How do I explain this election to my 1st grader?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why anyone would have framed this election to their kids in terms of nuclear codes, war, losing their friends, hate, etc. It's a election. Yes, everyone thought Hillary would win but you had to know there was a chance she wouldn't. I'm so uncomfortable with this notion that many of my friends implanted in their kids that Hillary represented good and Trump represented evil.

Because a lot of adults truly think Trump will usher in the apocalypse, so that's how they have been discussing it at home. Whereas in most of the rest of the country people think Hillary is the antichrist. It was a very polarizing election and kids being upset is just a reflection of their parents fretting openly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why anyone would have framed this election to their kids in terms of nuclear codes, war, losing their friends, hate, etc. It's a election. Yes, everyone thought Hillary would win but you had to know there was a chance she wouldn't. I'm so uncomfortable with this notion that many of my friends implanted in their kids that Hillary represented good and Trump represented evil.

Because a lot of adults truly think Trump will usher in the apocalypse, so that's how they have been discussing it at home. Whereas in most of the rest of the country people think Hillary is the antichrist. It was a very polarizing election and kids being upset is just a reflection of their parents fretting openly.

And that all seems really irresponsible. Kids are too young to process that and it's needlessly scary for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why anyone would have framed this election to their kids in terms of nuclear codes, war, losing their friends, hate, etc. It's a election. Yes, everyone thought Hillary would win but you had to know there was a chance she wouldn't. I'm so uncomfortable with this notion that many of my friends implanted in their kids that Hillary represented good and Trump represented evil. I don't like Trump and didn't vote for him, but to tell children he would do a lot of bad things (failing to mention the role of Congress, too) is irresponsible. My 2nd grader heard about some things he said from friends. He also heard from Clinton's campaign commercial on "your children are watching". I told him there are people who say things they shouldn't say all the time and it's up to us to stand up to statements like that when we hear them in daily life. Then we talked about some of the differences in beliefs between Republicans and Democrats and the role Congress plays, too.

Yes. This morning my son (5th grader) said he was so relieved that the election was over and I said me too! I asked him why he was glad and he said he was tired of the nasty talk from his friends and he said NO MORE POLITICAL ADS! LOL. He said he especially hated the Hillary ads and that they were inappropriate for children. He's right. I told him I was proud of him for noticing it and for being aware.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just tell them that a woman wanted to be president but she lied too much so she lost the election.

I told my kids there are suckers born every minute. Conned by Fox News into hating Hillary. And conned by a hateful swindler.

+1 and we don't even know the extent of Trumps lies. Might be on his tax returns.

[Anonymous]

My 8 year old DD heard this morning that Trump won and she asked me if he build a very short wall. Many of her classmates are Hispanic. It broke my heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why anyone would have framed this election to their kids in terms of nuclear codes, war, losing their friends, hate, etc. It's a election. Yes, everyone thought Hillary would win but you had to know there was a chance she wouldn't. I'm so uncomfortable with this notion that many of my friends implanted in their kids that Hillary represented good and Trump represented evil. I don't like Trump and didn't vote for him, but to tell children he would do a lot of bad things (failing to mention the role of Congress, too) is irresponsible. My 2nd grader heard about some things he said from friends. He also heard from Clinton's campaign commercial on "your children are watching". I told him there are people who say things they shouldn't say all the time and it's up to us to stand up to statements like that when we hear them in daily life. Then we talked about some of the differences in beliefs between Republicans and Democrats and the role Congress plays, too.

How wonderfully nice your life is. White Christians?

[Anonymous]

"To all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt you are powerful and valuable and deserving of every opportunity in the world to perceive your own dreams."

-from Clinton's concession speech today. I'm going to read this to my little girl tonight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was so hard to tell my third grader this morning. Kid is worried about Trump having his hand on the nuclear trigger and starting World War III. I hadn't told him about this -- he picked it up at school. I reassured him that I didn't think this would happen.

Kid is also worried about what the election will mean for black people (there are many at his school) and for Jewish people.

We hadn't talked about any of this, so I know the kids are talking about it at school.

I was feeling devastated myself but tried to tell him we'd be safe, that this is how democracy works, that we will keep trying to make the world a better place.

Deep breath.

I bet your kid (or his classmates) actually picked that one up from Hillary's commercials.

My kid was worried last night about the election. She said specifically because Hillary Clinton said all kinds of scary and bad things about Donald Trump and that he was going to cause nuclear war. She specifically mentioned the "kids are watching commercial."

