Explain to them about stereotypes and racism.
Kids already have certain biases about other cultures by the age of 5 or 6. Do not be surprised if your child repeats something derogatory that they heard at school and asks, “Why do Muslims hate America?” or perpetuates a stereotype by saying, “All Jews are rich.” When they do, let them know that while some people in a group may seem to fit a certain description it does not mean that everyone is that way. This is your cue to introuce the idea of discrimination: “Sometimes people decide that everyone with dark skin is mean or that people who are not white are bad. That is wrong, and it makes me sad. It is not fair to judge someone without knowing him or her.”
Bring up the stereotypes that your child sees in movies or on TV. If you turn the sound off on a cartoon show and ask who is the good guy and who is the bad guy, kids know instantly by the way that the characters appear. The solution is not to stop watching but to point out the problems you see. For example, you could watch The Little Mermaid, with its emormous villian, Ursula. Then say, “It is a shame that overweight characters are depicted as evil. I know lots of nice people who are heavy.” See more of our posts on, A Respectful Child. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.
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