As members of an International school, whether we are French, American, or any other nationality, we cherish the values of diversity and tolerance. For that reason, we have to stop and reflect on the latest events and protests, discuss our beliefs with our children, and understand that today’s state of inequality is unacceptable.
“We are all born free. We all have our own thoughts and ideas. We should all be treated in the same way. These rights belong to everybody, whatever our differences.”
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (simplified version)
Today is an invitation to continue to talk to our children and discuss the values that we want to preserve in our family, school, community.
Why is being different important and matters?
Why must equal treatment be enforced regardless of our differences?
Why should we stay curious about others? What richness can someone different from us bring?
Think of an example among your friends or acquaintances where his/her difference enriched you.
What traditions did you learn? Have you seen courage in any of these different lives?
The images of violence are shocking and horrifying. Reassuring our children that we condemn any act of violence is crucial. Is violence an appropriate way to make our voices heard?
These are just a few questions to start a fruitful conversation with your child.
As parents or educators, it can be challenging as to how we navigate the questions our children might have about these events. Therefore, we have compiled resources to support these conversations and dialogue.
Articles
- Time for Kids article
- Teaching Tolerance
- 10 Tips to talk about Race
- American Academy of Pediatrics –Talking to Children About Racial Bias
- For age 2 to 5
- Parent Toolkit
- Your Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup from Pretty Good
- Being an anti-racist, from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
- PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History Month
- Race, the power of an illusion by PBS
- ADL Race Talk: Engaging Young People in Conversations about Race and Racism, including an interactive resource by MTV, “Look Different”:
- Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults
- 31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
- A Kids Book About Racism or other books on the topic