I don’t usually talk politics, but my facebook feed was on fire tonight as parent after parent, posted ” What do I say to my kids?” There is no magic formula about how to talk to your kids about the election but I wanted to share what I will say to mine.
Sometimes we lose.
Sometimes no matter how much we believe in something, it doesn’t go our way.
In any group of people – a classroom, a church, a soccer team, or a country there will be differences. Some of our differences are ones we see, and some are things we don’t. The election showed us that there are a lot of opinions in this country, it is very divided, but that doesn’t mean we were wrong. I will tell my children again why I believed Hillary Clinton was the better choice and then explain that half of the country disagreed with me. Then I will tell them that all those same reasons that I thought she would make a better leader are still important to me. That I will stand up for those beliefs and now it’s even more important to do so because there might not be as many people standing behind me. That just because someone is in power does not mean that they are all powerful or that we can’t disagree.
I will tell them that when we lose we don’t give up.
That is what I will tell them in the morning.
And then I will listen and answer any questions as honestly and calmly as I can.
How are you talking to your children about the election?
More Resources
Here is a great article from the Huffington Post – that addresses more specifics for older children.
The co-author of my book Raising A Rock-Star Reader Amy Mascott has a lovely post about what she said to her kids here.
Teaching kids about empathy doesn’t have to be hard – here are some basic tips.
Books about social justice for those of you wondering where to go from here.
Books that teach empathy from What We Do All Day
Sharon says
I am going to stay silent and record their reaction to the new on TV.
An-Marie Villarin says
This is a great response. It’s true, things will not always go our way or the way that we think things will/should go. What is important is that we can say that we made our decision based on our values and belief systems and through a thorough study of all aspects. Of even greater importance is what we will learn from everything that’s happened and how we impart this knowledge and discoveries (about our own self, the people we thought we knew, society in general) to the next generation without all the negativity that has come with it.
I’m not American. I’m a Filipino living in the Philippines. We are also going through our own struggles VERY similar to what’s happening in the US now. Perhaps society/the world has been too complacent or comfortable with how good life has been because of progress. Or perhaps it’s been too distracted to notice that we have forgotten to pass on values such as respect, tolerance, cooperation, patience, responsibility, honesty, and appropriate conflict resolution.
I am also a teacher and a mother of two boys. The events these past few months have really jolted me and made me realize that I have my work cut out for me if I want to make sure that I leave this world better than I came into it.
Thank you for this post!
Emily says
That’s the plan I came up with in the wee hours. Especially the part about how this doesn’t change what I believe or how I will act.
I hope she sleeps a little late.
Allison McDonald says
If anything I feel this fuels me to be a better example of how to act and what I believe.
Laura says
” . . . I will stand up for those beliefs and now it’s even more important to do so because there might not be as many people standing behind me.”
Thank you for the reminder and the pep talk. There’s a lot of work to do.
Allison McDonald says
yes there is, we can do it!
Elizabeth says
“I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” Charles R. Swindoll, author
I am happy you’ve posted this. My two toddler girls are too young to understand an election. I am going to take solace in their ability to simply “be” today while doing my best to work through my own reaction in a positive, meaningful, productive way. They may not understand what happened, but they will sense that I am feeling sad today and hopefully I can set the example that I have the power to choose my own reactions and my actions.
Allison McDonald says
Great quote! I can’t wait to get to preschool today to be around 8 little people who don’t get it either!
Nancy says
My grandson who’s five was upset about the news and didn’t understand how Clinton could have lost when we voted for her. We tried to explain that in our country everyone has a vote and she didn’t get enough. He’d seen enough on the news to get an opinion of his own that trump was very loud and seemed mean. We told him that we don’t act that way and that he’ll have lots of people around him to help him make good choices. Hopefully that’s the truth. He definitely does not set a good example of how we want our children to act.
Allison McDonald says
Well said!
Tara says
I agree with everything you said. And I would add…don’t add to the hate. I don’t like our new president elect but I will NOT spread hate by teaching my children to hate (especially when it comes to the highest office in our land). I will try to respect the office of the president and pray. That’s all I can do
Allison McDonald says
Yes.