# How to Raise a Good Citizen: Teaching Teens Critical Thinking, Politics & Civic Responsibility

An episode of [Parenting Teenagers Untangled](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1601611493), 10 Jun 2026, 28 min.

Audio: https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/1882538/episodes/19320760-how-to-raise-a-good-citizen-teaching-teens-critical-thinking-politics-civic-responsibility.mp3

Ask Rachel anything Who's teaching our teens how to be good citizens; someone who feels a part of society and enagages meaningfully in creating a world we all want to live in rather than someone who just buys stuff? In this episode I talked with Lindsey Cormack, political scientist and author of How to Raise a Citizen, about why we parents must see it as our job to raise capable, engaged citizens. With civics instruction waning in schools, Lindsey shares actionable strategies to turn everyday moments into lessons about government, community impact, and problem-solving. We discuss how to engage disinterested teens, navigate polarizing topics calmly, model curiosity over certainty, and making local politics tangible for the younger amongst us. The great thing about Lindsey's message is we don't need to know all about politics to get our kids involved, we just need to be prepared to discuss whats happening around us. Perfect for parents who want to boost critical thinking, civic responsibility, and respectful dialogue at home. Resources and printable prompts available at teenagersuntangled.subtack.com. Lindsey Cormack: https://howtoraiseacitizen.com/ https://constitutioncenter.org/ Support the show Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits. Find all the tips from the episode on Substack: My email teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me Instagram Facebook

## Chapters

- 0:53 Core Claim: Raising Capable Adults = Raising Citizens (Why It Matters Today)
- 1:24 Why Civics Is Declining in Schools (Testing, Time Constraints & Teacher Roles)
- 2:48 Three School Challenges: Testing, Under‑resourced Teachers, Parental Pushback
- 3:21 Global Perspective: Critical Thinking and Its Decline in Classrooms Worldwide
- 4:08 The Social Media Effect: Teens Learning Politics on TikTok & Online Outrage
- 5:40 Reframing Government: How Parents Can Point Out Everyday Civic Wins
- 6:11 Local Politics Matter: Teaching Teens to See Community Impact (Roads, Parks)
- 7:33 Model Curiosity: Parents Don’t Need All the Answers — Learn Together
- 8:19 Engaging Disinterested Teens: Start with “What Would Make Life Better?”
- 9:59 Family Practices: Involving Kids in Local Elections & Candidate Mailers
- 11:45 Discussing Polarizing Topics: Start by Asking “What Have You Heard?”
- 13:35 Honest Parenting: Admitting Complexity & Modeling Lifelong Learning
- 14:49 Handling Thorny Issues (e.g., Immigration): Kids’ Fresh Perspectives
- 17:00 Finding Role Models: Look Locally for People Doing Good Civic Work
- 18:06 Simple Habit: Know the Electoral Calendar & Routine Civic Conversations
- 19:39 Example: Community Action — How Local Opposition Changed Policy (Parking)
- 20:08 Politics as Problem‑Solving: Teaching Rivalry vs. Enemy Mentality
- 21:44 Embrace Challenge: Let Kids Disagree to Sharpen Ideas at Home
- 22:45 Balancing Cynicism & Idealism: Be Honest But Hopeful About Change
- 25:09 Responding to Youth Interest in Alternatives (Socialism/Communism)
- 25:21 Words vs. Violence: Discussing Harmful Language vs. Physical Harm

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