Politically Informed Kids: The 2024 Election

It’s an election year! It’s important for you to do your due diligence and exercise your right to vote. But how do you explain the news, the ads and the messages to your kids?

Reading can be an important learning tool for your kids about how our democracy works. Syl Sobel’s “Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts” has been answering many questions kids (and maybe even you!) have about the presidency and elections for more than 20 years. Now, there’s an updated edition that includes new facts to help children learn more about their country and how it operates.

Atlanta Parent talked to Sobel about how to encourage your child to learn, writing a book and more.

Q: What originally inspired you to write this book?

I was an attorney, and I used to be a newspaper reporter. I like to write. I was the director of publications at the Federal Judicial Center. My children were little at the time, so I told them I made books for the government for a living. One day, I was reading the “Washington Post” kids’ page with my daughter about how the U.S. government works. My daughter was in kindergarten, and she asked, “Can you make a book for me about this?” I wrote about the three branches of government and what each one does, and I put a cover on it and gave it to her. She was delighted. When I told my co-workers about it, a colleague said, “You might be able to get that published.” After many queries, Barron’s was interested. Before it came out, my younger daughter said, “What are you going to write for me?” She wanted a book about presidents, but since a lot of books cover the presidents, I asked her if I could write about the presidential election process instead. My kids gave me ideas, and it was so fun to work with them on the project. It was a family activity.

Q: What do you enjoy about updating “Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts?”

As a book about presidents, every four years, I’ve got to add the new president. There are also new events and facts – the oldest president changed; we had the first president of color. I also get comments from readers suggesting changes and edits. I can tweak it and make it a little better, so it’s improving along the way. It’s always a fun process. As a writer, there’s always things you look at and want to change.

Q: What advice do you have for parents who don’t know where to start with talking to their children about the government?

Read my book is the first thing that jumps to mind! The book explains it in ways children can understand, and adults from other countries applying for citizenship also use my books. My book deals more with the process than politics: what the president does, the responsibilities, the political process. With any conversation, it’s important to be accurate. My book is helpful with describing the process accurately.

Q: Why is it important for parents to encourage children to learn about the government?

It’s important to have informed citizens. If you’ve got a kid who’s interested in politics, look for opportunities to explore and peruse that interest. Go to museums. Go to libraries. The kids that are 8, 9, 10 now will be in their 20s soon and will be able to vote. There is misinformation about the government and who does what. That misinformation could be rectified if people were more informed about the political process and the government. If there isn’t civics education in school, as their parents, encourage children to learn. The next generation of citizens needs to understand how the government works, so they can know what their role is and understand their opportunity to contribute.

Q: How does talking with your child change depending on the age of the child?

Try to understand what children can relate to and what examples would make sense to them. In a classroom, you can decide if you want storytime or drawing time to be the next activity. You raise your hand to vote, and that’s an election. You’ve made a choice. Children can relate to that. Any time you work with children, you have to understand how children think. Listen to their questions. In my book, I explain what the vice president does and the order of succession. Children want to know who’s in charge: what happens if something happens to my mommy? What happens if something happens to my teacher? What happens if something happens to the president? It’s a question children always have, so I am putting myself in the child’s place. I use this as a parent and a writer: What is the next question the child is going to ask? Also, ask your children if they have questions. Then, ask questions to see if they understand the concepts.