Focus On Your Child

(From our November 2024 Issue)

5 Disciplines for Engaging in Political Conversations in Your Home

By Dr. Danny Huerta

The drama of this year’s election is inescapable. Politics will most likely be a topic of conversation at upcoming holiday gatherings, church or school events, and even family mealtimes. But you can equip your kids with foundational disciplines for engaging in heated conversations. Children develop their belief systems from an early age, and parents get to set the culture of their home when it comes to politics and conversations on controversial topics. Whether you’re a news junkie or a news avoider, these five disciplines are helpful for belief development and political conversations in your home.

When a controversial topic arises, teach your children…

To be humble—Humility is a key ingredient for kids to learn to genuinely see and appreciate another person. Humble people are loving people, and loving people are relational and influential. Humility helps us see political conversations as invitations to learn about other people—to discover what they believe and why.
To see—Your children need to learn discernment when it comes to consuming the news and engaging with what others are saying. Media holds great power to influence public thought and opinion, and kids need to learn how to sift through facts, opinions, and popular thought as they develop the foundations of their beliefs. Discuss the beliefs and values of your home and explain why you see them as important.
To reflect—Families encounter numerous controversial issues both inside and outside the realm of politics. Lead your children toward thinking. At an age-appropriate level, discuss the issues in question and examine how they stack up to the values in your home. Have open and respectful conversations about hot-button topics and endeavor to understand why family members might feel strongly about them, and why they might feel differently than you.
To respond—Reaction does not help. Political issues can quickly divide a home, a friendship, and a nation. Relationships are about listening and trying to understand one another. Help your children look at the bigger picture and respond respectfully. You can rarely convince another person to believe what you believe. It’s about influence. Learn how to articulate what you believe and the “why” behind it. Teach your kids not to let their emotions take them for a ride when difficult conversations arise. Encourage them to ask questions such as, “Can you help me understand why you believe that?”, and then genuinely listen to the response.
To stand—What does your family stand for? What captures your attention and admiration? What are you firmly standing for out of conviction and belief, and why? What we stand for with conviction tends to have deep roots that continually grow. It is important to realize that when you try to convince others to think like you, you may be trying to uproot a very deeply rooted tree. Teach your kids how to stand, but to do so with respect and genuine care for those around them.

Imagine if your family learned to approach hot-button topics with humility as the foundational ingredient! With your guidance, your kids can develop their core beliefs with grace and discernment so that difficult conversations can be approached with confidence and kindness for the health of their relationships.

For more practical parenting tips, visit us at www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting.