Talking Elections: A Non-Partisan Practical Framework
Talking about elections with kids can be a powerful way to teach them about civic engagement, critical thinking, and the role they play in shaping the future. Elections aren’t just about voting—they're about understanding the issues, evaluating information, and thinking critically about the choices we make. In a world where information is constantly flowing from screens, it’s important to give kids the tools to make sense of what they see and hear, and to ask thoughtful questions about the democratic process.
This material is designed to help families talk about elections in a way that is engaging and age-appropriate. It’s never too early to start conversations about what it means to participate in a democracy, and these activities provide the perfect starting point.
Note: These activities are for you, no matter your beliefs.
It’s important to note that the activities we’ve created around elections and civic engagement are designed to be completely non-partisan. Our goal is not to promote any specific political beliefs, but rather to foster critical thinking, encourage thoughtful discussion, and help kids understand the democratic process. These activities are meant to equip families with tools to navigate the complexities of elections, regardless of individual political affiliations.
We believe that every child should feel empowered to ask questions, think independently, and form their own opinions based on facts and respectful dialogue. The focus here is on building an informed, engaged mindset, so that children and teens can grow into responsible citizens who approach the political landscape with curiosity, empathy, and open-mindedness.
Resources to Explain Elections to Kids
Elections can seem complicated, especially to young minds. Helping kids understand the basics of how voting works, why it's important, and the impact it has on their community and country can lay a foundation for civic engagement later in life. Here are some great resources for explaining elections in a kid-friendly way, complete with activities, infographics, and videos.
Election Infographic for Kids | HarperCollins
This vibrant and simple infographic breaks down the election process into bite-sized, easy-to-understand pieces. It’s a great visual tool for kids to learn about everything from the different branches of government to how votes are counted.PBS Parents: Let’s Vote
PBS offers an interactive site with guidance for parents on how to talk about elections and ways for kids to learn about elections through games, quizzes, and videos. It covers topics like voting, leadership, and what it means to be a good citizen in a democracy.Scholastic News Election 2024
Scholastic provides a comprehensive hub of election resources, perfect for the classroom or home learning. Their Election 2024 content includes educational articles, lesson plans, and interactive activities that help students understand the importance of voting and civic engagement. The site features engaging articles on candidates, political parties, and the voting process, along with tools like mock elections to bring learning to life in real time.Duck for President by Doreen Cronin
This humorous picture book introduces younger kids to the concept of elections in a fun and accessible way. Duck runs for office and learns that being in charge isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, offering a light-hearted introduction to leadership and democracy.Sesame Street's Election Resources
Sesame Street often provides resources and videos to help explain elections to preschoolers. Characters like Elmo and Abby Cadabby introduce key concepts such as voting and making decisions as a group.
Watching Political Ads with Kids
When my daughter was in kindergarten, she came home with a mix of comments about the presidential election. They were a jumble of overheard adult conversations, kids' interpretations, and a few wild guesses thrown in for good measure. It was a reminder that even when we’re not having “serious” conversations with them, kids are always listening. And they take in so much more than we expect.
Our kids are already absorbing ideas about elections and politics, so why not help them make sense of it?
One of our roles as parents is to help them understand the world, even when the topics are complicated—especially when they’re complicated. Elections are about more than just voting. They're about understanding political issues, evaluating information, and making informed choices. I decided to lean into the questions my daughter was bringing home, using them as an opportunity to talk about how we decide what’s true and what’s just meant to persuade. Several elections later, we still find ourselves in conversations about the ads.
Political ads are a great starting point for these conversations. They’re everywhere—TV, online, even the neighbor's front lawn—and they can be confusing or even a little scary for kids. Sitting down and talking through these ads helps them see that the flashy graphics and dramatic music are all part of a strategy. By discussing these ads, we can give kids the tools they need to evaluate information critically, and we can help them start to understand how messages are crafted, and why it's important to ask questions.
The Teachable Moments in Ads
Wait, learn while watching ads? Absolutely! Ads are designed to persuade us—sometimes subtly, sometimes not-so-subtly. By discussing election ads, you’re helping your kids build the skills they need to spot the tricks of persuasion. Ads often try to evoke strong emotions like fear, hope, or anger. Kids may not fully understand the messages, but they definitely feel those emotions.
Here are a few things you can teach through this exercise:
Recognize Persuasive Techniques: Just like product ads try to sell a toy or cereal, political ads are trying to sell an idea or candidate. How do ads use music, images, and messaging to make viewers feel a certain way? Certain colors, symbols, and even the choice of words can influence our feelings about a candidate or issue.
Identify Bias and Exaggeration: Help your kids understand that not everything in an ad is necessarily true. Do you think that statement has sources to back up its claim? Identifying when an ad seems exaggerated or leaves out important context can help them develop a healthy skepticism. This will also help them learn to identify bias in other forms of media.
Encourage Curiosity: Why does the ad focus on one issue but ignore others? Who paid for the ad? What does the ad want you to do or think? This is a great opportunity to discuss the idea of “who benefits”—in other words, who stands to gain from the message in the ad—and how different groups may have different interests during an election.
Compare and Contrast Ads Activity
Note: Adjust the conversation as appropriate for the age of your child. For example, with a younger child, you might compare and contrast bumper stickers on cars instead of watching ads.
What You'll Need
A political ad. This can be from a current campaign, or even an older ad.
A traditional product ad (e.g., a cereal commercial or toy ad).
Instructions
Watch the Product Ad First: Show the product ad to your child and ask some guiding questions: What is the goal of this ad? How are they trying to get you to want this product? Do you think everything they say about the product is true? Why or why not?
Watch the Political Ad: Now, show the political ad and discuss: What is the ad trying to convince you of? What emotions did you feel while watching it? Why do you think they want you to feel those emotions? Did they use any scary/intense images or phrases? Why might they do that?
Compare and Contrast: Talk about how the political ad is similar to and different from the product ad. Both are trying to sell something, but the stakes are different. Discuss how the techniques used in political ads might be more emotionally charged because they want to sway people's votes, which is a bigger decision than buying a product.
Fact-Check Together: If relevant, take some time to fact-check a statement made in the political ad. Use a resource like FactCheck.org or PolitiFact to verify the claims. This helps reinforce the importance of questioning and verifying information before accepting it as truth.
If Difficult Topics Come Up...
In the weeks leading up to an election, your child will be exposed to many political ads and civic issues no matter what your conversations are like at home. Political ads sometimes touch on heavy or controversial issues, like healthcare, immigration, or national security. These topics can be intimidating for both parents and kids to discuss, but they can also be important learning moments.
By engaging your child in a discussion about the tactics politicians might use in their campaigns, and by addressing these topics before they come up unexpectedly, you will help your child learn to emotionally regulate when they come across these topics in real life.
Here are some tips for addressing difficult topics:
Be Honest, but Age-Appropriate: Kids can sense when something is being hidden from them. It’s better to provide a simple, honest explanation that’s appropriate for their age than to avoid the topic entirely.
Share Your Values: When ads touch on sensitive topics, it’s an opportunity to share your family’s values. Explain why you feel the way you do and encourage your kids to ask questions.
Create a Safe Space for Questions: Let your kids know that it’s okay to ask any question, even if it seems uncomfortable. This helps them process what they’re seeing and hearing, and fosters an environment of open communication.
In this video, Dr. Marcie and Dr. Carla tackle the challenge every parent faces: how do we help our children make sense of elections without getting lost in partisan politics? We use our 5-step framework that transforms these tricky moments into opportunities for teaching critical thinking and civic engagement, as well as navigating productive disagreement and misinformation.
Additional Resources
Helping kids understand the importance of voting, learn how elections work, and encourageing critical thinking about political information can set them up for a lifetime of informed decision-making. Below are some resources we recommend to spark conversations and provide reliable information.
Fact-Checking and Political Literacy
FactCheck.org
A trusted, nonpartisan resource for verifying the accuracy of political claims. FactCheck.org is perfect for helping kids and teens learn how to separate fact from misinformation when they hear campaign promises or read political headlines.
PolitiFact
Similar to FactCheck.org, PolitiFact is another reputable site for evaluating political claims. Its famous "Truth-O-Meter" offers a visual way to explain whether a statement is true, false, or somewhere in between.
Election Articles | Snopes.com
Snopes is a widely respected source for debunking myths and hoaxes. Their election-related articles are helpful in dispelling rumors, especially around contentious topics or viral social media claims.
Exploring Personal Political Preferences
ISideWith.com
This site helps users align their personal views with political parties and candidates. A great tool for teens (or parents!) to explore how their values and opinions match up with the candidates, offering a personalized insight into the election process.
Ballotpedia
A comprehensive resource for everything related to elections, from candidate profiles to ballot measures. Ballotpedia provides nonpartisan information to help you and your family understand local and national elections alike.
Personalized Ballot | VOTE411
Created by the League of Women Voters, this tool offers personalized information about your local ballot, candidates, and key election dates. It’s a great way to help kids see what will appear on the ballot and explore the issues that affect their community.
Election Content for Kids
Arthur | Get Out the Vote! | PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS and Arthur have created a fun, accessible way for young kids to understand the importance of voting. This episode introduces the concept of voting in a relatable way, using familiar characters to demonstrate how making a choice can impact the world around them.
'It's All Local' Full Song 🏘 Well Versed Episode 5 | Nickelodeon
This catchy song from Nickelodeon’s Well Versed series teaches kids about the importance of local elections. It’s a great way to show how decisions made in your neighborhood matter just as much as national ones.
'Part of Something' Full Song 🤝 Well Versed Episode 6 | Nickelodeon
Another hit from Nickelodeon’s Well Versed, this song emphasizes community involvement and voting as a way to contribute to something bigger than yourself. It’s a wonderful starting point for conversations about civic duty.
Civics, Government, and Other Materials
iCivics
Founded by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, iCivics offers interactive, educational games and lesson plans that teach kids about civics, government, and the electoral process. The platform includes games like Win the White House, where students can simulate running a presidential campaign, making it both fun and informative.
National Geographic: Guide to UK Elections
If you’re based in the U.S. and want to explore a bit of how it works elsewhere… This guide from National Geographic Kids breaks down the key elements of a general election in the United Kingdom. It explains the voting process, the role of political parties, and what happens after the election.
