Resources Talking to Students about the Election
Talking to kids about elections can sometimes be complicated, especially in a world where speaking, defending and explaining are sometimes valued over listening, exploring and considering.
Students in lower grades are just beginning to understand that people can have differing opinions. As students' social maturity grows, teachers and parents can guide them daily on how to accept differences of opinion and be respectful along the way. After all, differences make the world an interesting place to learn and discover.
What Do Students Learn about Elections at School?
At Westchester Country Day School, PK-5 students will learn about the election process and the basics of the U.S. government Because students at this age are not developmentally ready to fully understand the differences among candidate platforms, faculty tailor lessons in a way that helps students learn the process, but practice it in a non-partisan way. For example, students learn about voting by voting on their favorite ice cream flavors. Our goal in these grades is to get students excited about the democratic process so that one day they will become informed and responsible citizens in our community.
In middle school, students begin to learn more about how government works in the U.S. and other parts of the world. In the seventh grade, students learn about local, state and national government. They learn how the Electoral College works and vote for their favorite soda: Coke or Pepsi? In eighth grade, students compare government types of different regions in Global Studies. They go deeper as they take American Government and other social studies and history classes in grades 9-12.
How Can I Talk to My Child about Elections at Home?
When talking to your child about the upcoming election, keeping things simple is key. An adult’s understanding of candidates and their platforms is much more complex than a child’s.
Below are some resources you may find useful in supporting your child’s growth. These links were collected by Lower, Middle and Upper School faculty at WCDS.
We Are The Teachers - Collection of Election Videos for Kids
We Are The Teachers - Collection of Children and Young Adult Election Books for Kids
Kids Discover Teaching Election Day Resources
Learning for Justice - Voting and Election | Resources for a Civil Classroom
Ben’s Guide - Online Learning Adventure about the U.S. Government
iCivics - Election Headquarters
American Library Association (ALA) Inspiring Future Voters Booklist
PBS - A Citizen’s Guide to Preserving Democracy
Child Mind Institute - Guidance for Speaking to Kids About the Election
Highlights - Helping Kids Have Kind Conversations During Election Season
The Washington Post - How Parents Talk to Kids about Politics
