Talking Politics with your Children
By Chick Moorman & Thomas Haller
www.PersonalPowerPress.com
You are your child’s first and most
important teacher. You teach your children to walk, talk and ride a
bike. You teach them about manners, respect, and the opposite sex. It is
also your job to teach your children about the American way of life, our
form of government, and the election process.
It is not the high school’s government teacher’s job to teach your child
about a participatory democracy. It is your job. It is not that
teacher’s responsibility to teach your child the value of dissent and
the strength that comes from diversity and honest, but differing
viewpoints. That is your responsibility.
This year’s Presidential election is a significant historical event.
There is no better time than the present to include your entire family
in the election process and learning about our government and how it
works. Step up now and do your job. Teach your child valuable lessons in
how and why you respect and love our democracy. Honor your role as your
child’s most important teacher by using the tips below to help you and
your children be a part of history together.
1. Share all sides of the political discussion. Don’t just share your
opinion. If you are a Republican, Democrat, or other, your job is not to
convince your child that your thinking is correct. It is to get them to
do their own thinking. Read to them from the newspaper, magazines and
promotional material. Yes, you can share your views, but encourage your
children to ask questions and come to their own conclusions.
2. Talk about our country’s political process and its significance. Talk
about the democratic process and relate it to how you run your family.
Show them the connections. Teach them what women and blacks had to
endure to finally gain equal voting rights. Explain how some of us
resisted those efforts and others worked to make it happen. Explain how
not everyone agrees in our country, but that is one of our strengths.
3. Watch the Presidential Debates together. Make this a happening. Treat
it as something special. Announce it head of time. Then count it down,
“Only two more days until the next debate.” Show them through your
actions that this is more important than Dancing with the Stars,
Desperate Housewives, and The Simpson reruns.
4. Take your children with you when you vote. Show them the voting
process and explain what you are doing each step along the way. Take
them into the voting booth with you and let them watch you mark your
ballet. You get to do this. Seriously, take them in the both with you.
5. Follow the election results together. Discuss the outcome with your
children the next day if their bedtime dictates missing the most
important information. Since the final results will come well after they
are fast asleep, discuss the results at breakfast the next morning.
Remind your children that some people will be particularly happy this
day since the person they voted for got elected. Others, will be
disappointed because their favorite candidate did not get elected.
Discuss how mature people handle these kinds of situations and that in
the democratic process it is important to support the final decision so
we can work together as one country.
Just like a family, our government works best when everyone gets
involved and participates. Just like a family, our government works best
when the leader accepts his or her responsibilities and leads to the
best of their ability. It is time now for you to demonstrate to your
children that you participate fully in our governmental process and in
the education of your family. It is time for you to model for your
children an effective leader who moves confidently into his
responsibilities and teaches his family about the value of a
participatory democracy.
About The Author
Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman are the authors of Teaching the Attraction
Principle to Children: Practical Strategies for Parents and Teachers to Help
Children Manifest a Better World. They are two of the world's foremost
authorities on raising responsible, caring, confident children. They publish a
free monthly e-zine for parents. To sign up for it or to obtain more information
about how they can help you or your group meet your parenting needs visit their
website today:
www.personalpowerpress.com.
Used With Permission
