Parents Talk: How to Talk Politics With Your Kids

If you have school age children, then you've no doubt been bombarded with political questions this election year.

I know I have.

Just last week, my first grader came home after a mock election at her school, proud to tell me she cast her vote for Barack Obama. While we've talked a little bit about the election at home, she still had a thousand questions about what happens next.

"Mom, will you vote?," "How do they choose a winner?" and "What happens if Obama doesn't win?"

I won't lie, it's hard to stay unbiased when talking politics with your kids. I want them to understand the process and make their own decisions about political affiliation when it's appropriate, not just mimic the things they've heard at home.

Dr. Peggy Drexler, research psychologist and blogger for the Huffington Post, gave these tips for how to teach your children about politics:

Explain yourself. Declaring, "Romney's an ass," or even "I don't believe in war," doesn't say much to your kids about why you support a particular candidate. Teach your kids what's behind your convictions--why you hold them.

Don't disparage. It's not easy, but it's important to do your best not to make negative comments about candidates in front of your kids. Instead, talk about the positive aspects of your preferred candidate to indicate why that person might be the better choice.

Go local. The presidential race is obviously the biggest ticket item, but talking to kids about local politics can help open up clear, relatable discussions about how politics affects our everyday lives. Maybe a local race determines what your kids will read in school next year, or whether your town gets a new playground. For older kids, try relating national issues, such as military service or women's health, to their aspirations or personal experiences. Helping them identify topics that are important and relevant to their lives will help them grasp why every voice counts.

Keep it fun. When my kids were younger, I'd take them with me into the voting booth. It was a necessity, but I also wanted them to watch me engage in the process of voting. The outing was exciting for everyone, especially when they were very small, and I think helped instill in them an understanding of the political process. At night, we'd watch the news together as the results came in and cheer on our candidate.

Teach them well. Even if you monitor the conversation at home, your child or teen will likely still encounter negative comments at school or elsewhere. You can't control others. Instead, let your kids know your position on trash talk and encourage them to keep their half of the conversation civil. If that's not possible, teach them how to politely disengage. Debating politics can be a fun exercise, but not if it devolves into calling the other person a moron. And let them know it's okay to be friends with people who don't share our political beliefs--and to be undecided on our own political beliefs as well. It's perfectly acceptable to say, "Sorry, but I don't like to talk about politics with friends." Sometimes, it's the only way.

How do you talk to your kids about politics? Tell us in the comments below.