It can be tough to teach kids about politics, especially when many adults don't understand the inner workings of Congress or campaigning any better than their children do. You don't have to be a political expert to help your child with political homework, though. Approach it like you would any other assignment, and do what you can to explain the basics. You never know--you may have a future senator on your hands.
Step 1
Review the assignment with your child. Read the directions, and make sure both you and your child know what is expected of the assignment. Call the teacher if your child is still unsure of how to complete the work.
Step 2
Remain neutral when an assignment calls for explanations of political views or for your child to express his view on a topic. Though you may have strong political opinions of your own that you wish your child to share, it's important for him to learn about a variety of viewpoints and come to his own conclusion.
Step 3
Don't complete the assignment for your child. Remember that the purpose of homework is to enhance and reinforce children's learning. Ask your child to tell you what she learned from the assignment, correcting any misinformation if necessary.
Step 4
Encourage your child to learn more about political topics that interest him, such as environmental issues or how to help other children around the world. Plenty of kid-friendly resources are available to explore these areas in ways that will make sense to children.
