During an election season, politics can seem to be everywhere.

Children may see campaign posters on the streets, hear political discussions at home, watch election advertisements on television, or encounter political content online.

Even though children are too young to vote, that does not mean they are completely unaware of what is happening around them.

In fact, election periods can provide parents with a valuable opportunity to introduce children to government, democracy, elections, citizenship and civic responsibility in a simple and age-appropriate way.

The goal does not have to be making your child “political.”

A better goal is helping them understand how their country is governed, why laws exist, what citizens are responsible for, and why participation in society matters.

Research involving children between the ages of 5 and 11 has found that young children can know considerably more about political events than adults sometimes assume. Researchers have therefore argued that children can benefit from earlier, thoughtful civic and political education.

At What Age Should You Teach Your Child About Government?

There is no single age that is right for every child.

Instead, consider:

  • Your child's age
  • Their level of curiosity
  • What they already understand
  • Questions they are asking
  • What they are seeing or hearing around them

A preschool-aged child does not need a lecture on constitutional law.

They can begin with simple ideas such as:

“A community needs rules.”

“People choose leaders to help make decisions.”

“Leaders also have rules they must follow.”

As children grow older, you can gradually introduce elections, different levels of government, the Constitution, citizens' rights, political parties and the three arms of government.

The important thing is to build understanding gradually.

Politics and Civic Education Are Not the Same Thing

When parents hear “teaching children about politics,” they may imagine discussing political parties or telling children which candidate to support.

That does not have to be the approach.

Civic education can focus on questions such as:

  • What does government do?
  • Why do countries have laws?
  • Who makes those laws?
  • What is an election?
  • Why do adults vote?
  • What rights do citizens have?
  • What responsibilities do citizens have?
  • What happens if government officials break the law?
  • How can citizens peacefully express disagreement?

These questions help children understand democracy without turning the conversation into party campaigning.

What Does Government Mean?

Government refers to the institutions and people responsible for making decisions, creating and applying laws, providing public services, and managing the affairs of a country or community.

Not everyone who works in government is a politician.

Government also includes civil servants, judges, public institutions and many other people performing different responsibilities.

For a child, you might explain it like this:

“Government is the system we use to make rules and organise how our country, states and communities are run.”

The Three Levels of Government in Nigeria

Nigeria has three main levels of government:

1. Federal Government

The Federal Government deals with matters affecting the entire country.

The President heads the federal executive.

Federal responsibilities include areas such as national defence, foreign affairs and other matters assigned to the Federation under the Constitution.

2. State Government

Nigeria has 36 states.

Each state has a Governor and other institutions responsible for governing matters within the state under the Constitution.

States also have Houses of Assembly that make state laws.

3. Local Government

Local governments operate closer to communities.

They deal with various local responsibilities and are headed by elected local government leadership under the applicable constitutional and legal framework.

Nigeria has 774 Local Government Areas, according to INEC.

A simple way to explain the three levels to a child is:

Federal Government → the whole country

State Government → one state

Local Government → your local community

The Three Arms of Government

At the federal level, government power is divided among three main arms:

  1. Legislature
  2. Executive
  3. Judiciary

You can explain their roles to a child very simply:

Legislature → makes laws

Executive → carries out laws

Judiciary → interprets laws and settles legal disputes

Each arm has different responsibilities so that too much government power is not concentrated in one place.

1. The Legislative Arm: The Lawmakers

The legislative arm makes laws and represents citizens.

At the federal level, Nigeria's legislature is called the National Assembly.

It has two chambers:

  • The Senate
  • The House of Representatives

This is known as a bicameral legislature.

The Senate

Nigeria has 109 senators.

There are:

  • Three senators from each of Nigeria's 36 states
  • One senator representing the Federal Capital Territory

The Senate is led by the President of the Senate, assisted by the Deputy President of the Senate.

The House of Representatives

The House of Representatives has 360 members, with each member representing a federal constituency.

The House is led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

What Does the National Assembly Do?

Among its major responsibilities are:

  • Making federal laws
  • Representing citizens
  • Examining government activities
  • Approving public spending through the legislative process
  • Holding public officials accountable through oversight

The National Assembly explains that an ordinary bill must generally pass both the Senate and House of Representatives before being presented for presidential assent.

For younger children, you can simplify all of this to:

“Lawmakers discuss rules for the country and decide whether those rules should become laws.”

2. The Executive Arm: Putting Laws Into Action

The executive arm is responsible for administering government and carrying out laws and public policies.

At the federal level, it includes the:

  • President
  • Vice President
  • Ministers
  • Ministries
  • Departments
  • Agencies and other executive institutions

The President heads the federal executive and also serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

A presidential term lasts four years under Nigeria's Constitution, and a person cannot be elected President more than twice.

You can explain the executive to a child like this:

“If lawmakers make a law, the executive helps make sure the government actually carries it out.”

For example, government ministries and agencies work in areas such as:

  • Education
  • Health
  • Agriculture
  • Transportation
  • Finance
  • Security
  • Environment

The exact structure and number of ministries can change over time, so it is better to teach children what ministries do rather than ask them to memorise a fixed number.

3. The Judicial Arm: Interpreting the Law

The judiciary consists of courts and judicial officers.

Its responsibility includes interpreting laws, resolving disputes and applying the law to cases brought before the courts.

At the top of Nigeria's court system is the Supreme Court.

Other courts in the federal judicial system include the Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court and various courts within the Federal Capital Territory, while states also have their own courts.

For children, you could explain:

“Judges help decide what the law means and what should happen when people disagree about the law.”

How Are Judges Appointed?

The original idea that “judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate” is too broad.

Judicial appointments depend on the particular court.

The National Judicial Council plays an important role in recommending candidates for federal and state judicial appointments to the President or relevant state Governor. Supreme Court appointments, for example, involve an NJC recommendation, presidential appointment and Senate confirmation.

For young children, however, they do not need the entire appointment procedure.

It is enough to say:

“Judges are appointed through a special constitutional process because they have an important responsibility to apply the law fairly.”

An Easy Way to Explain the Three Arms

Try this example:

Imagine your family decides to create a rule that everyone should put away their toys after playing.

The Legislature is like the people who discuss and create the rule.

The Executive is like the people who make sure the rule is carried out.

The Judiciary is like the person who decides what the rule means if there is disagreement about whether someone followed it.

The real system is much more complicated, but simple examples can give young children a foundation they can build on later.

Teach Children About Elections Too

An election is a process through which eligible citizens choose people to represent or govern them.

Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission is constitutionally responsible for organising elections into various political offices at the federal and state levels, among other functions, and also has responsibilities relating to voter and civic education.

Children may not yet be able to vote, but they can learn why voting matters.

Explain that voting gives eligible citizens an opportunity to help choose their representatives.

But also teach them that citizenship involves more than elections.

Responsible citizens can:

  • Obey the law
  • Respect other people's rights
  • Learn about public issues
  • Ask questions
  • Help their communities
  • Hold leaders accountable peacefully
  • Protect public property
  • Participate constructively in society

Teach Children That Leaders Also Have Rules

An important civic lesson is that government officials are not above the law.

Children should understand that democracy is not simply about choosing leaders and then obeying everything they say.

Government institutions have powers, but those powers also have limits.

That introduces children to an important idea:

The rule of law.

In simple terms:

“Everyone has rules to follow — including the people in government.”

Encourage Questions, Not Political Loyalty

Children naturally ask questions.

During an election season, you might hear:

“Why is that person's face on a poster?”

“Why are those people arguing on television?”

“Why does Daddy support that candidate?”

“Why are people voting?”

Instead of shutting down the discussion, use the questions as teaching opportunities.

And where possible, separate fact from opinion.

For example:

Fact: “Nigeria has a Senate and House of Representatives.”

Opinion: “I think this senator is doing a good job.”

Helping children understand that distinction can become an important part of media literacy and critical thinking.

Avoid Teaching Children That One Party Is Automatically “Good” or “Bad”

Parents naturally have political opinions.

But civic education becomes more useful when children are encouraged to think rather than simply inherit conclusions.

You can explain:

“Different political parties and candidates may have different ideas about how the country should be governed.”

Then encourage older children to ask:

  • What is this candidate promising?
  • Is the claim true?
  • What evidence supports it?
  • What does the law say?
  • Who benefits from this policy?
  • What might the disadvantages be?
  • Is this information from a trustworthy source?

Those questions teach skills that will remain useful long after a particular election is over.

Help Children Understand Respectful Political Disagreement

Democracy involves disagreement.

Children should learn that two people can have different political opinions without becoming enemies.

Teach them to:

  • Listen
  • Ask questions
  • Avoid insults
  • Check facts
  • Explain their reasoning
  • Accept that others may disagree
  • Reject violence and intimidation

Political participation should not require hostility.

Use Everyday Activities to Teach Civics

Civic education does not have to feel like a classroom lesson.

You can:

  • Show your child a government building
  • Explain what happens during an election
  • Watch age-appropriate news together
  • Read books about government
  • Talk about community problems
  • Explain why laws exist
  • Create a mock family election
  • Let children vote on harmless family choices
  • Discuss the difference between rules, rights and responsibilities

Older children can also explore official sources such as INEC and the National Assembly to learn how elections and lawmaking work.

Raising Informed Future Citizens

Your child will learn about politics and government from many sources:

  • Family
  • School
  • Friends
  • Books
  • Television
  • Social media
  • News websites
  • Political advertisements

Parents therefore have an important role in helping children learn how to evaluate what they hear, rather than simply telling them what to believe.

As children grow, their understanding of democracy, government, elections, rights and public policy will become more sophisticated.

The foundation can begin much earlier.

Teach them how government works.

Teach them that citizens have rights and responsibilities.

Teach them to ask questions.

Teach them to check information before believing or sharing it.

And teach them that participating responsibly in society is about much more than supporting a political party.

The goal is not to raise a child who agrees with every political opinion you hold.

The goal is to raise a future citizen who can think, participate, question, respect others and make informed decisions for themselves.