Politics, Current Events & Kids: Why We Need to Engage Our Children Now in Shaping Society by Carrie Watts

I’m deeply invested in how politics are shaping the world. Being informed is not just in my best interest or my children’s, it’s my civic duty to know who is doing what, where and why. That’s why I’m raising my kids to think and talk about current events and history.

I started discussing the news with my eldest when he was just 4 years old. Of course, our talks have evolved as he’s gotten older. Now that he is nearly 10, I recently introduced a new catalyst for conversations – a subscription to a children’s weekly news review magazine called The Week Junior. We sit down together, each reading our newspapers, and share the stories that interest us. In just the one week since his subscription started I have seen benefits:

• It’s something he can do with me that his younger brother cannot, meaning we have dedicated “us” time in the rush of family life.

• His increasing knowledge is helping him develop his own opinions on societal issues, about which he speaks with enthusiasm.

• He is building a critical trust in journalism.

As I watch him learn and grow, I’m excited to see who he becomes and how he, with all the passion that is his greatest gift, will change the world for the better.

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