How to Talk to Kids about Race, Episode 2: "What Our Kids Observe"
Welcome to YWednesday: How to Talk to Kids about Race! Whether it’s your own kids, your classroom, or simply a child you care about, it can be tough to know what to say to them about race and when to have those conversations. YWCA Racial Justice and Advocacy Coordinator Regina Platt brings you tips and resources for engaging children of all levels in conversations about race, racism, and racial justice. To join the conversation on social media, check out our YWednesday video series on Facebook. You can view our previous YWednesday series on Supporting Survivors with the YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment.
Episode 2: What Our Kids Observe
The Importance of Representation and Diversity
As Regina points out, children are like little scientists, constantly collecting data from their experiences. They are observing the world around them, including how adults behave and react in situations involving racial differences. What positive or negative associations are we making with the people, film and book characters, and cultural experiences around us? Parents and caregivers should always make sure that they are building a diverse world for their children so that they do not absorb those associations around race.For white children, seeing and experiencing positive situations involving people of color helps break down the racist social construct that positive attributions belong to white people. Watch movies with diverse heroes together, read books with diverse characters, participate in cultural experiences outside of your family's traditions, and seek out real-life connections to the diverse world around you.For children of color, representation in the world around them is a key part of building up their unique worth and self esteem. Regina gives the example of Disney princesses; in recent years, more and more popular princesses and heroes are BIPOC, including bilingual characters and music. Being able to take pride in being the same race or ethnicity as a popular Disney hero is an important way that Black, Latinx, and other children of color learn about the value that society places on their family's background. In the same way, when a Black child wants to dress up as a white princess or hero, we should affirm that desire!
Remember: Noticing racial differences is not racism. Instead, honoring and celebrating our differences is one way that parents and caregivers can build a diverse, antiracist world for all children to grow.
Ready for more? Here are some additional resources.
"Here's how to raise race-conscious children" (Buzzfeed)"What is the talk white parents should have with white children?" (Embrace Race)
"A Framework for Conversations About Race in Schools" (KQED)
"It’s never too early to talk with children about race" (Yale News)
Sesame Street in Communities: Racial JusticeFurther ReadingHow to Be an Antiracist, Ibram X. KendiHow to Raise an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi (to be published June 2022)Social Justice Parenting, Traci BaxleyMe and White Supremacy, including a young reader's version, Layla F. Saad