The election to the German Bundestag will take place on February 23, 2025. The topic of elections raises questions for many young people. Even children are often interested in political issues. However, voting systems in particular are a complex topic that is difficult to understand even for many adults. We have compiled a selection of high-quality online services that provide children and young people with age-appropriate answers to their questions about elections and politics.
Kuppelkucker is the children’s website of the German Bundestag. Current news from the Bundestag for children aged 5 to 12 is published here twice a week. Explanations of terms and institutions of the German government can be found in the lexicon. Quizzes such as the election quiz, explanatory videos and audio clips such as this one on the Bundestag elections offer an interactive experience of the site.
logo!, the children’s news program on ZDF, also devotes some of its reports to the topic of elections and politics. An overview page explains various institutions in Germany, explains important terms and introduces individual parties. logo! also offers articles about the 2025 federal election. logo! is aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 12.
Südwestrundfunk regularly publishes child-friendly video and audio contributions on the SWR Kindernetz portal, supplemented by short knowledge articles. Here you can find some contributions on political topics such as the Bundestag elections or the Basic Law. Children can playfully test their knowledge in an election quiz.
Die Sendung mit der Maus has set up a special page on the subject of democracy and elections, on which video contributions for children aged 5 and over are available on topics such as postal voting, the Reichstag and laws.
Presenter Checker Tobi from Checker Welt deals with the topic of democracy and the importance of elections in the report Democracy Check. The program is aimed at an audience aged 6 and over.
The well-known Was ist Was book series is aimed at children aged 8 and over. In addition to the non-fiction book Demokratie – deine Stimme zählt (Democracy – your vote counts), a brochure on democracy and elections in the typical Was ist Was style is available for free download on the website.
Geolino Spezial is a knowledge podcast for children in which presenter Ivy goes on a journey of discovery around the world. Episode 81 is all about elections. You can listen to all podcast episodes on this Geolino website.
“How is a law made? What tasks do ministers have? How important are children’s rights?” – These are the questions addressed in the children’s podcast Ohrka. Here, child reporters interview politicians and get to the bottom of questions about democracy.
The Hanisauland portal communicates political and social issues to children between the ages of 8 and 14 in a playful way. Knowledge articles and a lexicon explain important terms and topics. Children can post their own questions under the articles. The portal highlights special topics such as elections and the upcoming Bundestag elections. Children and young people can test what they have learned in the quiz on the topic of elections.
The knowledge section of the Federal Agency for Civic Education provides answers to the most important questions about democracy and elections in the form of articles and booklets. A special overview page has been put together for the 2025 Bundestag elections, including the Wahl-O-Mat.
U18.org is all about young issues in politics, youth elections, events and political education. Anyone under the age of 18 who wants to take part in the U18 election can find out more here on the website.
The German Bundestag’s mitmischen.de portal encourages young people to become politically or journalistically active themselves.
Social media channels for political education make it easy and entertaining to understand what is currently being discussed in politics and society. The politikverstehen_ channel on Instagram conveys knowledge about domestic and foreign policy. nini_erklaert_politik covers current political events in a humorous, simple and factual way on her Instagram account and her TikTok channel. On YouTube, influencers like LeFloid and networks like funk tackle social issues with factual accuracy and humor. DIE DA OBEN! by funk offers political content about the Bundestag on all social media channels.
When it comes to political education, parents are an important role model for children. Emphasize the importance of elections and encourage your child to stand up for values such as democracy and social justice. Give your child access to age-appropriate news and information sites and search engines and talk to them about political issues. Because by gaining a certain basic understanding of democracy and elections, your child learns why their own opinion and vote are important. Do not force your child to do this, but build on their existing interest.
In connection with elections and democracy, disinformation and fake news are circulating on the internet and on social media platforms. Talk to your child about fake news online and explain to them how they can check news and content. HanisauLand or Team Timster offer programs for children and young people to educate them about fake news and the like.