This election season is the perfect time to talk to your kids about politics and civic engagement.
That was the message from Tammy Silverman of the Indiana Youth Institute, who said conversations about democracy can help young people understand how decisions are made and how they can take part.
Civic engagement—including volunteering, service learning and participating in community life—can benefit children and youth, Silverman said. Young people who are engaged in their communities may develop empathy and trust in others, and are more likely to remain involved as adults. Participation can also support mental health by helping children feel they have a voice, she said.
Parents can introduce civic ideas in age-appropriate ways. With young children, families can practice voting on everyday choices, such as which snack to have or what game to play. Families can also visit museums or historic sites to talk about democracy and the history of voting.
As children get older, parents can explain the roles of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. Middle school students can begin learning how to check claims and research information for themselves, Silverman said. Rather than avoiding complicated political topics, adults can help young people examine evidence and form their own opinions.
“By middle school, kids are really starting to understand some of those abstract concepts, such as freedom and democracy,” Silverman said.
She encouraged parents to discuss political messages or unfamiliar terms when children ask about them. Looking up definitions and considering evidence can help young people understand what words mean, rather than relying on how they are used in political arguments.
High school students can take part in more advanced civic activities, such as joining youth advisory boards or pursuing internships, Silverman said. Attending a city council meeting can also give children a firsthand look at local government. Although a meeting may seem chaotic, she said, seeing elected officials as ordinary people can make civic participation feel more accessible.
The conversation also covered physical wellness, which Silverman said is one of eight interconnected dimensions of wellness. The others are emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, financial, occupational and spiritual well-being.
Physical wellness includes nutrition, sleep, movement, daily routines and limiting screen time, she said. Regular physical activity and consistent bedtime routines are important for children, while access to nutritious food helps support healthy growth.
Finding activities children enjoy can make movement part of everyday life. Sports, dancing, hiking, playgrounds, walking and riding bikes are all options, Silverman said. For school-age children, helping prepare meals and snacks can encourage them to try a wider variety of foods. Teenagers, meanwhile, need encouragement to maintain healthy routines and should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, she said.
Silverman said families and communities share responsibility for supporting children’s health. Schools can provide nutritious food and opportunities for movement, while out-of-school programs can offer healthy snacks. Safe sidewalks and parks, along with affordable and accessible nutritious food, can make healthy choices easier for families.
Relationships and a sense of belonging also matter, she said. Families and peer groups can reinforce healthy habits by making nutritious snacks easy to reach and encouraging activity without expecting children—or adults—to be perfect.
Asked whether children, and adults, get a break from healthy eating on Halloween, Silverman answered: “Everyone gets a pass on Halloween and Thanksgiving, of course.” She suggested families can enjoy holiday treats and make walking part of the celebration by choosing a safe, well-lit route through the neighborhood.
