5th graders on the 2016 campaign, and Donald Trump
With a possible turning point in campaign 2016 underway, the name calling, yelling and attack ads might leave parents wondering how to talk to kids about this election season. CBS News spoke to a handful of elementary students to see what they thought about this election cycle and the candidates.
Max, Ella, Brynn, Ananya and Will are 5th graders in Middleburg, Virginia.
"What do you like watching about the debates, Max?" CBS News correspondent Chip Reid asked.
"They make us, like, laugh," Max responded.
"They make you laugh? Does anybody in particular make you laugh?" Reid asked.
"Donald Trump," Will whispered.
"Why does Donald Trump make you laugh, Ella?" Reid asked.
"I agree with some of his platforms. But, it's just, he's never been in politics," Ella said. "But, somehow, he's winning."
"If you were old enough to vote, who would vote for Donald Trump?" Reid asked. Nobody volunteered.
"No," Ananya responded.
"What's the main reason you wouldn't vote for him?" Reid said.
"I don't think he, like, ever answers the questions," Brynn said.
"Well, how mean he is," Max added.
Call it mean, unruly, uncivil or unhinged -- the 2016 election cycle has been tough for some adults to watch, and the students feel the same way.
"Are you tired of them being mean to each other?" Reid asked.
"Yes," the students responded.
"Are you tired of them talking over each other?" Reid asked.
"Yes," they responded.
"Are you tired of them making fun of each other?" Reid asked.
"Yes," they said.
"Where do you think all that started?" Reid said.
"Donald Trump," the group said together.
"Do you think a lot of people like Donald Trump because of the issues or because he's entertaining, or both?"
"Because he's entertaining," Ananya said.
"Does it surprise you that people support him?" Reid asked.
"Yeah," they chimed.
"He says he's gonna make American great again," Reid said. "Do you believe him?"
They all said no.
"I think he's gonna make it worse," Will said.
The students said they pay close attention to a range of issues, including immigration, gun control and terrorism.
"Donald Trump has said that one way you deal with terrorism is just keep all Muslims out of the country, from coming into the country for now," Reid said.
"That's not the way," Will said.
"Not all Muslims are bad," Max said.
"Yeah, some Muslims are probably super nice," Will said.
They may disagree with Trump, but they aren't exactly rooting for the other candidates either.
"Personally, I wouldn't vote for, like, Hillary Clinton. But, what I'm most worried about is, even if a woman was president, would all the women's rights issues be solved?" Ananya wondered.
"I think that barrier needs to be broken for a woman to be president. But, would she do a better job? Not necessarily," Ella added.
"What do you think of Bernie?" Reid asked.
"Bernie -- I think he's made too much promises," Max said.
They all look forward to being about to vote, some day.
"Do you think people your age should be able to vote?" Reid asked.
"Yes," they responded.
The students we spoke to all reside here in Loudoun County, in Northern Virginia, a key swing county in a critical bellwether state where voters rightly predicted President Obama's wins in the last two elections.
That said, Donald Trump might have to work extra hard to convince our future voters that he's the right man for the job.