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Half of American parents don’t discuss politics with their children, but research suggests parenting plays a crucial role in shaping their political views and participation.
American children have never been more exposed to politics.
One in five TikTok users are children, and TikTok ranks as the most popular platform where users feel free to talk politics. Politicians inspiring viral cat memes make politics even more potent fodder for children.
But how should parents talk to their children about politics—beyond the spectacle, perhaps toward future participation?
Since 1964, American voters in the 18-to-24 age bracket have traditionally had the lowest turnout rates.
BECOMING MORE EDUCATED
How will these early social media exposures affect kids’ participation as they age?
“Understanding how young people become predisposed towards democratic participation, I think, is one of the most important political questions of our time,” says civic engagement researcher Christopher M. Wegemer.
The nonprofit More in Common asked 60 American parents across the political spectrum how they talk to their children about politics. Most parents shared that they do not speak to their children under seven about political or social issues because they feel their children are too young to understand. For parents with children older than seven, about half reported talking to their children about politics. This holds across political lines—Democrats and Republicans are equally likely to talk or not talk to their children about political and social issues.
SOLID MORAL VALUES
The parents stressed that teaching their children solid moral values—particularly respecting others—is more important than teaching them a particular political viewpoint. This finding mirrors the 2022 Pew Research Center survey, which found that only 16 percent of U.S. parents say it’s essential that their children share their political beliefs.
“I simply try to slowly teach [my son] the importance of respecting others and being a good person,” said a Democrat and father of a three-year-old in the More in Common study. A Republican father to a 10-year-old said, “I will discuss certain current events or topics with my child, but I will focus on teaching basic values such as kindness, respect, and fairness.”
While most parents may not overtly be teaching their politics to their children, the research is resoundingly clear: Parenting has enduring effects on a child’s future politics and participation.
PARENTAL ADVICE
Studies suggest that children primarily turn to their parents for guidance on assessing news; volatile politics, as we are experiencing now, is an opportunity to enhance youth political participation, and early childhood attachment can strongly predict a child’s political orientation at age 26.
“Parenting attachment style is a political predictor. Parents should be aware that their actions can have long-term political ramifications, even without discussing politics,” says Wegemer. “How they interact with their kids and contexts can fundamentally have political implications.”
“Understanding how young people develop politically is not necessarily partisan Republican versus Democrat; it’s about democracy versus authoritarianism,” said Wegemer. “It’s about how young people feel agency in our society. Political polarization and the animosity between the parties is eroding people’s faith in the parties and eroding people’s faith in democracy.”
Children need support in assessing credibility. Add in social media, and things get more complicated. Many children and teens need help assessing the credibility of online information.
SEVEN KEYS IN TALKING WITH STUDENTS
1. Center your why. Talk about the civic values that guide your political thinking: Explain how what and who you vote for connects to these principles.
2. Nurture critical thinking around media. Here are some questions you could ask your kids after they see one-sided political news:
● Who created this message?
● Are they using facts, fear, or stereotypes?
● Whose voices are not being represented?
● What other media can I look to for multiple perspectives?
3. Use specific, individualizing language, not generalizations. If you disagree with something a politician says, point out precisely why to your kids rather than using broad-brush language about a group of people. Finer details can help kids notice that communities are not monoliths.
4. Find common ground. We are naturally inclined to view ourselves as good and reasonable and others as not. Challenge your kids to ask what others value and how their views make them think they are excellent and reasonable.
5. Reconsider the jokes you tell. Disparaging humor about whole groups of people can normalize discrimination against them.
6. Check your body language and tone. Kids notice our subtle gestures and facial expressions. They’ll take cues from how you treat neighbors with differing politics.
7. Talk about when it’s time to take a stand. We have a responsibility to call out dehumanization by politicians. Talk to your kids about actions we can take to stand up for each other.
Maybe soon, the remaining 50 percent will speak with their kids about politics. I’d be happy with an additional 10 percent at this point.
This column is by Ritchie Lucas, Founder/CEO of the non-profit The Student Success Project. He can be reached by email at ritchie@studentsuccessproject.org and on Facebook as The Student Success Project.
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