Parent dilemma: spare him or inform him ?

[steve2470]

My bright ten year old son is interested in politics, I wonder why :) He asks me questions. Should I avoid telling him anything beyond the standard 4th grade civics lesson ? He insists he does not worry about the world, and he seems to be a happy kid. Thanks for your input.

[RagingInMiami]

1. Tell him everything he needs to know

My dad was a republican but wasn't stupid. When I was a kid, he told me the CIA had killed Kennedy. I brought that up in my fourth gade class and I got bitched out by the teacher. I later found out, my dad wasn't too far off.

[msgadget]

8. Yeah, answer all questions

and don't be circumspect. I have strong opinions that didn't impede my kids forming their own as they got older. In fact, my having such passion made (most of them) more alert and interested in the world around them. It's an honor to have curious kids.

[porphyrian]

2. You know your kid better than we do.

It could make him depressed, or he might have the solution to our problems. Either way, be honest about what you do tell him, because this crap will affect him as much, if not more, than it is us.

[saltpoint]

3. I agree with RagingInMiami. You'll know what he needs to hear and

how he needs to hear it, then go ahead and tell him.

I sure like the parenting that seems to be going on at your house.

Bravo.

[steve2470]

4. Thank you, doing my best :) nt

[leftofthedial]

5. never blow smoke up a ten year old's ass

if you tell him how it is supposed to be (the civics lesson), you must also tell him how it doesn't really work that way.

[demigoddess]

6. tell him the truth but add some optimism in there, such as

the Constitution has safeguards, the people don't stand for funny business too long, etc. Let him see there is hope.

[CornField]

7. Get involved locally & take him with you

At our District Convention on the 29th, there is a youth convention where those in attendance will be writing their own platform.

It isn't too early for him to learn to think about the state of affairs and, although the news might be depressing, discussions which lead to solutions are not.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

9. Just answer his questions

don't lecture. Kids stop listening. If he is ready for the information he'll ask you about it.

T-Grannie

[carolinalady]

10. I knew my kids had a passing knowledge of world events

since I have the news on 24/7, but I was shocked when my 13 year old started forming opinions on current events to me. He was getting some of the information from John Stewart and some from on-line gaming forums. (So much for mind numbing activity.) Anyway, he knows I am a true blue Dem and he has the same leaning. Now I enourage him to tell me what he is hearing and we talk it out. My older child always thought he was a "republican" like his grandparents. The older he gets, however, the more his ideology has changed. I'm so proud of them both!

[leftchick]

11. Lay it all out

the lies the deceit the fixed elections. This is the real world and my 9 and 10 year old boys know the truth! I have told them they don't have to pledge to the flag either if they don't want to.

When I was little my Father was always talking about one world government and the trilateral commission. I think he was on to something.

[LeftyMom]

12. He's old enough to hear the whole truth

and hopefully if you're painfully honest with him now, he'll return the favor when he's a bit older.

[xmas74]

13. Stick w/ the basics and don't overwhelm him.

If he asks you how you feel about something tell him in a simple and down to earth manner.

My daughter is only five and she knows more than many of the kids in her school. I don't force it on her-I just tell her how I feel when she expresses an interest.

[Mythsaje]

14. I was talking about stolen elections

and the whole voting booths fiasco (not enough placed in certain districts and the resulting lines making people wait for several hours) with my Dad when we were visiting my kids last year. My oldest (he was eleven) asked me "why did they do that?"

I said "because they wanted to win."

His response? "That's not right."

Oh, he'll be a liberal all right. He's too empathetic not to be. And he, like his father, has an inherent sense of fairness.

[lostnfound]

15. I must be a lousy parent.

My just-turning-5-year-old already knows that it's important not to waste gas because people are fighting wars over it.
And that the reason Mommy doesn't like this president is because he started a war that he didn't have to start.

I guess I should shield him more, but when he asks the questions, I answer them. Sadly, he's learned about 'shoot-airplanes' (airplanes that shoot missiles) from watching the Cartoon Network with his dad. :grr: