By Tim Jahn, M.ED
This year’s primary campaigns and candidate debates have dominated headlines and news cycles. Because of social media and the relevance of the issues being raised, many young people are more engaged in the process than ever. Parents have a hard enough time talking about sex, drugs and drinking with their teens, but what about politics? In the workplace, discussing politics can be taboo, and even at home couples may avoid talking about politics if it leads to disagreements and arguments. So do parents really want to ask their teenagers, who tend to argue about everything, what they think about the candidates and the issues?
When parents and teens are on different ends of the political spectrum, or when they vehemently disagree about the issues, either side can feel attacked, rejected or disrespected. But these differences provide a great opportunity for adults and youth to listen respectfully to each other and recognize that differences of opinions and ideas are a necessary part of the democratic process. Here are some suggestions for discussing politics with teens:
- Show by your own example how to be an involved citizen. Let kids see you reading the newspaper, or watching the news, and hear you talking about the issues and the candidates.
- Ask teens their opinions on issues like climate change, immigration or homeland security. Research an issue that may really intrigue them – the drinking age or the minimum wage – and challenge them to find out where the candidates stand on these issues.
- Keep an open mind. Make sure both you and your teen have the facts straight before you get caught up in a heated debate. Finding the facts together can be one way to get him involved.
- Support your own party and candidate without resorting to bad-mouthing the opposition. Teens are turned off by negative smear tactics usually found in today’s campaigns.
- Be respectful of your teen’s ideas and opinions, even when they contradict your own or seem far-fetched. Your relationship with her is far more important than being right.Direct teens towards youth-oriented web sites that encourage political involvement like MTV’s Rock the Vote at http://www.rockthevote.org/ or YOUTHVOTE.ORG at http://youthvote.org/
Tim Jahn is a Human Ecology Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Family Health and Wellness Program and leads workshops for parents of pre-teens and teens. He can be reached at 631-727-7850 ext. 331 or at tcj2@cornell.edu.