10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race

It's no secret that racial tension and racial insensitivity has been a focus of both local and national news lately.  As adults, having courageous conversations around race is difficult, but it's important that we don't shy away from this opportunity. More importantly, we need to think about how we are paving the way for young people to have these conversations.  

As caring adults, it's important to consider developmentally appropriate ways to engage young people on the topic of race.   Below are a few tips to assist you...there is no time like the present! 

• Face your own bias: recognize your own personal biases and share how you overcome those biases.
• Be mindful: what you do has a greater impact than what you say.  Model embracing diversity by providing opportunities for young people to participate in diverse weekend activities or by selecting books and toys that include people of different race and ethnicities.
• Racial and cultural literacy: study and talk about the histories and experiences of cultural groups different from your own.
• Be active: if you see an injustice, do something.  Help youth become an agent for change.

Click here for more on these tips and others.  

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color."
-Maya Angelou