Depends on their age, I guess. When I was growing up, politics just wasn't a topic of discussion, even around elections times. Except, my Dad and Uncle would ALWAYS get on their mom about who she was going to vote for. She would go on about how it was "none of your business", but everybody knew she would vote D.

First election I remember was JFK's in 60(?). I was in 6th grade and the real poop around school was... if JFK got elected president, we were ALL going to have to become Catholic!>! That's the kind of stuff kids were bring to school from what they were either being told or heard at home.

Fifty-six years later (did I do that math right?) and not much has changed. I work with HS age kids... some special needs and some in smaller classes for IEP purposes. You can absolutely tell what the politics at home are. Kids spouting off about what an "idiot" (or worse) that Trump /Clinton are. When I ask WHY... nothing to back up... obviously what mom/dad are saying at home.

I'm torn about what might be the biggest PITA when school begins... that dumb Pokemon Go thing or the election. Unless a kid is really SERIOUS about the politics of things, the only answer they ever have to WHY is BECAUSE? And I'm FULLY expecting to have some teacher borderline "proselytizing" in CLASS over who to vote for.

Realistically, I don't think it's possible for many parents to present both/all sides of an issue without bias, but a concerned parent would really TRY!

My kids are 10 & 13 and my husband and I talk about politics/government with them quite a bit. I think they know more about what's going on than many adults. They know who we favor and why. I do my best to present both sides and answer their questions. I think it's terrific that they are interested in the whole process.

My goal is to raise educated voters whether I agree with them or not.

In a perfect world, kids would get all that information WITHOUT saying other side is completely wrong. Here, you can disagree and even "argue" with someone on a topic and rarely does it get even close to nasty. At a few other forums I frequent I've never seen/read such nastiness!?! Mostly grown women of a certain "age" (old ladies, like me) who won't even acknowledge an even slightly differing opinion. Won't accept that, by definition, my opinion can't be WRONG unless you have proof that it is. Don't understand how even the most republican or REPUBLICANS or most democratic of DEMOCRATS can't find ONE thing to say about opposition that's not NASTY?? I think an important thing for children to understand and accept is if their side doesn't win, there's nothing UNFAIR about that... win some & lose some.

My kids are tweens and teens. The boys don't comment on politics much, but the twelve year old girl child does. She's getting her information from somewhere else (friends and social media) because she was a fan of a previous candidate that is no longer in the race. We do discuss politics at home. My dh loves to watch his favorite networks. We don't always agree on the candidate, but we discuss pros and cons. It's not personal.

I have always discussed politics and world events with my kids. We've always watched the 6 o'clock local news, national news, and CNN, and CBC Newsworld if something international is going on. I don't think you're doing them any favours to shield them from any of these things.

We agree, we disagree and we also agree to disagree sometimes.

But we also discuss social injustices such as poverty, homelessness (particular youth homelessness) and discrimination of all forms.

You want to see nasty head on over to hot topics. You better agree with them......

I have 5 adult siblings. Our parents are both gone. We are split 3 and 3 on politics. Before every get together of any kind, I make the announcement No politics, No religion. You are not going to change my mind, I am not going to change yours. Let's stick to what we agree on, we all love each other very much.

Agree with katlan about how nasty hot topics posters can be.

Our whole family thinks as one so we get along great. . I have been very active in politics for decades and my kids grew up with it and are very liberal Dems too. What I love the most is my 18 year old grandson . When most kids his age tweet goofy stuff, he's tweeting political stuff. He was a Bernie guy in his first election primary. He watches the news, and I'm worried he'll go into political science instead of environmental studies at William and Mary next month. .

I lost interest in American politics when my kids were small, so such things weren't often discussed in our house. Current events, both American and worldwide - yes.

Don't anyone take this the wrong way, I'm not being critical, but don't forget that kids are frequently "interested" and "learn" activities and orientations their parents present to them. It's not that they've digested alternatives and chosen anything independently. I had that experience, not deliberately nor with any particular outcome in mind, but my kids participated in the things we (me and my wife) preferred to do and those are interests today that we all have in common. They make their own choices as they get older but rarely stray too far from what they were exposed to when growing up. Sometimes, not always, it's like brainwashing, kids believe or have the viewpoints they were "taught" to have and that's that. Little kids worship their parents and swallow most everything given.

If you can stick to a calm discussion on the issues, and everybody has a slightly open mind (ability to make new ideas in the face of new and verifiable info) it can be done.

But you can't have ad hominem attacks, strawman arguments, or any of that going on. If we stay calm, we can always agree to disagree.

I like to ask "So what issues are you most concerned with in this election cycle?" because there is no wrong answer to a question like that.

We never talk politics with our younger son. He is right and we are wrong. Just an innocent comment can be turned around, so we avoid anything related to politics with him.

I had really nasty arguments with my Republican father during my hippie years in the 60s'. We never ever saw eye to eye, and he died in 77, . But I do wish he could come back to see his party now.

My kids are 25 and 27 and liberal. I am not. They are both smart and quick witted, and I am more plodding. So I try not to get into "discussions" with them. My politics are more financially based, not moral or ethical. I guess that makes me pretty shallow, wanting to preserve my earnings for my eventual retirement. I used to be way more liberal, but reality set in. As far as the current election? Don't have a clue what I will do. I am waiting for the candidates to grow up and act like adults.

