Ontario is currently in an election campaign and the entire country will have a federal election at some point this year as well (the exact date is yet to be determined).
As a parent, elections pose a valuable time to have discussions with kids about the privilege of voting, the ways democracy works, how the Canadian government functions, how political advertising works, why sharing accurate info about politics matters and more.
For the first time, one of my children is old enough to vote. That feels momentous.
I remember taking my kids, from a young age, to the polling station with me. They’ve been to local, provincial and federal elections. Politics are an ongoing conversation in our home because everything, including parenting, is political.
These elections also come at a time of vast uncertainty. It’s impossible not to feel overwhelmed as a voter, and as a parent. More so than usual.
Now, more than ever, we need to fact-check and be aware of the media we are consuming, believing and trusting. If you have children who are interested in learning more (or who are of voting age), start by finding actual platform information from each party on their official sites.
Remind your kids (and those in your life who are voting) about fake information, misinformation and how to look at various news sources, especially when they see something on social media.
A few conversation starters that you can consider or that you may want to be prepared to answer when the question comes up include:
- What is strategic voting? Why do people do that?
- Do you have to register to vote?
- What are the rules about ads that candidates or organizations create?
- What are the rules for online advertising? Kids may not be aware that not everybody sees the same ads (political or otherwise) online. You can find out together how to see why you’ve been shown an ad, and you can see running political ads at the Social Media Lab’s PoliDashboard. (You can even click on ads to see all the different versions!)
- What kind of tactics are they using to persuade voters?
- How are political parties using social media to promote their messages?
And finally, no matter their age, talk about the importance of getting out to vote. Early polling stations open for those who can’t attend on the day of the elections, and making plans to stand in lines (especially during extreme weather conditions) may be needed. Helping loved ones get to the polls if they need it is something your family can do to help. But voter turnout is essential.
In Ontario, during the last election in 2022, the voter turnout was only about 43% - less than half. That was the lowest voter turnout in the province’s history.
This year, and every year, voting matters. Children of all ages can learn that early on. Involve them in the process and encourage them to ask questions.
Looking for resources to help guide your conversations? Check out: