It’s Never Too Early to Talk With Children About Race
Infants as young as six months old can recognize differences in skin color. By age two and a half, research has shown, children prefer playmates who are similar in race and gender. And as early as age three, they are forming judgments about people based on racial differences.
What children learn, hear, and witness from family members, friends, and others in their communities about race plays a major role in how they view people who are different from them, according to Yale experts. Read more ›
Navigating learning and mental health challenges is difficult; adding racial and ethnic diversity to the mix can magnify the inequities and complexities of the journey. 
When I was a special education teacher, my colleagues and I recommended that a Black girl receive special education services because she had difficulty reading. However, her mother disagreed. When I asked her why, she explained that she, too, was identified as having a learning disability when she was a student. 
Even though mental health experiences are unique to each person, there are a few trends within the BIPOC community that highlight similar disparities and barriers throughout each ethnic group. 
In a first-of-its-kind national survey that focuses on the mental health of Youth of Color, the 
Children are curious and often have questions when they encounter people that are different from them, whether it be race, age, ability, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation or appearance, just to name a few. But while their questions can be embarrassing at times, it’s important to answer those questions and talk about their curiosity.
Contrary to the common belief that young children “don’t see race,” a mountain of research evidence confirms that racial awareness starts early. We know that within a few months of birth, babies prefer own-race faces, and that by roughly age 3 kids start to form judgments about others based on racial differences. And by kindergarten, kids perceive that different racial groups have different social status. 
Here’s the beautiful thing about kids—most are born with a natural sense of justice and fairness. Unless they are taught to be hurtful and cruel, most children know that it is wrong to attack others either physically or with words.
Talking openly and positively about differences can help children better understand themselves and those around them. Embracing diversity and inclusion empowers kids to engage their world with curiosity, confidence and kindness. 
So many disabled people still lack practical access to the information, ideas, and culture shared by more connected members of the disability community. And until fairly recently, disabled people with something to share had few outlets to do so on any kind of meaningful scale. 
