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Original poster

taking the kids to vote?

74 replies

Downdog · 05/05/2010 17:25

I'm thinking of taking DD along when I vote.

She is only young (2.5) but very bright and well aware (in her own way) of what is going on, and how we are all making a big collective decision etc etc.

Are you taking yours?

OP posts:
Clary · 05/05/2010 18:13

I always take all of mine.

Think it's important for them to see something of the electoral process.

They are 10, 8 and 7 tho before anyone calls me pompous

Original poster
Downdog · 05/05/2010 18:14

there will be no loud parenting!

but like most toddlers she understands the mechanicals of manipulation very well and we have made huge progress with negotiations and finding win/win situations . not sure she has really comprehended the potential impact of the forthcoming cost cutting measures yet but you've gotta learn sometime.

OP posts:
Original poster
Downdog · 05/05/2010 18:15

CLARY are you calling me pompous?

If you've ALWAYS taken them, presumably your 7 year old was 2 last time?

OP posts:
helyg · 05/05/2010 18:17

I hadn't thought of doing (was going to vote after dropping them off at school) but now realise that it might actually be quite interesting for DS1 who is 7...

Can they really not come into the booth with you? I'm sure I remember doing when I was a child, I had to go with mum to vote as the school was the polling station so we got the day off.

whomovedmychocolate · 05/05/2010 18:19

Actually downdog, there have been more recent local elections in some places so Clary is not necessarily wrong on this. I turn up to vote at everything, it's a nice walk down the road to the village hall

bradsmissus · 05/05/2010 18:19

I'm not but that's because my poling booth will be in DSs classroom and I can't be arsed to try and explain that he isn't going to school but then take him there - I'll just confuse the poor little blighter!!!!

roisin · 05/05/2010 18:20

I've never dreamed of taking mine to the polling booth! I mean that bit is really boring, isn't it? (Ours is just at the end of our road, so I usually pop down as soon as they open, to get it over and down with.)

We do discuss politics and current affairs with them - often, not just at election time. But I can't see what actually going to the polling booth would achieve.

MrsLiberalTheWaitress · 05/05/2010 18:21

Well, it would achieve the fact that they would continue being looked after by someone! There is no one else to look after them so I don't really have a choice. DD1 actually wants to go as she's interested in the process.

BrokenBananaTantrum · 05/05/2010 18:23

I'll be taking DD 3.9. I've explained what we are doing in terms of "mummy and daddy will go and pick a person to be in charge of things like how many teachers and nurses we have and where our soldiers go"

throckenholt · 05/05/2010 18:24

we took ours the last two times (last general election my twins were babies) - the lady in charge recognised them and said how much they had grown as they turned up on their bikes for the local elections last time

Pretty sure they will end up going with either me or DH tomorrow (we will probably go at different times).

Acanthus · 05/05/2010 18:27

I'll take mine (9 and 11). The polling station is their school hall, so I wanted them to knnow why they had a day off school and how it works.

DS1 was pissing himself laughing earlier at my explanation of the candidates to DS2 (who asked, before you all jump on me). It went something like - the Labour party, that's GB, the Conservative party, that's DC, the Liberal party, that's NC, the British National Party, they're a bunch of racist scum. It was my use of the word scum and my deadpan tone of voice, apparently..

overmydeadbody · 05/05/2010 18:32

Well as I'm a single parent DS will have to come with me.

OP you sound a bit precious though, thinking your Dd understands how we are all making a big collective decision, as if

Kathyjelly · 05/05/2010 18:33

My ds - 21 months - will be coming with me but his main motivation will be that the village shop (source of all chocolate) is right next door.

Ewe · 05/05/2010 18:34

I will be taking my 2yr old with me, she has been doing mock elections in her nursery class so she has very developed opinions on who we should be voting for. She really doesn't like that we are in such a safe seat though, she is with the lib dems on political reform

Original poster
Downdog · 05/05/2010 18:46

overmydeadbody - understands? - no way.

beginning to understand - most certainly. How do you think kids learn? Just because a young child doesn't have the ability to articulate something, doesn't mean they aren't taking everything in, processing it & learning.

OP posts:
DontCallMeBaby · 05/05/2010 18:57

DD will come with me - polling station is the school, which is open AFAIK so will do it on the way home. I should suggest that DH vote on the way to school so she can get the experience twice. She's six, so has some sort of an idea that someone's going to London to help make decisions - nice man who had a chat on our doorstep, or the daddy of a little boy in the other class.

I now feel a dreadful urge to either parent extremely loudly and obnoxiously, or stage a conversation in which I will appear to be genuinely giving my 6yo the choice of who to vote for, and honouring her decision. Nngh. Must. Behave. Myself.

MintHumbug · 05/05/2010 18:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

activate · 05/05/2010 18:59

oh what a ridiculous OP

voting with a 2.5 year old who is bright and aware?

am laughing to myself

take her if you have nowhere to leave her but really

drivel!

Jaquelinehyde · 05/05/2010 18:59

"She is only young (2.5) but very bright and well aware (in her own way) of what is going on, and how we are all making a big collective decision etc etc."

Wow OP that's one bright 2yr old you have!

Could you please enlighten us as to what her parts of the conversation consist of.

Does she have an opinion on the electoral process? Does she think it it ready for reform?

bronze · 05/05/2010 19:00

I will be going while older three are at school/playgroup. I will take my one year old with me and of course he completely understands about what we are doing and why.

activate · 05/05/2010 19:01

sorry i only read op and wanted to puke

whomovedmychocolate that s the 2nd time I've LOLed at one of your posts in the last week

Smithagain · 05/05/2010 19:07

Yes, mine will come with me. I vividly remember going with my mum to vote and gradually becoming aware what it was all about. I think it did help me develop the attitude that it was something that you did, on a regular basis, and was an important thing, not to be taken lightly. DD1 is 7 and beginning to have a bit of a clue what it's about and DD2 will enjoy helping me post the papery thing through the slot!

TeaOneSugar · 05/05/2010 19:10

I'll be taking dd (6.5), I think this is the third time she's been including local elections.

She understands that there are three teams, red, blue and yellow and that adults get to vote for a team, each team has a leader and the one who's team gets the most votes gets to run the country.

I made her watch Gordon Brown going to ask the Queen if he could hold an election, she liked the bit where the Queen's helicopter landed on her lawn.

At 2.5 I wouldn't even have attempted to discuss an election with her.

KERALA1 · 05/05/2010 19:10

No choice - pre school is shut as its being used as a polling station. Lots of arguments in this house though as my children are terribly bright and dd1 (3) is lib dem whilst her 18 month old sister is definitely backing labour.

BelleDameSansMorals · 05/05/2010 19:11

Well, I was going to leave mine with her father while I went and voted (end of road) and then pop back to pick her up to take her to nursery. I may take her with me now, just to do the loud parenting thing...

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