No Pride in Prejudice: Teaching Children the Value of Diversity

“[Parents] have to show their kids that they actively seek out interactions with
people of other races,” which includes attending parties and cultural events with people
of other races, she says.
As well, parents must be aware of their own biases and baggage when it comes to
race.
“Just like parents control their anger [and] the secrets of their married life,
likewise they should control their prejudices in front of the children,” says Dr. Aboud.
A good way to discuss race with your kids is to watch the news with them, says
Dr. Borba. Newscasts offer a host of learning opportunities when it comes to race
relations, especially in terms of stereotypes. Pay attention to what newscasters say, and
point out to your kids when race is mentioned. It’s a good way of helping your kids
recognize common stereotypes.
“Broaden the experiences young children have,” says Dr. Banaji. “People,
countries, culture, media, food — these are all domains that can provide children with
experiences that can shape preferences and beliefs to be less limited than they might
otherwise be.”
That was exactly what Ruth Robinson wanted for her children. She had hoped
they could get it at a public school, but quickly realized that the local school in Round
Rock was segregated in favor of whites. Moving her children to St. Francis, a private
school miles away, might have seemed like an odd decision—since private schools tend
to be seen as bastions of exclusivity—but it ended-up exposing her children to the
diversity the local public school lacked. Indeed, when her daughter got into an argument
with a child of a different race, the teacher sat down with both kids and discussed the
issue with them. The situation demonstrated to Ms. Robinson that she made the right
decision to send her children to a different school.
“Parents should get involved with other races at an early age so that their children
get comfortable with people of different races and faiths,” she says. “They become
accustomed to that.”
Sugandha Jain is an internationally published journalist and a pat of the management team at
Kids ‘R’ Kids in Avery Ranch, Austin.. She holds a Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology
from the University of Texas at Dallas. She and her family live in Austin.
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