Parents play a crucial role in shaping children’s understanding of the world around them, including their political attitudes and civic engagement. While it may seem premature to discuss politics with young children, research shows that the foundations of political awareness and leadership skills begin forming at an early age.
Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D., is the Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology and former Director of the Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College.
Professor Ronald is the author of over 150 books, book chapters, and research articles in leadership, assessment centers, organizational psychology, and social psychology. His most recent books are “Daily Leadership Development: 365 Steps to Becoming a Better Leader”, “Inclusive Leadership”, “What’s Wrong with Leadership”, “Leadership Studies”, “The Art of Followership and The Practice of Leadership”, “Applications of Nonverbal Behavior”, and “Transformational Leadership (2nd ed.)”.
Professor Ronald is on the Editorial Boards of The Leadership Quarterly, Leadership, Leadership Review, Group Dynamics, and the Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. He was also the originator of the Shoptalk column at the Los Angeles Times, a Q&A column dealing with workplace problems/issues.
Many parents may not realize how significantly they influence their children’s political attitudes and leadership potential. Professor Riggio notes that parents often have political conversations with other adults without considering that their children are listening and absorbing these attitudes.
Moreover, even seemingly innocuous actions, like bringing a child to a political demonstration or having them wear a candidate’s T-shirt, can also shape a child’s early political leanings. While exposing children to civic engagement can certainly be positive, parents must be mindful of the messages they’re conveying.
However, rather than shielding children from political discussions entirely, the goal should instead be to foster critical thinking skills and expose them to multiple perspectives. For example, Professor Ronald recommends:
By taking this approach, parents can help children develop the ability to form their own informed opinions as they mature.
Additionally, it’s common for extended family members to have differing political views, which can lead to tense discussions or arguments. Professor Riggio offers advice for handling these situations:
Cultivating political awareness in children is a complex but crucial task for parents. By fostering critical thinking, encouraging civic engagement, and modeling good citizenship, parents can help raise the next generation of informed and engaged citizens.
Remember that this is an ongoing process that evolves as children grow and develop. The goal is not to impose specific political beliefs but to equip children with the tools to form informed opinions and participate meaningfully in civic life.
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