Imagine my surprise when she cheered in the morning about Trump winning. I thought she was crying about him the night before but she then told me the Hillary was very scary because of her scary commercials and she didn't want her to win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 6 yr old was in tears this morning. We cried a bit together. That helped.

You should be careful about this. Its cares children to see adults lose control and cry. It's one thing if it's something that can't be helped like grandpa has cancer. But over an election? Children should be comforted right now not scared and worried further.

+1. My comment was deleted, so I will rephrase. We owe it to young kids to keep things in perspective. This is not the end of the world. If you act like it is then they will walk around with anxiety that they can't handle.

Sometimes when people get upset or disappointed they cry a little, or do something else to get the strong emotions out, then it's time to move on with life. Doesn't seem like such a bad message to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why anyone would have framed this election to their kids in terms of nuclear codes, war, losing their friends, hate, etc. It's a election. Yes, everyone thought Hillary would win but you had to know there was a chance she wouldn't. I'm so uncomfortable with this notion that many of my friends implanted in their kids that Hillary represented good and Trump represented evil.

Because a lot of adults truly think Trump will usher in the apocalypse, so that's how they have been discussing it at home. Whereas in most of the rest of the country people think Hillary is the antichrist. It was a very polarizing election and kids being upset is just a reflection of their parents fretting openly.

And that all seems really irresponsible. Kids are too young to process that and it's needlessly scary for them.

It is but most parents suck

[Anonymous]

I discuss my political views with my children, just as I discuss my religious beliefs with my children.
I teach them we are Christian and what that means, I teach them Jesus wants us to love one another, to care for the least in society and to think of others before ourselves and respect others.
I also each them that my political views parellel this, and that I don't think Donald Trump represents our values. We discuss racism and sexism and why they are bad.
We also discuss democracy and why we were disappointed and saddened by the election and yet accept it peacefully.
I think that discussing these topics are an important part of parenting and to not discuss them would be strange.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I discuss my political views with my children, just as I discuss my religious beliefs with my children.
I teach them we are Christian and what that means, I teach them Jesus wants us to love one another, to care for the least in society and to think of others before ourselves and respect others.
I also each them that my political views parellel this, and that I don't think Donald Trump represents our values. We discuss racism and sexism and why they are bad.
We also discuss democracy and why we were disappointed and saddened by the election and yet accept it peacefully.
I think that discussing these topics are an important part of parenting and to not discuss them would be strange.

I've been teaching my kids that they need to identify the good and bad in each candidate. That who I vote for is not their business as I want them to make informed decisions on their own. That it is ok to disagree with someone, but that everyone deserves respect. They need to stand up for what they believe in. My family came from countries where they did not have those freedoms. They came from places where teaching their native language in their own country was deserving of capital punishment, and yet they worked organically to change that. I don't want to create mini-me's. I want to make them to make them the best possible versions of themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine said, "I feel really sad for my Hispanic friends"

Great civic lesson, if they are illegal gtfo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm uncomfortable calling close to 50 percent of Americans stupid. You should be too. More name calling and intolerance.

I know you're joking, but it's fucked up. Reality check time.

-Hilary voter

+1

I agree, but to my teens... I have said and will continue to say that in DC we are insulated from racism and sexism.

But plain and simple once you get away from the city and educated people. People are racist and women are not treated as equal.

I wouldn't say that to a 1st grader, but I won't sugar coat it for my teen.

I genuinely believe this mindset is why we lost. Get your head out of your ass. You sound like an elitist asshole. It's time to re-examine some of your beliefs about "other" people and what might motivate them and who they are.

+ 1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm uncomfortable calling close to 50 percent of Americans stupid. You should be too. More name calling and intolerance.

I know you're joking, but it's fucked up. Reality check time.

-Hilary voter

+1

I agree, but to my teens... I have said and will continue to say that in DC we are insulated from racism and sexism.

But plain and simple once you get away from the city and educated people. People are racist and women are not treated as equal.



Sure, generalize his electorate.

I wouldn't say that to a 1st grader, but I won't sugar coat it for my teen.

I genuinely believe this mindset is why we lost. Get your head out of your ass. You sound like an elitist asshole. It's time to re-examine some of your beliefs about "other" people and what might motivate them and who they are.

Not PP, but that does describe the people I personally know who voted for Trump and were vocal about it. (Rural area, not-educated, racist, old school re: women). I guess given the numbers there were closet people who voted for him too. Maybe they are nice/educated, but embarrassed by their actions.