Talking to your Child About Anti-Racism

Children are never too young to learn about diversity. Being an educator or parent that acknowledges and supports differences is an important commitment for each of us. We want to teach our children to become their best selves, to connect to others regardless of race or background, and to live in a world where all children feel safe, happy, and connected.

All of us at Blue Bird Day are here to support you and your family as our country continues to move forward, creating a more just and fair world for all people. We understand it can be hard to identify where or how to start conversations with our kids, so we have compiled resources to help you organize information on the topic of anti-racism: 

• “They’re not too young to talk about race!” :  This infographic from The Children’s Community School outlines when research shows that children begin to notice race differences in peers and others. It’s a great resource for all parents to help understand when it is appropriate (and important) to begin talking to kids about race.  
• “Beyond the Golden Rule” by Teaching Tolerance Publications : Teaching Tolerance provides free resources for educators and parents regarding social justice and anti-bias. “Beyond the Golden Rule” is a parent guide for how to prevent and respond to prejudice with children ranging from preschool age to 17 years old. The guide also has Question and Answer sections from experts, as well as helpful tips for how to approach specific topics.
• Lee and Low Books: Lee and Low Books is a great resource to find inclusive books that portray people of all races and ethnicities. Their mission is “to publish contemporary diverse stories that all children can enjoy.” In addition to bringing more equal representation to books, they also work with unpublished authors and illustrators of color.  
• A Kids Book About…: “A Kids Book About…” stories come from authors who all have different backgrounds, experiences, and stories to share. Some of the topics covered in their book series include racism, disabilities, belonging, and anxiety.
• Blue Bird Coloring Sheet: One of our wonderful Occupational Therapists created a coloring page about loving and respecting our differences that kids can enjoy coloring.
• Our team have also found social stories very helpful. Social stories are simple step-by-step guides that help your children understand everyday situations.

Learning to understand and celebrate our differences will help you nurture your child’s sense of compassion and create a feeling of empathy for every individual.