Right now our children are surrounded by news stories and conversations about race and racism. For many of our children they are watching protests happen right outside their own doors and windows. It is important to start the conversation about race and racism so that they understand what is going on in the world around them. By starting these conversations young, we can teach children to embrace their differences, be empathetic, and speak out against injustice. These conversations can be overwhelming to think about starting, but are necessary to have. Here are some resources we have found helpful about starting the conversation:
Books can be an amazing tool to open up the conversation about race. We love the site “Here Wee Read,” which provides wonderful recommendations for diverse children’s books. Check out their “Let’s Talk About Race Book Recommendations.” Also, please take a look at all her book recommendations, as they are diverse and wonderful additions to your child’s home library!
Article 20 Network has put together a great guide for parents on talking to children about protests. We love that they discuss using examples that children can relate to. Check out their downloadable “Talking to Kids About Protest (Ages 6 and Under)” guide.
The Child Mind Institute also released a great article on how to discuss the news with children, which is full of additional resource recommendations. Check out their article “Racism and Violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News.”
When having these conversations children might find it helpful to draw, paint, or act out stories with toys to help them express their emotions. Some children might even express interest in wanting to join protests themselves or as a family, which is great! With COVID-19 still in our area, we understand that physically joining may not always be an option. We love the idea of staging a toy protest to help express their feelings at home! Use recycled cardboard or paper to make signs to express their feelings, and have them set up their favorite stuffed animals or dolls to form a protest of their own. What a great opportunity to act out a peaceful protest at home and learn to stand up for what is right!
