This election season has been quite a doozy! The ads, the campaigning, the mean words. Sheesh, its all just so MUCH! And I’m a whole entire GROWN UP!

It is VERY, VERY important to remember that young students are listening, even when we think they aren’t. They hear snippets of the news, conversations from home, and may even repeat some of the mean words or strong opinions they hear about candidates.

Our role is to create a safe, welcoming space where students can express their feelings and process what they may be confused about. I find it helpful to begin by simply listening and validating their emotions—whether they’re confused, worried, or even angry.

• Gently guiding them to understand that people have different opinions, and that’s normal, expected, and OKAY, can help reduce some of their anxieties and build a sense of respect for others’ viewpoints.
• Encourage them to ask questions and think about how they feel about what they’ve heard, rather than focusing on taking “sides.”
• Remind them that it’s okay to be curious and that they’re allowed to feel differently than their friends or family.
• We can also teach them the importance of kind words and respect, even when we don’t agree.
• This is a great opportunity to model empathy and patience for the students, showing them how to navigate differing opinions with kindness.
• Don’t worry about having all the answers; your presence, empathy, and openness to talk make a huge difference for our students during this time.

Keep reading for more top tips on helping students process this election season.

• Understand that much of what children believe comes from home and media. Children absorb perspectives from their families and media sources without fully understanding issues. Rather than challenging these beliefs, encourage open-ended questions. This can help students process their thoughts, differentiate opinions from facts, and feel comfortable discussing different viewpoints.
• Promote respectful dialogue and active listening. Creating a safe space where students can express themselves respectfully is key. Model active listening by repeating back what students share. Teach simple strategies for discussing sensitive topics, such as taking turns to speak, asking questions for understanding, and using “I feel…” statements to help them navigate difficult conversations.
• Focus on civic understanding. Use the election as an opportunity to discuss broader civic concepts, like the value of voting, the roles of different leaders, and the importance of diverse viewpoints in a democracy. Emphasizing empathy for people with differing perspectives can help students develop a balanced, inclusive outlook and reduce polarization among peers.

To help children understand more about empathy and diversity, check out these no prep lessons and activities I created to help you along: 

• Teaching Empathy–When discussing differing opinions, students can develop empathy if we help them work on perspective taking. 
• Understanding Feelings and Emotions–Use these ready made Powerpoint slides to teach students self awareness of feelings.
• Embracing Diversity-Use this lesson and craft activity as a springboard for conversations about diverse opinions.