How to talk to kids about Election 2024
A message from our editor-in-chief
Hello to The Week Junior community,
Election season is always an exciting time in the United States, and there’s a great deal at stake this year—starting with the Presidency, of course, but also in elections for the House and Senate and numerous positions at the state and local level. It’s a perfect opportunity to help young people understand how our democracy works.
The Week Junior is here, as always, to help kids make sense of what can be a confusing process. This is an informed, aware, and involved generation of children, and they want to have their questions answered and to feel part of what’s happening.
We also know they will have opinions, which we encourage you to explore with them and support. I hope our resources build excitement and spark family discussions in your home.
The advice I have given in election-focused media interviews may also be helpful. I invite you to read this news story and watch this NBC News segment on talking to children about current events.
With my best wishes,
Andrea Barbalich
Editor-in-Chief
What kids want from elected officials
At The Week Junior, we know children care about what’s happening in the world around them. We’re intensely interested in their thoughts, so we work with polling company YouGov to conduct an annual Junior Voices survey. The nationally representative sample of children who respond make it clear they care about current events and are eager to voice their opinions. Find out more about our most recent survey. And read about it at The Week.
Helping kids understand Election 2024
The Week Junior will be covering Election 2024 as it unfolds. Our news stories are written in a calm, factual, and age-appropriate way to help kids make sense of what’s going on. Our coverage includes:
- Nation gets set for elections
- Presidential nominees are official
- Take a stand by learning to write an editorial
- Should kids be allowed to vote?
- Should Election Day be a national holiday?
- All about the electoral college
- All about the US Congress
What does democracy mean to you?
Elections can help kids understand the concept of a democracy and decide what it means to them. We’ve provided a form they can use to share their ideas, in words and drawings, with us. You can email the form to hello@theweekjunior.com. We will publish some submissions in future issues.
