How to Talk to Your Kids About the Election: Noticing Different Ideas, Finding Common Ground

Talking to your kids about the election can be a bit tricky. For many families, this election season has been a time of stress, fear, and uncertainty, while for others, it’s been an exciting time full of hope for change. Regardless of how you personally feel, it’s important to take the opportunity to talk to your children in an age-appropriate way about what the election is, why it matters, and how different people have different ideas about what’s best for everyone. Giving children a clear framework for interpreting things they hear from the news or at school is an important part of reducing their uncertainty-related anxiety and fear.

Here's how you can have these conversations with your kids, while acknowledging the range of emotions that the election outcomes have produced.

Acknowledge the Emotions Around the Election

It's important to start by recognizing that this election season may feel stressful and scary, or hopeful and exciting for your family. With so much at stake and so many differing opinions, it’s natural for everyone—from children to adults—to have a lot of emotions about it. Some people may feel hopeful and eager for change, while others may feel anxious about what the future will bring.

You can acknowledge these emotions with your kids, saying something like:"I know this election feels really important and can make people feel worried or nervous, or even excited for what might happen next. Whatever you’re feeling is okay. It’s normal to have different emotions during times like this, and we can talk about it together."

This gives your kids permission to feel whatever they’re feeling and helps create an open space for discussion.

Explain the Basics of Elections

Before diving into the details about the candidates or the election process, it’s helpful to explain the basics of how elections work. You can say something like:"In our country, elections are a way for people to choose who will make important decisions for everyone. When people vote, they’re choosing a leader who will help decide things like laws, how money is spent, and how we take care of each other. In every election some people are disappointed in the outcome, that's normal and ok. It can be especially hard when you really believe in some ideas and don't believe in others."

Let your kids know that while the election can bring strong feelings, it’s a peaceful process where everyone’s voice matters. Encourage them to ask questions and be curious about the process.

Framework for Interpreting the News: Different Ideas About How to Take Care of Each Other

A great way to start a conversation about the election is to explain that people have different ideas about what’s best for everyone. These differences can seem confusing, but at the end of the day they are all about how to take care of ourselves, our families, and our neighbors. Here are some examples of the kinds of ideas people might have when it comes to taking care of each other:

How to Spend Money for the Common Good Some people believe that everyone should pay taxes, and that the government should use this money to build schools, roads, parks, and help people who need it. Others think people should have the freedom to choose how to spend their own money, without government involvement.
Helping People in Our Own Country vs. Helping the World Some people believe that we should focus on solving problems here in our own country, like making sure everyone has a safe place to live or enough food. Others think it’s just as important to help people in other countries, because when people around the world are safe, we all benefit.
Hard Work vs. Special Support Some people think that if people work hard they will get what they need for their families, no matter where they come from or what they look like. Others believe that we should give extra help to those who are struggling the most, like people without homes or families who don’t have enough to eat.
Rules and Consequences vs. Meeting People’s Needs Some believe that strong rules and punishments are needed to keep people in line, while others think that people only break the rules when they don’t have what they need, like food or a safe place to live. They believe we should focus on making sure everyone’s basic needs are met so that people don’t feel forced to break the rules.

Even if they have different ideas about how to do it, we all share goals of taking good care of ourselves, and the people we care about.

By explaining that these different ideas exist, you help your kids understand that the election is a way for people to decide which solutions they think will work best. It’s okay for people to have different opinions—finding out what people who we disagree with really care about the most is a good way to take care of ourselves when we are scared.

Identify Your Family’s Beliefs and Ideas

As you talk to your kids about the election, it can be helpful to pause and reflect on your own family's values and beliefs. What do you believe is important when it comes to how we take care of each other? What kind of world do you want to create? Helping your children understand your family’s ideas gives them a clear sense of your values and can provide a foundation for exploring other people’s perspectives.

Ask your kids questions like:

"What do we think is important to help people have a good life?"
"What do we believe about sharing, helping others, or making decisions as a group?"

This can be a great moment to discuss your family’s values and beliefs, whether that’s about fairness, equality, helping those in need, or the importance of community. These conversations will help your children develop a deeper understanding of where you’re coming from and why you make certain decisions as a family.

Then, you can also gently encourage them to think about how other families might have different beliefs. For example, maybe one family believes in a strong government to help solve problems, while another family believes that individuals should have more control over their own money and decisions.

You could say:"Our family believes that helping people in need is really important. But we know other families might have different ideas about how to do that. Some families might think we should all pay more taxes so the government can help everyone. Other families might believe we should let people decide for themselves how to help others. That’s okay—everyone has different ideas about what’s best."

Encourage your kids to think about how these different ideas come from different values and experiences, and that’s what makes the world an interesting and diverse place. Recognizing that different families might have different views can help your children develop empathy and respect for others, even when they disagree.

Emphasize Respect and Open-Mindedness

Even if we disagree on which ideas are the best, it’s important to listen to others and try to understand where they’re coming from. This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about respect and empathy.

You can say:"People don’t always agree on what’s best, but we can all learn from each other. It’s important to listen to others, even when we don’t agree. By talking and listening to each other, we can find better ways to take care of everyone."

Encourage your kids to ask questions and express their thoughts, but also teach them how to listen. When we approach conversations with respect and an open mind, we all have a better chance of understanding each other’s perspectives.

Teach Critical Thinking

As kids grow older, it’s important to teach them how to think critically about what they hear during election time. With so many messages in the media—from news outlets to political ads—it’s important for them to learn how to evaluate information thoughtfully.

You can encourage your kids to ask questions like:"Where did this information come from?""Is it based on facts, or is it just someone’s opinion?""What do other people think about this?"

By teaching your kids to think critically, you empower them to make their own informed decisions and to not just follow what everyone else says.

Focus on the Positive Impact We Can Have

While the election may bring up strong feelings, it’s also an opportunity to talk about the positive impact we can have, no matter who wins. Teach your kids that elections are just one way we can work together to make the world a better place. We can also make a difference by helping our neighbors, being kind, and supporting each other in our communities.

You can say:"Even after the election is over, we can still help make the world better. We can help others, volunteer, or just be kind. It’s important that we all do our part to make sure everyone feels safe, cared for, and supported."

Final Thoughts

Talking to your kids about the election is a great chance to teach them important lessons about democracy, empathy, and respect. While the election may bring a range of emotions—some hopeful, some anxious—it’s a time to help kids understand that everyone has a role to play in shaping the future. The key is to approach these conversations with openness, respect, and a willingness to listen.

By teaching kids how to navigate different ideas and how to respect those with differing opinions, you're preparing them to be thoughtful, compassionate citizens in a diverse world. Whether they’re feeling anxious, hopeful, or somewhere in between, these conversations can help them feel empowered and engaged, no matter what happens in the election.

How are you talking to your kids about the election? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear from you!