Have you heard of “white privilege?” It’s a thing.
Parents are telling me that their kids are asking about it after hearing about it in the news and other spots. The truth is, it’s a tough topic to talk about with anyone, especially kids, but if we want to stop racism we have to do it.
Kids need to hear about how people are treated differently if we have any hope of stopping those behaviors in the future.
So, when is it time to explain what white privilege is to my kids?
It may be earlier than you think. For a an explanation about what it is and why it matters, watch this video:
Next, start a conversation. Here are age-by-age guidelines.
Ages 3-6
Ask them to notice the color of the “skin” on dolls and action figures and point out that there are lots of skin colors in the world, won’t it be great to have toys that show that too?
Ages 7-10
Pay attention to book characters and TV shows, be willing to talk about stereotypes or jokes that touch on racial issues
Ages 11-14
Watch the news together and point out some of the biases that exist – like language used towards suspects in a crime who are white vs those that are any other ethnicity.
Ages 15 – 18
Speak explicitly about the differences in how teens and adults are treated based on their racial heritage. Ask your teen what they’ve noticed or learned and share your own views.
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