This archive report was first published on 16 June 2020.
With the recent Black Lives Matter movement, issues of racism have become a global concern. As a parent, it's crucial to be a trusted source of information for your children, especially on sensitive matters like race.
According to UNICEF, children as young as six months can notice differences in skin color, making it essential to start educating them about these matters early on.
Here are some tips to help you talk to your child about racism:
1. Make it age-appropriate ¶
Keep the conversation at your child's level of understanding. For younger children, explain the obvious differences like skin color and hair texture, but also point out that our differences are what make us unique.
For older children, you can go into deeper detail, using their existing knowledge as a starting point for your conversation.
2. Celebrate other cultures ¶
The internet has made it easier to learn about cultures from around the world. Explore different parts of the world, cook their foods, and connect with people from across the globe through social media to increase your child's knowledge of different races and appreciate diversity.
3. Lead by example ¶
How your children treat the issue of racism will depend on what they see you do rather than what you tell them. If they see you speaking up against racism, treating those from different races with fairness, and celebrating diversity, they will do the same.
