This is an election of historic proportions. The diversity of the candidates combined with the issues facing our country make this election particularly intriguing for American voters and, let’s not forget, soon-to-be voters.

After all, just because they’re not old enough to vote doesn’t mean that kids aren’t interested in the election. According to Suzanne Freeman, online editor for Scholastic News – a news source for kids – children are aware of the issues facing our society. “At Scholastic we’ve seen time and again that kids care very much about issues like the environment and education— and that they understand how important this election is for those issues.” In fact, a Scholastic News Poll revealed that the War in Iraq (39%), Global Warming (23%) and Health Care (11%) are the top issues that kids are thinking about (www.scholastic.com).

But for parents, talking about politics with your kids is about as taboo as talking about the birds and the bees. It’s complicated and can be difficult to explain especially when the electoral process is confusing for many adults. But Freeman says discussing politics and the political process at home can be educational for everyone. “Remember, parents are not required to have all of the answers!” says Freeman. “ They can look for news and election resources created especially for kids to find out more about the process.” She provides the following tips:

• Ask kids questions. Get their impressions of the election or the issues. And kids LOVE to give their opinion, so ask about those too!
• Make the “home to school connection.” Talk to your child’s teacher to find out what they are discussing in class, and continue the dialogue at home.
• For younger children in grades K-2, parents should not necessarily initiate conversations about the news, but rather wait for children to ask questions. Then parents should respond honestly, but with only a few details, because at this age, too many details can lead to confusion.
• For older kids, in grades 3-5, parents should take their cues from their children about what to talk about and how much to talk about it. At this age, they can comprehend more and will often want to know more!
• Go to age-appropriate news sites and resources. www.scholasticnews.com is a great way to start!

Remember, kids pay attention to the world around them. As their parents, it is our obligation to have open discussions about the issues facing our society. This type of foundation will help in developing our future leaders. Who knows, maybe she’ll let you visit her in the Oval Office someday!