Parenting Daily

Here in Indiana, it’s Primary Election Day! (Same goes for North Carolina) It’s hard to miss the commercials and news stories if you’re in either of these states. No matter where you are, you’ve probably already been aware for months now of the Presidential Race, as well as any local races for judges, governors, state representatives, etc. But what about your teen? This year, especially, is an exciting time to get your teen interested and hopefully keep them interested for life.

Find out what the schools are doing. Many middle and high school students participate in some sort of “current events” discussion in one or more of their classes. So there’s a pretty good possibility that they’ve already been talking about the candidates, the issues, and who’s winning and who’s losing. Some schools also do mock elections—a fun way for students to feel like their opinions matter and has the added bonus of getting them acquainted with the voting process. Hands-on experiences will always grab teens’ attention more than simply reading about the election process in a textbook or doing a report on an issue or candidate. Don’t be afraid to talk to your teen’s teachers to find out what they’ve got planned in regards to the election. And just like in the real elections, schools and teachers can often use volunteers to help make activities happen. If you’ve got the time and energy to do even a little bit, let the teachers know! This time of the year is also prime time for student elections in your child’s school. Find out from your teen who the student candidates are and what their platforms are. Even if the platforms seem trivial (longer lunches, more snack machines, less homework, looser dress codes), they aren’t to your teen. Humor’s okay but talking down to your teen about the student platforms is almost certain to shut your teen down to further political discussion.

At home, what kind of discussions are you having with your teen about the election? Do they know who you’re voting for? Why you’re supporting a particular candidate or interested in certain issues? I’m not suggesting you have a roundtable discussion about all the candidates and issues (unless your family is into that sort of thing!). Casual conversations, perhaps in the car on the way to school or an activity, are just fine. Take advantage of a radio commercial about a candidate to spark a discussion. Or pay attention to what your teen is showing interest in and use that to lead into a discussion—“I know you said you think our town needs more skate parks, so which candidate do you think could help make that happen?”

What do you do with the teen who thinks politics are boring? I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it or lecture them about it. Keep it casual, keep it relevant to their lives, let them know where you stand, and (if possible), take them with you when you vote. Sometimes it’s a matter of feeling overwhelmed or intimidated by the whole process. Your teen isn’t a baby, but sometimes small steps are the best way to go!

Happy voting!

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