How To Teach Your Children to Become Informed Voters

With so much going on in the world, it is imperative that every registered voter should cast an informed vote in the upcoming Presidential election. However, it is not enough to vote once every four years; you should be voting in each city, state, and national election.

As parents it is our responsibility to teach our children to become voters, and even more important, responsible voters. I have several ideas to help you do that and they are as follows:

1. The best way is to be the example for your children. If you stay informed and vote, they probably will also. Your example will be heard much louder than any words you ever say to your children.
2. Discuss politics with your significant other, with friends, with other family members. Yes, I know it is always said that “politics” is a subject best left out of discussions. But I think that was a rumor started by politicians.
3. My one caveat to that is that you must have an open mind. I know that you think Mr. Jones is the only candidate worth voting for and your brother-in-law is an idiot for backing Mr. Smith. Just listen to what he says about Mr. Smith. You may learn something.
4. Never have heated arguments about politics. Just listen to what the other person says. Who knows? Maybe you will hear something you can use to blow a hole in his belief in a certain candidate.
5. Have family discussions around the dinner table. Yes, I am a big proponent of having dinner as a family with all phones and TV’s off. It is a time to review each person’s day and bond as a family. This is a perfect time for political discussions.
6. If you have teens, I recommend setting aside some time each day to discuss current events. As in #5, dinner time is perfect.
7. Have each child research a particular candidate and bring that information back to the family. I don’t care how much you hate that “other” political party; there is something to be learned from their candidates—good or bad.
8. Have your child research an issue in the upcoming election. Have her present it to the family one evening. Let her say what she has learned and how she feels about it.
9. Never downplay your child’s opinions even if they differ from yours. Instead ask why he feels that way and listen to what he says. His ideas have value and should be respected because he has done some research and spent time thinking about it.
10. Let your children listen to these debates. It will open the door to talking to your child about our system of government and why voting is important.
11. Discuss with them why you hold your beliefs about the economy, the military, the war, welfare, abortion, and other topics he will hear about in school or other places.
12. Answer their questions directly, based on age. When a 5 year old asks about why you are voting, she does not need a tirade about the “evils of the other party” or a complicated recitation of the constitution. A simple “This is how Americans choose the President and others who will make decisions about our country” will do.
13. Take your child with you when you vote. Show him how it is done.

It is sad to me that so few people in the United States take the time to vote. If there is voter turnout of between 35%-40%, everyone is excited about the high interest. I think that is pathetic. It is also why so many of our members of Congress keep being re-elected, even though they should not be there because they are representing special interests instead of the general population.

We can make a difference and teach our children to make a difference!