Helpful tips in challenging discriminatory or bias comments from children:
- Respond immediately: the child will have a better understanding of the response if it is given immediately. Never ignore a comment or a question that appears bias or discriminatory.
- Respond simply – try not to use complicated language and be honest in your answers. Show an awareness of the child’s age and stage of development
- Respond authentically- always use honest answers and correct information. Children should not be ridiculed or chastised for what they say if it does reflect bias attitudes, but children need to be given the correct information.
- Talk about your own experiences. Share a story of a time you felt excluded, how you resolved the issue and what you learnt from it. Invite the children to make comments. You can guide them to imagine how they would have felt in such a situation, how they would have responded, what they would have expected the outcome to be.
- Encourage children to think though the consequences of discrimination. Find examples children can relate to in books and through personal experiences in their own lives.
- Model inclusive behaviour. Children observe behaviours of adults and from this learn appropriate or non-appropriate ways of being and doing. Be conscious of your interactions with others and the words you use.
- Don’t pretend. It’s OK to say ‘I don’t know the answers to your question’ when you genuinely don’t know. This gives Educators and children an opportunity to learn together.
- Support children hurt by discrimination or prejudice by listening carefully to what they have to say, be positive about their identity and give them comfort.
- Encourage children to act and challenge discrimination.
- Point out how interesting and positive differences are.
- Ask questions and listen rather than give ‘lectures.’
Concept of skin colour: Have children mix white, yellow, brown and red paint to try to match their own skin colours. Talk about the concepts of lighter and darker, as well as different colour shades and hues such as golden brown, tan, peach, rosy pink, ivory and so on. -
Black beauty: Think of how colours brown and black can be referred to in positive ways such as ‘the horse in this story has a beautiful black mane’. Counteract as best you can the most universal notion that ‘white is good’ and ‘black is bad.’
Teachable moments: utilize spontaneous opportunities to talk with children about cultural, racial and any other similarities and difference in a positive way
Exploring the lands: Together with the children in your service look at maps of Aboriginal Australia and colonial Australia. Use this as an opportunity to talk about how Australia has changed over time. View the maps (http://www.dia.wa.gov.au/en/Information/Maps/ and http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/asp/map.html)
Story time: Encourage stories and discussion that acknowledge the diverse society we live in Australia.
Honouring: Acknowledge the traditional landowners of Australia and be open and honest in exploring harmful policies that existed in the past.
Celebrating: Acknowledge the contribution of migrant communities to Australia’s culture and economy
Discovering: Develop curiosity about unfamiliar customs, for example once a week, have an activity call ‘try it, you’ll like it!’ Bring in an unfamiliar food, game, or type of clothing. Encourage the children to try and experience and describe their reactions. Talk about how it takes time to enjoy unfamiliar things, and how if you don’t try, you can miss out on something good. Encourage children and parents to contribute things from their own family and communities.
Black beauty: Think of how colours brown and black can be referred to in positive ways such as ‘the horse in this story has a beautiful black mane’. Counteract as best you can the most universal notion that ‘white is good’ and ‘black is bad.’
Teachable moments: utilize spontaneous opportunities to talk with children about cultural, racial and any other similarities and difference in a positive way
Exploring the lands: Together with the children in your service look at maps of Aboriginal Australia and colonial Australia. Use this as an opportunity to talk about how Australia has changed over time. View the maps (http://www.dia.wa.gov.au/en/Information/Maps/ and http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/asp/map.html)
Story time: Encourage stories and discussion that acknowledge the diverse society we live in Australia.
Honouring: Acknowledge the traditional landowners of Australia and be open and honest in exploring harmful policies that existed in the past.
Celebrating: Acknowledge the contribution of migrant communities to Australia’s culture and economy
Discovering: Develop curiosity about unfamiliar customs, for example once a week, have an activity call ