Talking to Kids About Stereotyping

A stereotype is an erroneous perception about a group of people. For example, ̶0;overweight people tend to be lazy,̶1; and ̶0;Asian students always excel in mathematics̶1; are incorrect generalizations, or stereotypes. Inoculate your kid against the negative effects of stereotyping by addressing sources of stereotypes, nurturing your child̵7;s self-esteem and modeling how to respect others. Talking to your kid about stereotypes prepares her to be successful in a world distinguished by increasing diversity.

  1. Address Stereotyping in Media

    • The media render a persuasive, enduring influence on kids, reports Kids Health. Keep in mind that children may emulate the appropriate as well as inappropriate behaviors observed through the media. Choose your kid̵7;s movies, books, music and video games with care, and identify stereotypes when they appear. For example, if you see your kid watching a television program that contains stereotyping, identify the negative depiction and discuss why it exemplifies a stereotype. Encourage your kid to explore how a different portrayal of the character removes stereotyping.

    Model Tolerance and Respect

    • Children are already aware of individual differences before entering preschool, and rely on social cues from their parents to know how to interact with others. Provide your child with a positive role model for interacting with others, regardless of their race, gender, size, age or ability. More than your words, your actions speak volumes to your young one. Let your words and behavior send a message that you care about and respect others, and care about how she treats others. For example, demonstrate that you do not find humor in jokes about others.

    Talk About New Experiences

    • Your kid benefits from introductions to a wide assortment of experiences. Don̵7;t stop with simply exposing your kid to new cultures, people and beliefs. Kids may struggle to comprehend something new, or even misinterpret a new experience in a negative fashion without your help. Take the time to discuss what your kid saw, heard, tasted and touched, and encourage her questions. If there are questions you cannot answer, that̵7;s OK. Go to the library together, and find books on the topic that you can enjoy together.

    Nurture Your Child's Self-Esteem

    • Kids who exhibit low self-esteem struggle to respect themselves and others. Their negative feelings about self generalize to how these kids treat others, and make them more vulnerable to embracing stereotypes. Nurture your kid̵7;s self-esteem by reminding her that you value her efforts, and love her because she is an incredible individual. Healthy self-esteem shields your kids from undesirable influences. Kids who love themselves are more likely to love others, and to enjoy social interaction.

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