them stay with their mummies and daddies. How could I disagree?
[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Many 2e students find politics fascinating, which makes an election year the perfect time to explore political issues and the propositions on the ballot.[/perfectpullquote]
Although I didn’t do this at the time with an older child, I would delve deeper into the issue including why people are willing to risk it all to come to America. What steps could be taken to reduce the need for people to leave their home countries? What procedures could be established for dealing with people who arrive with nowhere to go?
It is impossible to avoid politics; we are surrounded by it. Helping our children to observe, understand, and ask questions will help them become civically minded. Adult news sources can often be overwhelming, which is why access to children-friendly news sources should also be encouraged.
Common Sense Media has a list of sites where children from elementary to high school can read the news at their level.
These news sources often provide downloadable articles as well as information for different reading levels. Another way to start a political discussion with your child is to use one of these sources to bring up a question you would like to discuss. You do not have to wait for another political year to talk to your child about politics. Political issues affecting different parts of the world are worth keeping on your radar. By discussing issues affecting people in a country other than your own, your child may discover an interest in the culture of that country, which may lead to a new passion.
If you have questions that you think “Ask Maria” can answer, please email them to
maria.kennedy@bridges.edu, and hopefully I will be able to share an answer that will help you and other readers.
