Young children can learn advanced concepts, especially with a little help. The written text together with illustration facilitates children’s understanding of complex ideas and helps in learning the election process.
The passions and mechanics of the election process can be confounding even to adults, because they are meant to be so. There are elements of “elections theater” where passion used to make persuasive political arguments. Historically, the use of animal characters in fables both adds a layer of humor and illustrates peoples motivation, selfishness and tricks that are used to achieve political aims in such a way that these become evident to both children and adults.
The Process Makes Complex Ideas Simpler
Erika Nielsen is applying this approach with books written as fables and illustrations that provide context and meaning.
Nielsen’s book, “How to Become President,” tells the tale of a lion running for president. This book is a fable, an ancient story form that teaches life lessons to young and old. Together, with the right illustrations, the story comes to life. Reading aloud to children aids this process by allowing for questions and answers.
Often, people underestimate the learning abilities of children. Still, even little ones have a great capacity to absorb and understand information, even learning the election process, especially when presented in the fable and illustration approach. Nielsen and others who partner with her in writing and illustrating books seek to complement regular classroom education with such tales.