At Charlotte’s Best Nanny Agency, we welcome and encourage everyone we work with both clients and candidates to be open and inclusive to everyone. We do not discriminate for any reasons including, but not limited to age, gender, nationality, race, and sexual identity or orientation. We have a zero tolerance policy on discrimination from any of our clients or candidates. We feel that this is an important core value of our agency and we strive every day to conduct our business with integrity and respect for all. We understand families come in all forms and we celebrate living in the diverse world we live in.
We also wanted to write a blog on how to talk to your children or nanny kids about race and other diversities and how we should all be inclusive and accepting. First a foremost, before you put any of this into practice with your nanny kids or any child that is not your own, you should have a separate talk with the parents on how they would like you to teach and approach the subjects of race and diversity with their kids. It is important for everyone to be on the same page when guiding children on these subjects. It is also important for the nanny to respect the parents’ wishes for how to approach these topics with their children. Below you will find 10 tips on talking to your children about race and diversity and resources to assist you in getting your message across to young children on an age appropriate level.
10 Tips to Talk to Children about Race and Other Diversities
1) Start Talking about Racial Differences and Other Diversity Early
We recommend that you start talking to your children early about racial differences and other diversities, and positively teach them that it is great that we live in a diverse world.
2) Encourage your child.
Encourage your child to be respectfully curious about race and diversity and expose your child to different cultural opportunities in your community and abroad. This can include attending cultural events, watching films that celebrate diversity, and reading books, then discussing these experiences afterwards. You don’t have to be an expert on race and diversity to talk with our child. Be honest about what you don’t know and work together with your child to find accurate information.
3) Set an Example
Always set a positive example and be aware of your reactions to people who are different from you. What you say and do is important as your children will watch you and imitate your behavior towards others. Always be an excellent role model for how you want your child to treat people.
4) Face and Know Your Own Bias
Let your child see you acknowledge and face your own biases. We’re less likely to pass on the biases we identify and work to overcome.
5) Have a History Lesson
Talk about the history of race and diversity and what people have overcome over time and what we can still work on to make our future world a better place. There are many resources out there to teach the history of different races and cultures.
6) Develop Racial and Cultural Literacy
Develop racial and cultural literacy by learning about and respecting all people. Study and talk about the histories and experiences of different groups.
7) Honesty is The Best Policy
Honesty is the best policy. Always answer questions with as much honesty as possible and be prepared to be age appropriately honest with your children. Be sure your child knows that the struggle for racial and cultural fairness is still happening and that your family can take part in making that struggle better.
8) Share Stories
Share and read children stories about how people have handled injustices in the past and how people are working to overcome new injustices that are current.
9) Be Active
Help your child understand what it means to live in a diverse world and how to react to situations where they do not feel like someone is being treated fairly.
10) Plan to Revisit The Topic Throughout The Years
As your child grows you should make it a routine to talk with your children about race and expose them to different cultures and people as much as possible. Teaching them\to celebrate diversity in all forms will make them more accepting of other people as they grow older.
Resources for Parents, Nannies, and Teachers
Scholastics Multiculturalism and Diversity
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/teaching-content/multiculturalism-and-diversity/
NPR: Talking About Race with Young Children
https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716700866/talking-race-with-young-children
Bright Horizons: Raising an Inclusive Child
https://www.brighthorizons.com/family-resources/how-to-raise-inclusive-child