I don't discuss current politics as far as issues and stances but I do talk about the importance of being involved in the political process, how it works and why we should be involved.

I take them with me when I go to vote so they understand the process.

I explain to them what I'm doing when I'm researching candidates and their voting record, but much like religion, I don't want to tell them what to believe, I want to teach them how to be educated voters so they can decide for themselves once they are old enough to vote.

Sleeperblues - I don't think that makes you shallow at all. There isn't a hope that heads of countries or your own representatives, regardless of what they say, can solve all that ails a country, or your little corner of it. Any politician who says otherwise is lying through their teeth.

All you can do, as you have done, is pick a concern or two that pertains to you and your life and hopefully find a representative who has the same concerns and perhaps a solution for you. And with any luck, his/her other policies are acceptable to you as well.

Kids these days, I think, are so much more worldly (good and bad) than I ever was at their age. You can thank the internet, the 24 hr news stations and ease of travel for that. Kids will be interested in what their parents are of course, which isn't a bad thing but it is a truth. The upbringing of my kids mirrors that of me and of my husband and there are things, such as poverty and homelessness and war, that they will never know.

But the internet and the quick news cycles that they are exposed to these days, brings them that extra knowledge and visual knowledge that I never had at their age. I hope that it broadens their views and makes them realize that we aren't just Canadians living in our little neighbourhood, but that there is a bigger world out there that affects us and hopefully they can, in any way, affect others in a good way.

But no, we have never steered conversations to safer topics

My kids are all adults, but this story had me seething. During the previous election, the granddaughter of a friend told her grandma that they had a mock election in school. But were also told they "HAD" to vote for Obama, or they would fail this activity. This child was in the 3rd grade!

No kids, but I asked a friend of ours who is more like a little brother, who he was voting for in our last election. He told me, and I asked him why. He didn't know, other than their union told them that they had to. Telling him that the vote is private and that they can't force you to vote that way, went over his head.

Elmer Fudd Whiplash?? WHO are YOU?!? Really!?! "American politics" makes me think we just might "know" each other... HMMMMMMM?

Yes. We talk about everything. He can tell you why he would/wouldn't vote for whoever he would vote for/against. He's informed and understands as well as any majority age person. I flat out disagreed with an email my mom sent me yesterday (one of those types that floats around, not her specific opinion), and my logic behind why. She and I haven't talked since. We'll see what she's thinking when we're face to face.

Joyce! I'm in NJ and teachers HATE Christie. Over his terms, they have lost a lot... but I have to say (even as a teacher) justifiably. He gets labeled a "bully"... MAN, I HATE that term. Not the toughest person in the world but a person is only a bully if you LET them be. After generations of teachers paying pretty much nothing for benefits/pensions... they started to and don't like it. Understandable but... things change. Too many years of spending money we don't have.

Both names are cartoon characters. I got tired of having Snidely Whiplash as my username so I changed it a week or so ago to Elmer Fudd. Changing identities on a forum (today one name, tomorrow a different one) is bad form so I included the "formerly S......: for clarity, for awhile.

I live in California but I'm hardly the only person around who would describe a disinterest and indifference to politics using the words I did.

I have wanted to be a hermit ever since this election process began. I know it is inescapable, but all the ugliness this election has brought to the surface in our country brings me much despair. I had hoped and dreamed and wished and worked for our countrymen (and women) to have grown more tolerant mostly, and, I guess less filled with hate. So Sad.

edited to say.....My children that live near me are also feeling the same, and we live in a STRONG Republican area, where tempers and guns and opinions are always on display.

I agree nanny98. I'm amazed at how strong those feelings of intolerance are and how close to the surface they are, just waiting for some loud-mouth to lead credence that it's ok to spout that hatred. It honestly makes me fear for my own country and wondering if we're the same - it wouldn't surprise me. Perhaps it's time to take off those rose-coloured glasses.

klseiverd

In a perfect world, kids would get all that information WITHOUT saying other side is completely wrong. Here, you can disagree and even "argue" with someone on a topic and rarely does it get even close to nasty. At a few other forums I frequent I've never seen/read such nastiness!?! Mostly grown women of a certain "age" (old ladies, like me) who won't even acknowledge an even slightly differing opinion. Won't accept that, by definition, my opinion can't be WRONG unless you have proof that it is. Don't understand how even the most republican or REPUBLICANS or most democratic of DEMOCRATS can't find ONE thing to say about opposition that's not NASTY?? I think an important thing for children to understand and accept is if their side doesn't win, there's nothing UNFAIR about that... win some & lose some

^^^^^

I heartily agree! I think kids should be taught about how our political system works, and taught to avoid having their political leanings totally define them and others.

The blinding hatred on both sides is mostly hypocritical nonsense. When you refuse to find common ground and stop listening, you are just part of the problem.

Mostly, I think kids (and hell, adults) should understand that you can disagree with others' politics and dislike the ideas without disliking the people.

