How to Develop Tolerance in Children
Tolerance toward other cultures is something children will generally learn from their parents and the attitudes that are used around the house. Children tend to imitate the attitudes of their parents, especially at a young age, which can greatly influence how children act. How parents speak of other cultures, both directly and indirectly, creates the children's first impression of these cultures. Parents can become proactive by teaching their children about other cultures, so that they do not fear behaviors that are different from their own, notes the Nemours Foundation's Kids Health website.
Instructions
Act tolerant yourself. You likely have attitudes about other cultures and your child will pick up on these feelings very quickly. When parents demonstrate tolerance toward others, their children learn to appreciate the value of other cultures, rather than fearing or despising them, notes Kids Health. Introduce stories about different cultures. When children hear about different communities in a narrative form, it allows them to develop a connection with that culture. This can help them to become more tolerant when they meet someone from that culture in the future, according to the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families' website Zero to Three. Address the issues of prejudice and hate. This allows your child to explore these issues and come up with her own conclusions based on your conversation. It is important, however, that you only choose age-appropriate topics. Providing the child with information for which she is not ready can lead to overwhelming feelings on the issues explored, notes the National Association of School Psychologists. Talk about stereotypes, suggests Kids Health. Remember that popular culture shapes much of what children see and believe, so taking the time to acknowledge that these stereotypes are not true can teach tolerance. Your child should know that just because one person of a particular race or culture behaves in a certain manner does not mean that everyone who looks like that person will act like him. Acknowledge differences. Your child is sure to pick up on the difference between cultures and will have exposure to other cultures once she begins school. By acknowledging the different cultures, you can teach her about these backgrounds and what they mean, suggests the Scholastic website.
