Talking to Children about the Upcoming Election

The upcoming Presidential Election can be a great way to help children gain a basic understanding of how our country selects leaders. Voting is a key responsibility of citizenship that can be introduced in a way that children can understand. Here are several fun and engaging suggestions to make the election process less abstract for your child:

• Read engaging age-appropriate books about voting and elections. Start the conversation with a good book like Duck for President by Doreen Cronin.  It is a very entertaining way to introduce children to campaigns and voting. After reading the story together, go back and review the pictures and discuss the parts that your child enjoyed most.  Here are a few more books related to the election topic that your family will likely enjoy:

• Ballot Box Battle, by Emily Arnold McCully (Ages 5-8)
• Robin Hill School: Election Day, by Margaret McNamera (Ages 4-8)
• My Teacher for President, by Kay Winters and Denise Brunkus (Ages 4-8)

• Conduct a family vote. Pose a voting question to your family. For example, ask them to nominate a meal to have for dinner one night along with an explanation of why their nomination should win.  Conduct a vote, and if the decision isn’t unanimous, discuss possible compromises.

• Pose a “what if” presidential question. Ask your child to draw a picture of or write about (depending on the age of your child) what they would do to make the world a better place.

• Create a school to home connection. Chances are your preschooler or kindergartner is participating in election and patriotic-themed activities at school. Reach out to your child’s teacher to learn more about the age-appropriate activities that are being taught and extend the discussion or activity at home. 

• Take your child with you to vote.  Discuss the roles of the president and other leaders on the ballot and explain in broad terms why you picked a certain candidate. To teach your child good citizenship, it’s a good idea to talk about the merits of your preferred candidate rather than criticizing the opponent.

• Support your child’s interests. If your child shows interest in the election or the office of president, you can encourage this curiosity with child-friendly news sources. Here is a website to get you started:

White House for Kids- http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/ -This website includes activities and information about the current president and the White House that are geared toward children ages 4 and up. 

To learn more about Primrose School of Five Forks, visit PrimroseFiveForks.com or 3030 River Drive, Lawrenceville, GA 30044, or call 770.985.0028.