Publications
Partners
You’re hanging out with your friends while your kids play together in the garden. Talk turns to the latest scandal in government. Some senior official has been caught with his hands in the cookie jar, and you and your mates spend half an hour mocking him or muttering angrily about corruption. You look down, and see your son asking for a cup of juice. How much has he heard?
Conversational taboos?
You only have to glance at some of the comments sections of news sites to see that politics in South Africa is a hot topic. Also, that there are differing opinions, ranging from considered and informed ones, to outrageous racism. The owners of these opinions are quite possibly parents. Parents who are teaching their kids to think the same way as they do.
If dad is outspoken, perhaps they’ll learn how to model his opinions without questioning them- in the same way they learn how to have table manners- they won’t ask “why?” By the time they are old enough to vote, they’ll probably vote for the same party as their parents.
If someone at a braai says something racist or hateful, how do you react? You can use the opportunity to shoot the other person down, or quietly air your own opinions in a non-aggressive way. You could politely refuse to discuss politics, or change the subject. Just remember: Little ears will be listening in, even if you think they don’t understand.
Education, not indoctrination
Most parents would keep their children away from trying to understand concepts which are as complex as politics, but, whether you like it or not, you are their primary door into their political understanding.
South Africa has an extremely lively political environment, which is full of the challenges facing this developing nation- how do you help your child to understand the forces at work?
Surely we’d all like to be socially responsible; voters who take an interest in issues of social justice and the policies, laws and challenges which affect our futures. We’d like to steer our kids without indoctrinating them into having balanced and informed opinions of their own.
Do you have a plan for helping your kids to understand political concepts?
Conversational taboos?
You only have to glance at some of the comments sections of news sites to see that politics in South Africa is a hot topic. Also, that there are differing opinions, ranging from considered and informed ones, to outrageous racism. The owners of these opinions are quite possibly parents. Parents who are teaching their kids to think the same way as they do.
If dad is outspoken, perhaps they’ll learn how to model his opinions without questioning them- in the same way they learn how to have table manners- they won’t ask “why?” By the time they are old enough to vote, they’ll probably vote for the same party as their parents.
If someone at a braai says something racist or hateful, how do you react? You can use the opportunity to shoot the other person down, or quietly air your own opinions in a non-aggressive way. You could politely refuse to discuss politics, or change the subject. Just remember: Little ears will be listening in, even if you think they don’t understand.
Education, not indoctrination
Most parents would keep their children away from trying to understand concepts which are as complex as politics, but, whether you like it or not, you are their primary door into their political understanding.
South Africa has an extremely lively political environment, which is full of the challenges facing this developing nation- how do you help your child to understand the forces at work?
Surely we’d all like to be socially responsible; voters who take an interest in issues of social justice and the policies, laws and challenges which affect our futures. We’d like to steer our kids without indoctrinating them into having balanced and informed opinions of their own.
Do you have a plan for helping your kids to understand political concepts?
