3 Tips To Teaching Your Kids About Current Events
Whether it's the presidential race or world conflicts, there are lots of current events being thrown at people on a regular basis, thanks to the growth of the web and the 24-hour news cycle. As a parent, it might be difficult for you to figure out the happy medium between teaching your child about these current events and shielding them from those events. If you would like your child to remain informed as their minds developed, and want some tips on tactfully exposing them to current events, consider these tips below.
Cut Out The Infotainment And Political Slant
Even though political cable news gets incredible ratings and Twitter is abuzz during presidential debates, studies still indicate that, by and large, the average person is grossly uninformed on important facts, such as the identity of their governor—or even the vice president. What this indicates is that while people may be entertained by certain news sources, they aren't learning. Cut out the noise by exposing your child to news sources that are free of political leanings or editorializing. This allows you to aid your child in learning facts before developing their own opinions.
Control Their Web Use
If your child is like most children, they take to the web pretty easily through familiarity with mobile devices. According to statistics, a whopping 97 percent of young kids have used a mobile device. If you want to control the funnel of news information that reaches them, you should control the use of their device. This way, you can teach them that these devices can be informational tools, as opposed to leaving them exposed to some of the more salacious news sources. Set time limits on device use and always check the history. Invest in content blockers and customize the settings in a way that prevents them from viewing news from sites that might be damaging to a young mind.
Expose Them To News Sources That Are Catered To Kids
Above all, make following current events fun for your child! One way to do this is by subscribing to and introducing them to publications that cater their news to kids' points of view and interests. For instance, publications like Time magazine also have editions that are written for and catered to kids. This way, you develop these good habits early and won't have to worry about them not understanding the information presented to them.
Follow these tips and make sure to always have open and honest discussions with your child about the news, while helping to educate their minds.