by Paul Lines

Created on: January 25, 2009   Last Updated: September 30, 2010

Discussing racial differences with your child.

We all know that children can ask the toughest questions; ask any parent and they will confirm the truth of this statement. Children often will ask questions that we find difficult to answer, predominantly because we are not sure how to provide an explanation in a manner that they will understand, appreciate and from which they will learn and, when asked about certain issues this becomes immediately apparent as it calls for an unbiased approach to the subject, which may not always be easy to express.

It is a natural part of the child's growing up and leaning process that they will start to become inquisitive about a whole range of issues they come across in their early lives that they do not understand and want explained to them. This is especially true when they begin to venture out into the wider world and mix with others, for example at kindergarten. Naturally they will turn to their parents to ask for guidance and knowledge to help them understand the world they are living in and the things they find puzzling.

One area of tough questions that really tests the parent's ability to provide adequate explanations to the limit is those relating to racial differences. The added difficulties in answering these questions are the importance of ensuring that the explanations do not lead to a position of bias or prejudice.

One of the first things a child will notice when they begin mixing with other children is the differences that are apparent between them in terms of colour, speech, dress and other habits. They will want to know why these differences exist and what causes them. Typically the parent will be asked to explain why "Jimmy is white and I am black?" or "Why does Mira wear funny clothes?"

Answering such questions is not going to be easy, especially with younger children when complex explanations would not be understood. However, they will not be satisfied by answers that run along the lines of because that is "just the way the world is." You have to provide them with accurate information but in a language that they can understand and in a manner that avoids suggesting these differences in any way that detracts from the truth that, irrespective of race, all children are the same and have the same value.

Answering the question of colour is perhaps the easiest aspect of race to explain, in that it is related to the heat of the country and the colour of a person's skin being darker to help protect them from that

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>