University of Georgia

Terry College of Business
 
 

People who see the world through prejudice eyes often scar the fragile, developing beliefs of the children around them. Here's why you need to be concerned about bias, and how you can help your child grow up free of hurtful attitudes toward others.
 

LIKE PARENT, LIKE CHILD

Children start noticing differences in skin color, gender, and physical ability at an early age. They begin to connect certain attitudes and feelings with those differences by seeing how adults react to them. Even subtle, unspoken messages given off by adults can have a profound impact upon a young child's developing attitudes.

For example, Courtney, aged 4, notices that her parents employ a black housekeeper and gardener, yet they never invite blacks into their home on social occasions. Already, her parents' behavior is beginning to influence Courtney's perceptions of nonwhite. Her parents would be horrified to know this, but would they be willing to change their ways?

Prejudice about race, religion, nationality, gender, and physical ability harms all children. the damage to victims is obvious. But those who hold biased attitudes also suffer. Children who come to believe, for whatever reasons, that they are superior are also in danger of never developing a completely positive sense of self. these youngsters are almost always masking deep-seated feelings of insecurity or inferiority.
 

A WORLD OF DIFFERENCES

Immunizing a child against becoming biased means teaching him or her that differences among people are good - that diversity is enriching to everyone. Parents need to do more than simply tell children that prejudice is bad. Children need to see this fact reflected in their parents' behavior.

Here's an example of how children can be taught to deal with prejudice. Five-year old Charlie's mother stops in the middle of reading a children's book to him and asks, "Do you notice anything wrong about the pictures in this book, Charlie?"

Charlie thinks for a moment and answers, "No."

His mother then points out, "Well, Charlie, all the people in these pictures have white skin. That's not the way things really are is it?"

Charlie agrees, and his mother ends up suggesting that they use crayons to shade some of the book, in Charlie's mother's words, "will be more like the world we really live in."
 
 
 

POSITIVE ACTIONS

To help your children grow up unbiased, try these suggestions:

* Encourage your children to speak up when they see someone, especially another child, being treated unfairly.

* When possible, expose your child to after-school activities that include a mix of children from various races, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. If the choice is available, consider a well-integrated school.

* When your child makes a prejudicial remark about someone else, ask, "What do you think that means?" Children often repeat things they have heard without realizing their implications Set aside a few minutes to explain the true meaning of prejudicial language and to make it clear such language is not appropriate.

* Fill your home with books and magazines, particularly those you purchase for your children, that portray a complete picture of society.

* Point out prejudice when it happens and discuss it with your children.

* If you have children in preschool, kindergarten, or grades one through three, a free brochure called "Teaching Young Children to Resist Bias - What Parents Can Do" is available by sending a SASE to: The National Association for the Education of Young Children. AB/BHG, 1834 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009.

Actions always speak louder than words. If we want our children to accept differences in other people, that acceptance must be present in our won behavior. If we want our children to take an active stance against prejudice, then they must see us taking a clear stand as well. Sometimes, taking a stand means taking a risk, but this is one risk none of us should ignore.