It's useless to lump every democrat or republican together and refuse to put effort into understanding the nuances. The utter hatred for fellow Americans because they support one candidate or another is downright frightening. Seriously, the vile loathing and lack of regard for other human beings is downright animalistic.

Act like you've got grey matter above your brainstem!

We wonder where the hate comes from. Just re-read some of these posts and you'll have your answer. I don't want to be forced to vote one way or another, nor do I want it for our children in school. Where, or where, do we get true and accurate information about a candidate? Certainly not from the internet or TV. Everything is biased. And if we do have a decent person running for office, the other party will find "something" or "make it up" to besmirch them. Just to win! Such a world.

One year my husband put up a sign for a candidate, and we had rocks thrown at our house, dead rats on our doorstep, and swastikas spray painted in our yard. I am not politically vocal, do not spew the "stuff" you see on FB or the internet. I pretty much keep my thoughts to myself, unless I'm with friends privately who are the same ilk. But if you're not the parent, and try to manipulate our children, I get upset.

How is dissing another forum not nasty? Doesn't that make this forum nasty? Hm.

I would not put a sign out on my lawn. No thanks. It's a shame, but I don't want to put a bullseye on my house.

I see what is being labeled as intolerance as more of a backlash to political correctness. Political correctness is intolerance in it's own way. Most of us have built up views and opinions over a lifetime. Many of those views and opinions are passed down from generation to generation and was a system of of how things worked and how things were to be done to keep the system operating smoothly. There will always be some views or opinions that probably need to be changed or maybe aren't 'fair' in the grand scheme of things. It's gotten that nothing can be said or even joked about anymore without someone being offended. No one is allowed to have their own opinion or a differing opinion. Political correctness is trying to make us all the same when we we aren't. When someone disagrees, it's labeled as intolerance rather than a difference of opinion. I think people can have a difference of opinion without acting on it as they would in true intolerance.

It's not hatred, it's just dogma. Blind following (on both sides) with thinking turned off.

Too many people do little or no personal contemplation of thoughts, ideas, suggestions or alternatives of public issues of the day anymore. Too many just open wide, swallow whole, and then can only repeat what they heard. That's why conversation is pointless, all anyone can do is recite the dogma and soundbites. That's why I turned off to politics.

I remember volunteering to register kids who had turned of age at our high school. We did not help them with party choice if they asked us. However, I was amazed at the number of kids who registered for a party because it was not the one their parents belonged to.

Elmer -- right on! Recitation is exactly what we hear.

I have an aunt in a nursing home. During the last election, she told me that "helpers" came around to assist them absentee ballot. But she said all they had to do was sign it because the rest was already filled in. I didn't discuss it any further with her.

Geez, talk about voter fraud. I think I would have reported that nursing home to the county joyce_6333.

Nanny98, when you said, "I have wanted to be a hermit ever since this election process began.", all I could say was ME TOO! NOT HERE, but at a few other places I visit, groups of mostly women, mostly of a "certain age" (old ladies like me) will resort to becoming Pee Wee Herman (I know you are but what am I?) in a heart beat. And unlike here, I sometimes have this evil NEED to poke sticks in cages from time to time?!?

I don't stand a chance. My kids tell me what to think in the political arena,

Lol, Jemdandy!! Me too, and I love it. (We're on the same page.) It's really sad to me that so many people want to hide from the messy process, and especially that they don't want to do the little bit of research to go beyond the rhetoric to make a choice. Another sign of the dumbing-down of the U.S.

Joyce, that is really awful--I'd report them in a heartbeat. Makes you wonder how many other assisted-living places do this.

Oh golly, Nanny I'm definitely not calling you dumb, 'cause I know you're a smart cookie! I'm referring to mostly young people who have never been taught much about the ins and outs of the election and don't give a fig. I wish the schools would do a better job in teaching "Civics" again.

Well, Golly....I must confess.....I have visited Hot Topics this morning and I think that many of the "trolls" have gone into hiding. I put my "rose colored glasses" back in place and have bought into the "up-lifting" showmanship that took place last night. I am healing. My faith in the "humanity" of my country has been given a the first attempts at CPR....and I am breathing more easily. All of these months of such bruising and bleeding of my beloved democracy has endured.....HOPE has been given a life saving breath. My Goodness, if this is a "Hollywood Machine" using those long used platitudes to create those feelings of hope and patriotism and all those things I have believed about my country.....well, bring it on. Touch our hearts....they (our hearts) need to be made to feel good again. Bring on our tears....they (the tears) can dilute the message that our country was so critically ill. The BEST of our belief system was shouted to the world last night. I feel good today..... that enough of us really care about the least among us. That enough of us DO believe that our country stands for more than making the wealthiest among us the most powerful. That enough of us believe that equality and freedom for all ,are the goals worth giving our lives for.

So good to see nanny! There are moments for all of humanity. Good and bad, but that you feel good today, that enough of us really do care, well, that's fantastic.

That enough of us believe that equality and freedom for all ,are the goals worth giving our lives for. (Both sides of the aisle feel that way, and it's all we (ALL OF US!!!) really want. Politics are tough, but it's to protect that equality and freedom).

Great post, nanny. Totally agree with you.