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FLOWER MOUND (CBSDFW.COM) – They stood in line and made their choice! Preschoolers at the Primrose School of Wellington are learning about the voting process.
Teachers shuffled kids in and out of the polling booth, as they voted for either Percy the rooster or Billy the duck, by the end of the day a new mascot would represent the school.
The preschoolers gripped their voter ID’s and impatiently waiting to cast their ballot. One child nearly voted twice – another was almost too scared to enter the booth. But this mock election has a bigger lesson to learn.
“It’s important to use kind words with your friends and family, teachers, and anyone else,” says Lindsey Flanagin, Curriculum Director.
Parents are trying to find a way to explain this tumultuous election season to the youngest minds. “It’s good to teach kids life lessons here about Hillary’s digital footprint with her emails, or Trump’s past behavior and being accountable,” says Psychologist, Dr. Sylvia Gearing.
Dr. Gearing says kids under 10 focus more on positives than negatives. Even though the election has gotten ugly at times, it’s healthy to explain hot button issues to older kids, especially teens.
“You have to watch your own behavior,” advises Dr. Gearing. “If you’re disrespectful towards the candidates, your child will be disrespectful towards the candidates, and that trickles down.”
Gearing says the real presidential election is full of teachable moments, like making sure parents set a good example.
Flower Mound council members were on hand to help with the election, one checked voter ID’s, another handed out stickers.
At Primrose, the ballots were quickly counted – no recall demanded. Billy the rooster is the new school mascot!
Parents and teachers can only hope the outcome of election night is as positive and peaceful as this one.
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