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Election Excitement
Rated by 3 members
"I just can't wait!" Julia, 9, blurts enthusiastically one day after school. "For what?" I ask, expecting the usual -- "my birthday" or "summer vacation." Instead, she surprises me by answering, "To find out who will be our next president. I can't believe we have to wait until November." She sighs.
Jump back. Outside of being really angry at President Ford for interrupting my Saturday morning cartoons when he was inaugurated, I don't remember having much interest in politics when I was in grade school.
Perhaps we're raising a new generation of politicos and activists? Surprised and pleased at her interest in the presidential race, I try to encourage both Julia and Henry to follow the race and choose a candidate. First we ask them what they would most want a new president to do or change about the world.
"Global warming!" Julia says without hesitating, as they've been studying climate change at school.
"I want a president who is a good speaker," Henry says.
I help Julia do some research on the internet and interpret the various candidates' positions on the environment. I prescreen a few of the candidates' speeches and advertisements on www.YouTube.com, and select a couple that are relevant, and appropriate, for them to watch.
After coming up with their candidate preference we make a timeline of the election, from the primaries through the general election. We also take a look at campaign tracker on www.washingtonpost.com that gives a day-by-day posting of where the candidates are and where they are speaking. "My candidate is in two states in one day, Mommy!" Julia exclaims.
We also find a couple of election-related books from the library that helped them put some of this in context:
- Smart About the Presidents by Jon Buller
- Time for Kids: Presidents of the United States
- The Scholastic Encyclopedia of Presidents by David Rubel
I recently read that Caroline Kennedy said her children influenced her decision on which candidate to support. If our kids come up with a strong enough argument, I plan to follow her lead.
Member Comments On…
Election Excitement
Growing up, we were not allowed to discuss politics. Punishments would given if we pushed the issue! So I didn't learn about the different parties, and all that's involved until I became a volunteer for a person that I knew that was running for office. I now hold a position with my party, and our family is very involved. I would never allow my children to decide for us, but jump at the opportunity to educate them. They're 6 and 3 now, so we don't go too in depth. But they're on the campaign trail with me as I work for those that I think will make our state and country a better place to live!
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Well I have no objection to teaching the election process, start with the Constitution and remind your children that America was founded on Christian principles. My homeschooled children have no interest in this voting issue, simply because they are not indoctrinated daily with media. They have better things to spend their spare time on like playing with their dolls and building with their legos.
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How wonderful to see such interest and awareness about the political process at such a young age. That is awesome!
cpoko, try visiting the "Time for Kids" website. (It's by the publishers of Time Magazine, but is geared for children, and should pop right up on any search engine.) They have a concise, objective overview of the candidates on a few key issues.
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I think it's great to get your kids interested in the presidential race....I don't remember having any interest in that as a child. My kids have been having great political discussions (my 9 year old boy is worried that a woman president might make laws that boys wouldn't like...maybe for no new video games LOL)
But, I can't imagine letting my kids' political views influence my vote. That seems incredibly irresponsible. They don't have the insight to completely judge a canidates beliefs and abilities.
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It would be great if kids were taught about the founding of our country and to be proud of being an American. If Global Warming is your kids top issue I would seriously question what is being taught in his/her classroom.
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Is there a good site that boils down the candidates' platforms (objectively) but in terms kids can understand?
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With so much at stake in the upcoming election, it's a pity there are parents who will let their children decide the future course of our country. I really think you should be smarter than a fifth grader to cast a vote.
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