Talking to kids about this historic moment.....

[vi5]

..at what age is best to discuss it's significance?

My daughter is 6 and a half, going on 7. The nomination acceptance speech is a little too late for her to stay up for. And the cynic in me says to not talk about the significance of just the nomination since there are still 2 months for the Rove crew to unleash more slime and I don't want her to know the disapointment. But if Obama wins the election I absolutely plan on having her watch the inaugural address and explaining the importance and the history of it.

The thing is, she doesn't see color. I mean at her age I don't think kids in general notice differences, but especially in the town we live in, her classes at school are like mini United Nations. In a kindergarten class of 15 kids, I think maybe 4 or 5 of them were caucasian like her.

So if the ocassion arises, do we explain to her why this is all so historic? Do we explain how even just a few years before her dad was born (I'm 38) it was still legal in parts of the country to have people of different races not have rights, or have to use different seats, and fountains, and bathrooms? And now in my lifetime there is and can be an African American president?

Any other DUers in this realm of parenting, etc.

[madeline_con]

1. YES! YES! Talk to the kids.

spelledit

Tell them how very cool this is. Tell them about the civil rights struggle.

Tell them everything.

I just went out to the family room, and there's my 13 yo watching CSPAN. He's digging it. He was on the phone telling his friend about Obama. :woohoo:

[EC]

2. If the kids can understand The Ugly Duckling,

they'll get this...that story is all about empathy and differences and triumph...

As is this one...

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I mentioned it to my 8 and 10 yr old. They weren't wildly impressed but I think

it's because they never realized that something like this has never happened before. In a way, it's nice to know they think the world is a fair place and can't imagine the discrimination that is out there.

[vi5]

5. That's my point I think....

If her short life so far, and the way she is and the life she leads is thus far blissfully unaware that there has ever been such horrible things in her father's lifetime and that they are in some ways still out there.....what type of balance do I strike in making her aware of the significance but not dwelling too much on the negative of it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. You just tell her that there has not always been equality in this country and that

this is a major first for our nation.. and a long overdue one at that. I would leave out the brutality, though. Let her keep her innocence awhile longer. :)

[Erin Elizabeth]

4. You can discuss this in age-appropriate terms

and I think it's important to. Plus later she'll thank you because she'll actually remember this historic time.

My daughter is 14 and is really getting into this and is so excited. She's been going to political things with me since she was eight. She's a political junkie. It's cool because she's taking U.S. History this year in school and her teacher is doing a mock election and going through all the stuff about the electoral college, the history of our voting process, everything. So she's loving going to that class every day and it's only the first week of school!

[Life Long Dem]

7. Did I just see a Hillary supporter to the right in the back not clapping?

:grouphug:

[vi5]

9. Uh.......umm......huh?

What?

[FatDave]

8. I'm lettiong my 8 year old stay up for it.

He's shown a real interest in the election all year.

[DixieBlue]

10. I'm struggling with this with my five year old ...

Who is now sleeping.

I think what others have suggested are good ideas.

I've been pointing out the Obama's, explaining who they are, telling her he's a "very good man" and this is an "important time". She doesn't really get it.

I'll show her part of the speech tomorrow and tell her a little more.

[Fleshdancer]

11. Now is the time

My daughter is 8 and I plan to let her stay up for the speech. She won't appreciate it now, but she'll cherish the memory when she's older.

Last night we talked about voting rights and I explained to her that there was a time when women and African-Americans could not vote in this country. I felt an extreme sense of pride in my country when I saw the confused, bewildered look on her face. We have come so far. We're not perfect, but we're still willing to strive for what is right.

[RayOfHope]

12. I was talking with my 7 yo daughter about it. Absolutely talk with her n/t