FAMILY: How to talk to kids about the election

Plus, Baby Yoda, fighting cyberbullying, Mars approaches  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌    ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  

 

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THE BIG QUESTION: HOW DO I TALK TO MY KIDS ABOUT THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION? Sunday, October 4, 2020

PHOTOGRAPH BY REUTERS, AL DRAGO, ALAMY By Rachel Buchholz, KIDS AND FAMILY Editor in Chief “How do we get a president?” It was a question my seven-year-old self asked my mother as we drove past neighborhood yards peppered with presidential campaign signs one October. “Does someone go around and count up all the signs, and whoever has the most wins?” That must’ve sounded like a pretty good explanation to give to a kid, given my mom’s response of, “Well … kind of.” Explaining the electoral process to a child is hard (though my mom did manage to explain “how we get a president”). But many educators believe that teaching children about how government works from a young age helps foster future civic-mindedness, especially when it comes to voting. And parents are often key to that, beyond counting candidate yard signs. You can play simple explainer games or—like my parents often did—take kids with you to the polls. (Or, this year, perhaps to a secure ballot drop box or to the post office to mail in your ballot.) Another way to educate your children about the political system is to talk to them about current elections. But this year? Yikes. Election 2020 is one of the most contentious in memory, fraught with tensions and emotions that can be upsetting and confusing to children. That might be even more true right now with the announcement that President Trump has tested positive for COVID-19. (Here's how to talk to your kids about coronavirus.) But no matter how much you want to shield your child, they’re hearing about the election in school, from friends, and even from you. “It’s our job to help them manage their fear and anxiety in ways that we might not have had to do before,” says DePaul University associate professor Alyssa Westring in this Nat Geo article about talking to kids about the election. Experts advise first finding out what your children know and understand, then explaining issues and candidates in language they get. (Starting out with a debate over pizza versus spaghetti can help kids understand what an issue is, as well as how to argue nicely.) Then look for teachable moments during the campaign that reflect the values you want for your child, like respecting different viewpoints and deciphering the truth. And if that still seems overwhelming, just remember that we’re less than 30 days away from the election—and you can always have your kid simply count campaign signs instead. If you want to get this newsletter every week, sign up here. If you want your kids to get Nat Geo Kids magazine, subscribe here. For Nat Geo Little Kids, subscribe here.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

PHOTOGRAPH BY FIRST GLIMPSE PHOTOGRAPHY, SHUTTERSTOCK Bullies, beware. Just because many kids are learning remotely doesn’t mean bullies have gone away. They’re still around—on screens. In fact, one study conducted early in the pandemic found a 70 percent increase in bullying among kids on social media and chat forums. “We’ve always had problems with bullying,” clinical psychologist Jamie Howard says. “But it looks different now.” These tips can show caretakers how to recognize the signs of cyberbullying, help children deal with situations, and empower them to assist others. After all, most of us could use a little bully-busting know-how in our lives. Jedi firefighter. Last week we brought you an article on talking to kids about natural disasters such as wildfires, which included a tip to show kids how to help. So we’re loving this story of a five-year-old who sent a plush Baby Yoda to firefighters battling California blazes, hoping to lift their spirits. The creature is now even traveling from fire camp to fire camp, documented in these we-can’t-even photos.

KEEPING YOU HEALTHY

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN E. KUSHNER, SHUTTERSTOCK Flying the coop. We know that getting outside can improve both physical and mental health. So as our feathered friends start heading south for the winter, head outside for some healthy outdoor fun observing their migration behavior. These easy ideas will empower children to become lifelong birders (one tip: check out the edges where one habitat changes into another, like a field into a forest) and inspire them to protect these important fliers. The wonder of the stars: Let’s face it, parents. The night skies aren’t as dark these days. How do you get kids interested in stars? One suggestion is a real or virtual trip to a place in Colorado that may become the world’s largest Dark Sky reserve. Our Night Sky Guy, Andrew Fazekas, lays out the reasons to interest your kids in the skies—and to keep your eye on Mars in the next few weeks as it makes its closest approach to Earth in two years. Why not a socially distanced DIY star party at home? Intrigued with this star stuff? Here’s our Family Stargazing 101 video.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIKA LARSEN Family discussion: If you want to talk about something other than elections, how about dogs? One reader called our story this week about the imminent end of U.S. greyhound racing one of the best stories of the year. The racing can be both exciting (only cheetahs are faster than greyhounds) and cruel to the dogs, who are often injured, worn out, and discarded after a few years on the track. Our story also addresses how they are as pets. (Above, a Florida track trainer with his wife, daughter, and their retired racing greyhound.)

TRY THIS: BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHEW RAKOLA Cute or creepy? We say cute—it’s October, after all. And since this month is Bat Appreciation Month, it’s the perfect time to show children how cool these flying mammals are. Check out this article that busts what you think you know about bats (nope, they’re not blind), then get inspiration for a bat-tastic Halloween costume. Our favorite bat boredom buster: this snappy music video about bats eating snacks. (It does not involve sucking anyone’s blood.) Meet a marine biologist! This week, Explorer Classroom features Vanessa Bezy, who works to protect sea turtles in Costa Rica. Join her to see “turtle cams,” drones, and other cool technology she’s using to study sea turtle behavior so she can better protect these amazing creatures. Register now! This newsletter was edited and curated by David Beard and Rachel Buchholz. Have a healthy and a sane (as possible) week ahead!

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