How to Talk to Kids About Racism
Photo Source: Blackgirl Dangerous
BY: Sonia Park & The Richstone Family
The kids are watching. Hundreds of protests across the country are demanding an end to over 400 years of systemic racism. With the current political climate, it can be a little overwhelming to talk to your kids about racism.
Unfortunately, racism is learned. Research shows that kids are treated differently based on skin color as young as preschool. While Black parents teach their kids about racial differences for their protection, White parents usually avoid the topic all together because it can be very uncomfortable to discuss. However, it’s up to the parent to decide when you will have this important and inevitable conversation with your child.
As we discussed in the blog post about teaching empathy to your child (can sublink), children at young ages are pretty good at picking up nonverbal language from adults so avoiding discussions about race can also be a learned trait. This teaches kids to also adopt what the parent won’t do in many respects more than what to do, if you’re not talking about it.
Kids generally know what is fair and unfair, which is a strong foundation to discuss injustice. Allow your kid to lead the conversation and don’t be afraid to share what’s going on internally with you, as a parent. In a brief, simple, and direct way, identify your own personal feelings and discomfort. Channel your inner empathy and compassion. Don’t be afraid to admit things you have yet to learn. Show your child how despite your fears, you are committed to justice and equality.
Although you can’t always control what happens in the world or what is aired on the news, you can discuss why you don’t agree with the political leaders making the decisions. You can address the policies that need to change. You can emphasize the importance of humanity and the life of virtue.
By practicing anti-racism, you and your child can establish accountability and help create a safe and inclusive environment to learn, grow, and love.
Source
Suggested Books
“I Am Enough” by Grace Byers
”Skin Like Mine” by Latashia M. Perry
Richstone x Magic Paper Studios
Contributed by Carrie Honn, Parents As Teacher Program Manager
For more than 46 years, the Richstone Family Center has been dedicated to treating child abuse and trauma; strengthening families; and preventing violence in families, schools, and communities. Each year, we provide services to thousands of vulnerable, low-income families living in the South Bay and South LA areas.
Coloring books provided through our partnership with ABCsons of Magic Paper Studios will provide lots of smiles to children in Richstone’s Parents as Teachers Home Visiting Program that serves families in the community with children ages 0-5. Goals central to the home visitation program are to screen children for any potential developmental, social, or cognitive delays, refer clients to community resources, and coordinate successful mental health linkages. Through these interventions, we aim to strengthen all expectant and parenting families so they’ll have children who are healthy, safe, and ready to learn.
These coloring books will be a great resource that encourage a child’s self-expression, targets fine motor skills, and promotes healthy parent-child interactions in which parents can encourage and explore their child’s creativity. Resources like these that we can use during our home visits and provide for families to use between visits is extremely valuable to the work we do!