Talking to Children After Racial Incidents
by Dr. Howard Stevenson
Parents have a natural instinct to teach and protect their children. Police-involved killings, the shooting of unarmed black men, peaceful protests that turn violent — incidents that are often traumatic for adults — can make these two instincts feel in conflict.
Do we try to explain the strife our child sees on television? Or should we try to shield her from such “grown up” problems?
Why is this a conversation parents and guardians need to have?
We can’t hide our children from the world. Your child is probably already more aware of race, class, and gender differences than you realize. This can be a time to teach your child about social justice, while also helping process how painful these events can be for them, and for you.
Why talk about social justice?
Adults often have a romanticized view of childhood that ignores how much children actually know. Our research, for example, has found elementary children are acutely aware of racial attitudes. Talking about injustice allows children to make sense of the things that don’t go right in the world.
At some point, your child will be treated differently. Or one of her friends will be. They will be exposed to or have a sense of unfairness or injustice…
