Nobody comes out of the womb with racist thoughts and mindset. The people and the circumstances around fill an innocent mind with such damaging views and opinions. Although many people claim that racist mentality of society has vanished but it seems so far to be true, as still some instances in some parts of the world that are downright racist incidents. Well, racism takes nobody anywhere and all it brings is shame and guilt so it should have no space in our hearts and in the society. Every parent must ensure bringing up children who are not racists but who respect everybody regardless of their race. As parents, you can use the following ways to develop racial tolerance in your children:
Consider your child’s age
A message that you want to transfer to your child has to be age specific, it should be easy for your child to understand. Children have innocent minds that cannot decipher serious and complicated messages. As they grow in age, their mind also matures and that is when they can understand the real depth of situations. Likewise, while teaching your small kid about anti-racism behavior, you ought to set examples that their developing brain could easily understand. For instance, you can use the very famous example of white and brown eggs, break them and show your child that despite their external color difference they are same inside, just like people with the difference of their skin color.
Do not sweep issues under the rug
Mostly, parents find it hard to start a racist conversation with their kids. They believe that it is better no to talk on such intense issue, or else the conversation might bring negative racist thoughts in their children. However, this is a sheer myth and it is the responsibility of parents to take up this issue and discuss with their kids. In the conversation they should make their children understand that there is no such difference between people, everybody is equal and those who differentiate are the culprits. A conversation like this would not make your children racists but definitely develop racial tolerance in them.
Allow your child to be with people of other ethnicities
Give your child several chances to meet and be with other children coming from different races and backgrounds. Enroll them to hobby classes, summer camps where there are diverse group of kids. Parents should try doing so since their child’s early years so that they get used to being with diverse people around and they do not view any race as different.
Restrict their exposure to racism
Usually it is media and people around who are the biggest sources from where children can learn and develop racial tendency. As parents, you must ensure that your children do not have access to any such source that is potential to develop racist tendency in your child.
Do not suppress their curiosity
Children sometimes come up with questions like why some people are different in their skin color, hair, or features, and other similar questions. It is their curiosity that makes then ask such questions that parents find hard to answer sometimes. All parents must ensure that they should never leave their child’s curious question unanswered, no matter how hard it is for you. You can tell your child that you will answer them the next day but make sure that you get back to them positively.
Racism is a very serious and a complicated issue to talk to children. However, if parents get the hang of certain effective measures they can easily and successfully develop racial tolerance in their children.
