As the laboratory school housed in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, the Colorado State University Early Childhood Center honors human connection. The ongoing violent and and racist events and the images rolling across screens in our homes are challenging for many reasons and can cause distress among young children.
The CSU Early Childhood Center has put together resources that will help parents start a healthy dialogue about racism and violence.
It is powerful to witness children grow their sense of agency in a setting that encourages questions and collaboration. They are practicing bravery and learning that they are worthy contributors to any conversation. With actions and words, teachers and parents can show children the value of every person in our communities, without exception and with joy.
Recent events may lead you to wonder how to best support your children’s understanding of the world around us. This article on CNN contains excellent tips for talking with children about violent events. We encourage you to consider the following:
• Limit media exposure
• Give your children space to talk and ask questions
• Reassure them that they are safe
• Talk about bad actions, not bad people
• Highlight the helpers
General anti-hate, anti-bias, anti-racism resources
- Beyond the Golden Rule – A parent’s guide to preventing and responding to prejudice.
- Teaching Young Children about Race – A guide for parents and teachers.
- Embrace Race – Tools, resources, discussion spaces, and networks fo meet challenges of raising children in a world where race matters.
- Talking Race With Young Children – 20-minute NPR podcast about how to handle conversations about race, racism, diversity, and inclusion with young children.
Books Celebrating Asian Heritage
Responding to current events around racism and violence
- Racism and Violence: Using Your Power as a Parent to Support Children Aged Two to Five – This resource provides thoughts and guidelines for talking about the complex issues of racism and equality in age-appropriate ways with children aged two to five years of age.
- ‘Raising White Kids’ Author On How White Parents Can Talk About Race – NPR’s Michel Martin talks to Jennifer Harvey, author of Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America, about how to talk with white kids about racially-charged events.
- Dr. Kira Banks, “Talking to Kids About Racism” – Panel of parents share how they talk to their kids about what’s going on in today’s climate.
Inclusive children’s books
- Reading Race in Picture Books with Kids
- Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners
- These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids
- Inclusive Story Time
- An Updated Look at Diversity in Children’s Books
The Department of Human Development and Family Studies is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
