6.3 Starting Conversations – Good Practice

Here are a few things that can make it easier to get political conversations started with young people:

• Be open – Let young people know it’s okay not to have all the answers. You don’t need to be an expert, and neither do they.
• Be honest – If you don’t know something, own up to that – it’s valuable for young people to realise that adults also don’t have all the answers. Look up the subject together or suggest ways to find out more.
• Set expectations – Agree on ground rules or a code of conduct before starting discussions. Revisit them if conversations get difficult.
• Stay curious – Ask questions, invite young people’s opinions, and encourage respectful disagreement.
• Let them lead – If a conversation goes in an unexpected direction, follow it. It’s often where the most meaningful moments happen.

Later in this course, we will share a series of activities perfect for starting conversations with young people. 

Things to watch out for

• Jumping into party politics too soon – start with issues young people connect with, not party positions. Build your group’s knowledge before asking them to compare political positions. 
• Overloading with information – A heavy focus on process (how Parliament works, for example) can switch young people off if it’s not connected to something they care about.
• Dominant voices – Be mindful if a few confident individuals take over. Use strategies like small group discussions or written reflection to make space for quieter voices.

Managing tricky views – If a young person shares something challenging or controversial, don’t panic. Stay calm, explore where it came from, and bring the group back to respectful ground.