Parenting: Talking Race With Young Children

Even babies notice differences like skin color, eye shape and hair texture. Here’s how to handle conversations about race, racism, diversity and inclusion, even with very young children.

A few things to remember:

• Don’t shush or shut them down if they mention race.
• Don’t wait for kids to bring it up.
• Be proactive, helping them build a positive awareness of diversity.
• When a child experiences prejudice, grown-ups need to both address the feelings and fight the prejudices.
• You don’t have to avoid topics like slavery or the Holocaust. Instead, give the facts and focus on resistance and allies.

Listen to this parenting podcast from NPR in which Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president for Social Impact at Sesame Workshop, and Beverly Daniel Tatum, author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race discuss the psychology of racism, how to talk with your kids about race and racism, and some strategies for conducting these conversations.

Source: NPR | Talking Race With Young Children, https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716700866/talking-race-with-young-children | © 2020 npr

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