Politics is in the air. Turn on the radio or TV, pick up a newspaper or any local print material and there will be a major story about B.C. politics.
And the reason, of course, is that it is provincial election time.
And what, you wonder, has that to do with parenting? It matters because how we vote and who we elect can have a profound impact on our society and meeting the needs of children and families. Pay attention. What are your concerns? Who will best address them? Much as it sounds hokey, the truth is that every vote counts and every election helps determine the world we will live in and leave to our children and grandchildren.
You need to become informed so that you can vote intelligently. Our first responsibility is to understand the process ourselves so that when we talk to our kids we are teaching them about how the electoral process functions.
For example, because of the focus on the leaders of each party it is easy to believe that you can vote for that leader. Of course, you need to vote for the candidate in your particular constituency riding.
A great resource for both parents and children is the Legislative Assembly website: leg.bc.ca/info/2-7.htm.
This site also has resources for teachers to use in the classroom. You may want to talk to your child's teachers or the parent advisory committee to suggest that during an election is the best time to teach kids about how our Legislature works.
Some schools will allow high school students to do work experience on election campaigns. Some social studies teachers give students assignments to go to campaign offices and get information from each party. If you have high school aged children you may want to check and see if there are any school-based activities associated with the election.
You may choose to get involved with the campaign of your preferred candidate. You may choose to work on election day. Whatever your choice, let the kids know what is happening.
Our children learn by watching us. When we get involved in the electoral process and let them see our involvement they grow up knowing that they have a civic duty to pay attention, to vote, to work on a campaign and possibly to eventually run for office.
Let's say you decide to put some time in on a campaign. You're going to deliver lawn signs to supporters. Your 12 year old would be a perfect partner for the task. He can help you find addresses and will love placing the signs on the lawn. You're going to deliver leaflets in the riding. Take your eight year old along for the walk and talk to her about what you're doing and why.
On election day make sure your children know that you are going to vote. If possible, bring them along to the polling place.
This is also a great time to open the conversation about your political beliefs. Use language the kids will understand and choose topics they care about. All school-aged children care about education and today they are all aware of the environment.
Show them the campaign brochures that come into the house. Talk about them. Help them learn how to distinguish fact from political spin. I'm not talking about turning every evening into a civics lecture, but a casual awareness and mention can lead to some meaningful conversation.
If your children are teens, be prepared for a political argument. So be clear on your stand before you start this process. The average teen will love to take you on. After all, they take you on about everything else, why not politics?
And if you are a strong supporter of one party, odds are your teen will argue vociferously for the opposition. Just listen, be respectful, state your point of view and don't panic. A lot of this argument is simply for the sake of debate.
I recall during one election a mother at one of my presentations was beside herself. She and her husband had been longtime supporters of the NDP. Their children knew that and had watched them work for the party. And now, here was their outspoken 15 year old sounding off about the Conservatives. Oh, he had facts and figures and the passion that only a committed teen can exhibit.
When I saw this mother the following week she was grinning. She told me that she had learned that her son had been quietly working for the NDP candidate. So all the talk was just that, talk.
Mind you, our kids will not always choose our political path. I bet not all of you vote as your parents did. Our job is to introduce our children to the path of democracy. Teach them to pay attention and vote, but vote intelligently.
Then when they are adults and making the decisions that will impact us, when we're seniors, we are certain they are making them responsibly.
Kathy Lynn is a professional speaker and author of Who's In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I'd Ever Have to Leave Home. If you want to read more, sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
