Posted by We are in solidarity with the fight for justice and we support the protesters. We acknowledge the overwhelming majority of protests are peaceful. We are choosing to focus on what is important which is the inequity and injustice people of color face, and the power of peaceful protests. It is easy to be distracted by the negative reporting we see, but having open hearts and minds allows us to empathize with those who face injustice.
Below are resources to discuss these difficult topics with our children. Future generations will look to us and it is our responsibility to help them make a better world filled with equity, justice, and empathy.
For parents in the ex-pat community:
Expat Actually is a blog created by Whitney, a member of the ex-pat community. Her blogs offer advice to help you navigate the rollercoaster of living abroad. She recently posted a blog about what those in the ex-pat community can do right now for children, who are our future.
For parents in general:
This resource, from The Children’s Community School, a learning community that honors and empowers children to engage their whole selves in education, talks about how children are never too young to learn about race. Check out this great infographic that explains how young children learn about race.
- The article also provides wonderful resources from around the internet regarding tips and approaches, and information and perspectives; see below:
- Tips and Approaches
- 7 Things to Do When Your Kid Points Out Someone’s Differences, by Rachel Garlinghouse.
- Talking With Children About Racism, Police Brutality and Protests, by Laura Markham.
- 6 Things White Parents Can Do to Raise Racially Conscious Children, by Bree Ervin.
- How to Talk to Little Girls, by Lisa Bloom.
- Mama, Ella Has A Penis! How To Talk To Your Children About Gender Identity, by Marlo Mack.
- Information and Perspectives
- My son has been suspended five times. He’s 3. by Tunette Powell.
- Speaking “Mexican” and the use of “Mock Spanish” in Children’s Books, or, Do Not Read Skippyjon Jones, by D. Ines Casillas.
- When My 8-Year-Old Gay Son Taught His Class About Harvey Milk, by “Amelia.”
- It’s Not Just About Delaying Gratification, by Geek Feminism. (Also see To Predict Success in Children, Look Beyond Willpower, by Simon Makin.)
- It’s Okay to Be Neither, by Melissa Bollow Tempel.
- My Son Wears Dresses; Get Over It, by Matt Duron.
- Tips and Approaches
For parents of children with autism spectrum disorder:
Social Stories can be used to teach social skills such as taking another’s point of view. Below is a repost from @b_the_peds_ot on Instagram. The caption reads, “Here is a social story that can be used to start a conversation with your kiddos. It can also be used as a template to create your own individualized story. Created by: Early Childhood Family Education – St. Paul” https://www.instagram.com/p/CBA0e2TBCqL/
Still having a hard time deciding how to teach your children about race? Here are a few more resources:
10 tips for teaching and talking to kids about race
Lastly, we wanted to provide resources to help you find children’s books that address racism:
- Epic! is a digital library for children 12 and under. If you do not have an account, they offer a free 30-day trial. Recently, they have added two collections: Celebrate Black Culture and Start a Conversation About Race. Both collections provide dozens of books to educate children about racism and foster a sense of empathy for persons of color.
- If you use Instagram, here are some accounts to follow:
- @hereweeread is a diversity and inclusivity advocate whose Instagram is filled with diverse books and educational products to raise curious kids.
- @booksfordiversity‘s page has a ton of books that reflect the diversity and the unique cultures that make up our nation and world.
- This article provides 33 Books Featuring Black Heroes and Characters That Every Kid Should Read
Worldwide Speech’s Top 5 Favorites:
- The Skin You Live In by Michael J Tyler:
- Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin
- You Matter by Christian Robinson
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
- Enough! 20 Protestors That Changed America by Emily Easton
Together we can make a difference!
