With all that’s going on in the world today, I think about my toddler boy and wonder what’s the best way to bring up the topic of racism and how to talk to him about it. After doing independent research, speaking to many friends who are mothers, and understanding how my child processes information, I have come up with 5 different ways to approach this topic.
Buy a doll/action figure of a boy or girl who is of a different race.
This may seem trivial, but it has worked for a few friends and influencers I follow. This sparks up a conversation with your toddler about why the doll looks so different from him or her. This is the moment that you can choose to convey to your child that different is beautiful and that the world would be dull if everyone looks alike. The conversation does not have to be deep, but enough for your child to see that differences make people unique in their own ways and cherishing those differences makes the world a beautiful place.
Watch a kid’s show that teaches your toddler about diversity.
Let’s be real. As parents, many times we need a break from our kids and we give them screen time to keep them occupied while we tend to other things. What better way to do that than by educating your child about diversity while having some screen time? A favorite of mine has been Motown Magic which airs on Netflix. My son loves to watch the main character “Ben,” an African American boy, paint the town his lives in with beautiful colors. This show not only focuses on a minority race but has characters of all different race and ethnic backgrounds creating a fun filled adventure for your toddler while teaching your toddler about equality and diversity.
Go outdoors and encourage your toddler to interact with children of all races/ethnic backgrounds.
Doing this will encourage your children to interact with kids of all ages, races, gender, ethnic background, without seeing a difference in them in comparison to themselves. It’s important to teach your children at a young age to see no difference in color or physical appearance. Instilling this in them at this age will decrease the likelihood of them being discriminatory of a person who looks different than them in the future.
Practice what you preach.
Before teaching your toddler about racism and the importance of equality, make sure that your life portrays that. For example, if you are a White individual and all of your friends are White, it may confuse your toddler and inadvertently instill a view of unconscious racial bias when choosing the people he/she surrounds themselves with. If this is the case, try diversifying your friendships and creating new friendships with mothers of a different race and/or ethnic background. Children tend to follow in your footsteps so if you want them to be the change in the world, you have to lead by example.
Explain the events going on in the world regarding hatred and discrimination.
Although this is a controversial topic, it is never too soon to teach your child about the unfairness of the world and how they, as one person, have the power to influence so many others to stop the hatred and discrimination that the United States is currently encountering and has encountered for decades. One thing I learned from much research that I’ve done is to never lie to your children or try to protect them too much because it can have a negative effect on how they function in the world when they face adversity.
I hope these ideas help you open the door to a conversation with your toddler about diversity and equality among all humans. As tough as it is to have a conversation like this with an innocent child, it is necessary to address all of the adversities they may face in the future and shape them to have better responses to these adversities. Being proactive now will create bright and well-rounded individuals who will create a better tomorrow for us all.
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