This election was one of most divisive in recent political
history. The lack of etiquette and a 24-hour news cycle elicited strong
emotional reactions from even those who had never been so passionate about an
election before. Because of that we are getting many questions from parents
about how to talk to their children about the results. The best approach for
parents is to reduce the stress of their kids while educating them about the
political process.
Here
are ways to talk to your kids about the election:
Many People have Different Beliefs
1. Whether
your kids support Trump’s perspective or Clinton’s ideals, this election offers
parents the opportunity to talk with their kids about the fact that many people
in the country have different views. Trump won the electoral vote, yet, Clinton
won the popular vote. That means that no matter what their views are, many
people think differently than them. Help your kids to be prepared if difficult
conversations about the election come up.
You can tell your kids, “While
many people in our community (family, group of friends, or whatever fits) believe
certain things, we see from this election that other people see things
differently. Because we are surrounded by people who believe the same things,
it is easy to forget that we are a very diverse country. Sometimes when we talk
to people, we hear opinions and ideas that are very different than ours. We
might disagree with them very much. Other people might even say mean stuff
about things you believe in. How might you react in that situation?”
You
will be Okay
2. This
isn’t the first time the country was divided and it probably won’t be the last.
It is part of having a democracy and the freedoms that come with it. Talk with
your kids about checks and balances, including the process the president must
go through to make policy changes. It’s important to communicate to your kids a
sense of optimism about the future and their role in it.
You can tell your kids, “The
strength of our political system is that even the president doesn’t have
absolute power and needs to go through the House of Representatives and the
Senate for the most important decisions that impact the country. Also, a lot of
the control over decisions about what happens in our city are made by representatives
of our state and politicians where we live. Whatever changes occur, happen
gradually.”
Show
Respect for the Process
3. Whether
you support the outcome or not, it is very important to communicate respect for
the process of voting and the freedom to do so in our country. It is important
to model for our kids how to be respectful of the process, while at the same
time encouraging them to be educated about the issues so they can vote to make
changes when they are of age.
You can tell your kids, “We should
celebrate the opportunity to participate in the process of shaping our
government whether you like the outcome or not. It is important to learn about
the issues and exercise your right to vote so you can support the things you believe in.”
Do
Something to Support Your Beliefs
4. If
your children don’t like the outcome or how people are reacting to the results,
find a cause to support those they feel are being treated unfairly. If they
feel the outcome may take away benefits from the poor, help them volunteer to
support families in need, serve food at a Soup Kitchen, collect toys for the
holidays, etc. If they feel the protests impacted businesses in the community,
help them support those businesses with helping out or even writing a card or
letter showing their appreciation for what they provide for the community.
For more parent tips about raising kids in the Instant Gratification Generation.
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