Post-Election Resources for Kids, Youth, and the Grown-Ups Who Love Them

This post is for leaders who work with kids and youth and for the grown-ups who also love those kids and youth. It provides post-election resources, including picture book recommendations, creative art projects for kids and youth, and resources for youth groups.

Click below to download a set of four coloring pages for your youth group, Sunday school classes, or many other uses.

I (Adam) have traveled through the Milwaukee airport many times, and each time, I have appreciated the “Recombobulation Area.” For those with no idea what I’m talking about (it is a rather silly word, after all), a Recombobulation Area is a designated zone to get yourself back together after the chaos of going through security. You sort your things, put your shoes back on, put your phone back in your pocket, check to ensure you didn’t forget anything, and reset before walking to the gate. To recombobulate, or to reorient and get back in working order, is necessary not only after passing through airport security but as Lisa Rivero says in her blog post, many times throughout our days. Rivero writes:

Creating a personal recombobulation area—if only in our own minds and hearts—to put ourselves back together on a regular basis sounds like a pretty good idea.

For those of you with heavy hearts wondering how to be present with our children and youth after incredibly disappointing election results, we offer some plans for creating a “Recombobulation Area” with your community.

Regardless of whether children watch the news, have conversations with their grown-ups, or even know the names of the candidates who ran for President, they have experienced significant turmoil and unrest in the past few months. And despite the great efforts of those around them to maintain calm and routine, children and youth absorb fears and anxieties without even knowing it. Creating space for them to reorient, reset, and reconnect with their community will be a healing balm. And teaching them ways to recombobulate themselves will be a necessary self-care tool for surviving the next four years.

Below, you will find ways to set up your space, ideas for conversations, book recommendations, and other resources to prepare you as the leader for these times. Know that our hearts are with you. You are not alone. We are so grateful for your very meaningful work, creating safe spaces for big emotions and reflecting God’s love for all.

–The IM Team

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Setting Your Space

Now is the time to bring out all things soft: pillows, blankets, stuffies, bean bag chairs. It doesn’t have to be laid out in any particular way; it is available for anyone who wants something cozy. Consider shifting the lighting in your space. Use natural light or lamps instead of overhead lighting. If it can be done safely, consider lighting a candle or two or using one of those fancy candle warmers. 

Reading Corner

Here you will find a link to some fantastic children’s books for whatever your community needs. For the anxious child, for the child needing community, for the child who feels angry, scared, or sad…there are books for all. Consider making these available or reading a few to the group; be sure to have a designated adult in this space available to read to any pre-readers. Perhaps there’s a book that would make the perfect Children’s Moment for this Sunday. If you don’t have time to sort through the whole list (there are 80 books!), here are some of our favorites:

When you get to the full list, you can sort books by the following categories:

• Kindness
• Mental Health
• Self-Love
• Community
• Advocacy
• Empathy
• Nature
• God

Here’s a quick sneak peek at a portion of the book list:

Crafting Corner

We know that some great expression of emotions happens through art. Be sure to have plenty of art supplies available for your kids to process through creativity. We’re talking about everything: paper, glue, scissors, buttons, coloring utensils, pipe cleaners, stencils, stickers, watercolors, and paintbrushes. If you’ve got it, bring it out. Consider also providing supplies to make a worry doll, an ancient Guatemalan tradition of telling our worries to handcrafted dolls. Here are some resources to guide you. 

Free coloring pages: We’ve also selected some of our Illustrated Ministry coloring pages that seemed appropriate for these times. If you’d like to download them and share them with your children and youth (and who knows, your adults may also enjoy them!), just enter your first name and email below:

Specifically for Youth (Middle School and High School)

While many of the resources above also apply to older kids and youth, here are a few more ideas specific to youth.

Coloring & Conversation 

Our Coloring & Conversation resources were created to allow hands to be busy so minds could wonder and be open to conversation. It is an excellent tool for coloring, conversation, and community.

Although we created Coloring & Conversation: Hope, Peace, Joy & Love for youth groups to use during Advent, it is very much a product that can be used anytime throughout the year. The Hope or Peace session would be particularly helpful for this Sunday. To ease the cost, you can save 25% when you use the discount code YOU-CAN-DO-BETTER-AMERICA at checkout.

Naming our Fears

When we feel overwhelmed, anxious, or lost, it can help to take time to name what is causing those emotions. Create a space for youth to express and name their fears. This can be done on a prayer wall, as a group activity (writing down fears anonymously and having a leader collect and read them aloud), or a journaling activity. Whatever you choose, be sure to share with the youth that God can handle all honest reflections, no matter how big. 

Above all else, remind all children and youth in your care that they are loved, that they are safe, and that they are welcome and belong here. 

Video Resources

• Worry Bug Meditation

Articles to Read

• PBS Kids: How to Look for the Helpers (and Be One!) During Coronavirus (some covid-specific language, but largely evergreen)
• PBS Kids: Expanding Your Child’s Circle of Concern  
• PBS Kids: How to Talk to Children About Politics
• PBS Kids: Helping Kids Navigate Scary News Stories
• How to Talk to Kids About Post ‘Election Stress’