What the Harris and Trump Campaigns Teach Us about Parenting

By Deanna Hurn

I love being a Mom.

And I don’t indulge in politics.

So during this roller coaster of an election cycle, it would be insane to think that the Harris and Trump campaigns sparked some insights to help me be a better parent.

But they can.

And it has nothing to do with the candidates or their debating styles. Or which economic plan puts more food on the table. Or even how the candidates raised their own offspring.

It has to do with how campaigns are geared to engage the brain and heart and convince undecided voters to vote for their candidate. How they grab attention, encourage action and change minds. Political experts actually study neuroscience to figure out the best way to persuade swing voters.

For example, they learn how intentional messages will shift and guide behaviors. Words matter!

Because, at the core of it, isn’t parenting all about engaging and changing behavior to guide your children towards becoming fruitful human beings?

Here are five lessons from the political trenches to help you motivate your child by engaging their brain and heart towards and study harder:
1. Develop Clear Messaging and Slogans
Campaigns always create short, memorable taglines that they repeat often. Examples: “We’re Not Going Back” and “Make America Great Again.”
Give yourself permission to lay aside the politics, and think about the strategy. Children will respond to simple, consistent messages or family mottos that highlight the importance of fruitful behavior and studying or simply thinking critically since many of our kids no longer bring home homework.

For example, “Homework first, fun later!” or “Respect, Responsibility, Results!” Repeating these positive slogans daily makes them stick and become part of family culture.
2. Target Encouragement to What’s Important to Your Child
Campaigns talk to different audiences based on what each audience values. So, candidates speaking to young adults will discuss the job market; for older adults, the topic could be social security protection.
Personalize what you want your child to do based on his or her unique interests and strengths. If your child is into superheroes, say things like “Superheroes always finish their homework!” or, for a sports fan, “Train your brain like a pro athlete!” Tailoring motivation to what excites them will make it more effective.
3. Hold Open Discussions and Debates
Have regular family discussions about the importance of education and what fruitful behavior looks like. Let your children express their opinions and ask questions, helping them understand why critical thinking, studying and thoughtful behaviors are important.
Sometimes allowing kids to “debate” the rules gives them a sense of ownership and helps them see things from your perspective.
4. Offer Rewards and Make Promises
Ok. A common criticism of politicians is that they don’t keep their promises. But as a loving, devoted parent, you will make promises that you know you can keep.
Set clear expectations with specific rewards. For instance, “If you study every day this week without being promoted, we can go to the Jelly Bean Factory on the weekend.” Keep your promises, but also explain the value of personal satisfaction—rewarding not just results but effort and consistency. Help them value feeling good about their decisions to improve themselves.
5. Make Emotional Connections and Tell Stories
This is probably the most important tool of candidates - connecting with undecided voters emotionally. When we hear personal experiences, we can better relate to a candidate. He or she seems more human.
So share personal stories about how hard work, discipline or thoughtful behavior paid off in your own life or in someone they admire. Children might not want to hear your personal stories especially if they have already heard them a million times lol.
But they might take note if someone they admire (LeBron James? Taylor Swift?) had to overcome obstacles. Use stories that resonate emotionally with them. Appeal to their emotions by showing how their efforts can make them proud.
By using these five political strategies, parents and caregivers can create a supportive and engaging home environment. They can inspire their kids to think more critically, work harder and grow to be more productive and happy human beings. The key is to make the experience relatable, encouraging and rewarding, just as election campaigns do with voters.