Enriching Education: Talking About the Elections with Your Kids

I had a chance to interview political expert Amani Wells-Onyioha, operations director of Sole Strategiesabout the upcoming midterms and how to talk to your children about elections and ballot issues.

“It’s important that parents discuss politics with their children. While their views may differ, being able to talk through the different issues on your local ballot and how the voting process works empowers your kids to make clear decisions and be prepared to go to the polls for the first time. Midterms are as important as the presidential elections, so this is a great time to get started.”

• Why is it important to talk about politics with children, even if there are disagreements?

It’s better that children know all the facts and are able to form their own political opinions than to try to shield them from what they will eventually discover anyway. Democrats thrive on an educated electoral base. It’s better to start education as early as possible so kids can have freedom and knowledge to engage with politics when they’re older. 

• How early can families start engaging their kids in learning about politics?

As soon as your kids start learning about history it's a good time to begin learning about politics. The two go hand in hand. The news is a great way to introduce politics. And I believe when something is going on in the world it's important to open the floor up to discussion with your kids. Allow them to ask questions and truly listen to them.

• Why should families encourage their kids to learn about all ballot issues, not just the highly publicized ones?

A lot of the hugely publicized issues can become sensationalized. On the other hand, some of the issues that get a lot of attention were at one point being worked on behind the scenes and those pulling the strings to get them passed hoped they would squeak by unnoticed. Families should focus on every issue that comes up on the ballot because they can all have powerful ramifications on their lives.  

• Why is it important for families to learn about lesser-known candidates?

Just because a candidate is popular, doesn’t mean they are the right candidate for you. Running for office is often about access. Many times people who want to run for office don't because they lack access, and those who do pursue candidacy often don't have the resources that their competitors do. So there may be a community organizer who doesn’t have the funds to garner as much attention as someone else, but that doesn’t mean they are any less qualified for the role. Opening up your vision to candidates beyond the most popular ones gives these other candidates a chance to be seen and challenges the status quo.

• How can families find good, reputable resources to learn more about politics and political issues in an educational way?

YouTube is an excellent source for punchy content that takes political issues and communicates them in a way that any American can understand. Vox is one of my favorite channels for that.