🍎 Teaching Your Children the Election Process Leading up to the 2024 Election

The convention for the Nation Republican Party started last night. On August 19-22.  the National Democratic Party will hold their convention.  These events are an opportunity for you kids and yourself to see some outstanding speakers and usually there are some performances by well known entertainers.  These conventions give your children a chance to see first hand, people they see in the news or may hear about. Watching both allows viewers to make comparisons and contrasts of each party. You are teaching your children that when making a big choice in life, “YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK.” Whether it’s shopping for a big family purchase like a house, car or refrigerator, or looking for the best teacher or doctor for your child, approaching the big decisions in life by doing research and taking thoughtful consideration, we don’t take them lightly.

Your children are the future of our world.  For them to see a little bit of each night of coverage may be a good idea.  I wouldn’t make them watch an entire evening of the program, but a small portion of an evening’s program could lead to some good before bed or breakfast discussions.  Of course, you watch with them, so that you can explain and answer questions. Checkout who is speaking/performing each night and select sections that you feel your child would be interested in.  This does require a bit of homework on your end.  Do a little pre-show introduction during dinner to ‘set the stage.’ For example, now that the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate has been announced, J.D. Vance, a United States Senator from Ohio, read up or have your kids do a little research on Senator Vance. He has written a best selling book that was turned in to a movie, staring Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy.  With your approval, this might be good reading, depending on your child’s age. 

     For your children to watch a little of the DNC and RNC coverage may teach them a little of what is going on and may lead to further questions and reading on their part.  YOU may learn a few things too.  Teach your kids about the qualifications to become the President of the United States such as they have to be a natural born citizen and they must be at least forty years of age.  Explain that a United States President may serve a maximum of 2 terms and that each term is 4 years.  Other topics that may come up are “How does someone become President?” It starts with a large field of candidates who campaign with Primaries, early in the year of the election with the Iowa Caucuses and then the New Hampshire Primaries and then so on from there eventually weeding out the weaker candidates until a c candidate collects enough delegates to become the nominee for their party and then delivered at each convention to make each candidate official, one from the Democratic Party and one from the Republican Party.  These candidates are on the ballot in November and that sometimes there are other party candidates.  Explain what a political party and that we are primarily a two party system. This election will also have Robert F. Kennedy Jr..  His father also ran for President and was assassinated in San Francisco as he was campaigning.  One question will lead to another and you may just be surprised by just how much you DO know.  

     Explain that people need to register to vote where they live and that they get a Voter Registration Card that they must take, along with photo ID to prove they are who they are.  Poll workers are hired to work on Election Day in each precinct you must be at least 18 to work the polls.  Every town and city is divided into Precincts and each registered citizen gets a notification as to the location where they will vote.  Precincts can be held at schools, senior citizen centers and other buildings that have large enough facilities.  Since many precincts are in schools, many schools are closed on Election Day to handle the extra traffic at the school.  

     Some good questions to pose to your children might be:

  -What qualities do you think would make a good President?

   -What problems do you see that the next President needs to solve?

    -If your kids say I do or don’t like one candidate or another ask them why or why not?  It is good for them to develop their own ideas and learn how to express their thoughts and ideas.

       Of course you can get into the three branches of government, the Judicial Branch, the Legislative Branch and the Executive Branch which is where the President fits in.  Explain what the word incumbent means and that often the incumbent has an advantage because he or she has held the office before.  In may ways, in this election we have two incumbents, both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have been President before. 

     These discussion will help your children understand current events and how our government works. Teach your child that the President works for the American citizens and they should do a job worthy of the hard working American citizens.  We pay their salary.  A knowledgable and curious child becomes and knowledgable and curious adult and an informed citizen.  This can lead to Great Days for all of us.