Teaching Diversity | Ganz Parent Club

Diversity Begins at Home

Don’t raise a hater

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It’s a sad fact that in our modern era, racial discrimination, gender bias, cultural prejudice, and general intolerances still exist.  Unfortunately, as children strive for acceptance amongst their peers, even the best kids can find themselves participating in the taunting or ostracising of a classmate who is different in some way.  A child may feel that if she contributes to the teasing of others, her peers will be less likely to notice her own differences.  As parents, our goal should be to raise children who are proud of who they are and who are willing to stand up for others.  We can fight intolerance by ensuring that our kids grow up free from biased opinions and prejudices.

But how do you teach your children to accept differences in others as well as celebrate the differences in themselves? Most prejudices are born from a lack of knowledge about other cultures or ways of life. Exposing your child to a variety of different foods, customs, and people will help to make him broad-minded and will show him that there isn’t just one way that people should look or act. This doesn’t mean that you need to have a serious discussion on racism with your 5 year old.  There are some easy ways to promote the idea of diversity at home.

Foods

Show your child that there is life beyond pizza and burgers.  Next time you’re going out, try something different! Thai, Indian, Moroccan, or Japanese – it’s a tasty world out there. Visit authentic restaurants, try eating with chopsticks, or buy a new cookbook and experiment at home.

Cultural Experiences

Look for opportunities in your community to learn about other cultures. Visit special cultural exhibits at museums or check out multicultural festivals. These family outings are a great way for everyone, kids and adults, to broaden their cultural knowledge. Learning about different cultures is fun for all ages!

Toys and Books

Take a look at the toys you have at home. Do your kids have any dolls that represent other races? Do you have any books featuring people of different cultures or abilities? Do you encourage non-gender biased play in your kids, or do they have “boy toys” and “girl toys”? Try to provide toys and books that reflect a variety of ethnicities. Look for gender neutral toys, as well. Instead of the pink plastic dollhouse that screams “girl”, a wooden doll house is a great toy for boys and girls.

Art Supplies

Provide crayons and markers in a variety of skin tones. When children are very young, remember to encourage open-ended creative art.  An elephant can be any color that your child wishes. Telling your child that the elephant must be gray is leading her down the road to narrow-minded thinking.

Your Own Attitude

Children mimic the behavior they see in adults. The best way to raise kids who are unbiased and open-minded is to model that behavior. In addition to showing your kids that you are tolerant of differences in others, be sure to point out the things that make your children wonderfully unique. Talk about how great it is that everyone in the world is a little bit different, but that there are many similarities between all people – no matter their race, religion, culture, or gender.

About The Author

Tara Lo
Tara Lo is an Early Childhood Educator who has worked with children aged 6 months to 12 years in a variety of settings. From day camps to daycare centers, homeless shelters to hotel resorts, and kindergarten classrooms to community centers. Tara is a former writer for Webkinz Jr., where she used her knowledge of child development and all things preschool to help create lovable characters, catchy songs, silly stories, and fun activities. Tara is now a work-at-home mom who splits her days between writing, running a home daycare, and being constantly amazed by her wonderful son.
  1. I made the mistake of limiting my middle child and now i get to correct my mistakes with my two year old. I like this article. Thank you..

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