10 Tips to Raise Politically Savvy Kids

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This post: 10 Tips to Raise Politically Savvy Kids

Written By: The Raising Teens Today Community

I can with certainty say that I’ve never seen our country more divided. I’ve never seen more heated and passionate debates fueled by disgust, fear, and anger toward people in the “other” party. I’ve never seen more fake news to deliberately mislead the American public. And, I’ve never seen more people attack, reject, and unfriend people, both on social media and in real life, because they hold different political views.

In short… it’s ugly out there. 

The beauty of our country is that it offers its citizens freedom of speech. The downside is that it’s given everyone and anyone an open forum to express hatred and intolerance…

And, our kids are watching. 

I know every single one of us has our own views, concerns, and triggers that set us off when it comes to the political landscape. But let’s not forget the importance of being a solid role model for our children.

Within the confines of our homes, each and every one of us is molding the next generation of thinkers – let’s make sure we teach our kids to seek the truth, understand the world, and learn to engage with it thoughtfully. 

Whether your teen is eligible to vote or years away from casting their first ballet, here are 10 tips for raising politically savvy kids:

1. Encourage Critical Thinking

Encourage your kids to think for themselves. Make sure they know not to assume what they see, hear, or read is the hard truth. Urge them to question information, seek out reliable sources, data, and statistics, and think critically about what they’re exposed to on the news and especially on social media. Ask “Why?” and “How?” rather than taking things at face value. When they hear something in the news encourage them to ask:

• Who created this message?
• Are they using facts that can be substantiated, and/or are they using fear or stereotypes to get their message across?
• Where can I go to fact-check this information? 
• What other (reputable) media outlets can I look to for multiple perspectives?

2. Discuss Current Events Regularly

Make it a habit to talk about current events at home, whether it’s news about your community, the country, or the world. Keep discussions age-appropriate and focus on explaining the bigger picture. 

3. Expose Them to Different Perspectives

Introduce your kids to a variety of different viewpoints, perspectives, and political ideologies. Help them understand that there are always going to be varying opinions and that’s okay. It’s the foundation upon which our country was founded. Explain to them (and show them by your example) that it’s important to respect diverse perspectives (even if they vehemently disagree) while also forming their own. 

Also, make sure they’re fully aware that politics is a heated subject and it may not be in their best interest to initiate a conversation with someone who has opposing views unless they’re ready and willing to deal with the consequences. (I know many teens who have stopped talking to one another because of their opposing political views.)

4. Teach Them How Government Works

My guess is if you asked 100 teenagers who the Speaker of the House is or what role the Vice President of the United States plays in governing our country, they likely won’t be able to tell you. Teach your kids. Talk about how elections work, what the political parties represent, and other roles of local, state, and national government. Even a general understanding will go a long way in helping them understand how the government works. 

5. Encourage Them to Get Involved in Causes They’re Passionate About

Is your son passionate about the effects of global warming? Is your daughter too young to vote but she wants to take part in the upcoming election? Encourage them to get involved in causes that spark their passion and interest.

They can also participate in community activities, whether it’s attending a local council meeting, volunteering, or learning about issues impacting the community. Real-world involvement helps them see politics in action.

6. Model Respectful Dialogue

This is a big one, parents. Our kids are watching everything we say and do. If we’re screaming at the television or ranting about something we read on social media, we can only expect our kids to do the same one day.

Let’s show them by example how to have respectful conversations about politics (or, steer clear of conversations about politics with people we know aren’t capable of having civilized conversation), even when there are disagreements. Let’s demonstrate that it’s possible to listen to others’ views without resorting to arguments or hostility.

7. Encourage Media Literacy

It used to be that you could turn on the news and be relatively certain that what you were hearing was true. You used to be able to pick up a newspaper and have faith that the facts and statistics dispelled were factual.

Now, particularly with social media as a main source that people turn to for political updates and information, there are few (if any) filters between users and a wide world of misinformation. In fact, it’s where misinformation runs rampant. CBS News recently published an article, “Fake News, Social Media and The Death of the Truth.”

We need to teach this next generation to recognize bias, propaganda, misinformation, and fake news in the media. We need to encourage them to do their OWN research, question what they see, read, and hear, and form their own opinions based on substantiated facts. 

8. Promote Empathy and Understanding

Help your kids understand how political decisions affect different groups of people, especially those who may be marginalized or less privileged. Also, pass along information and talk about how different policies and issues impact their lives, the lives of other Americans, and their future. For a lot of our youth, it’s their hard stance on “issues” that drives their interest and passion in politics, not necessarily candidates. 

9. Support Independent Thinking

While we can share our own beliefs and values, we need to give our kids the space to develop their own political ideas and positions. Encourage healthy AND civil debate and allow them to express opinions that might differ from yours.

10. Teach the Power of Voting and Civic Engagement

Our kids need to know that their voice matters. Whether it’s voting, petitioning, or peaceful protesting – their position, their voice, and their actions can lead to real change in society. The more informed they are, the better position they can be in to initiate change that matters to them. 

Parents, let’s make it our mission to raise politically savvy kids. In doing so, we’ll be empowering them to be informed, engaged, and thoughtful citizens who can contribute positively to the world around them.

Let’s also be the role models our kids need to positively impact their future and make a powerful impact on the world around them. 

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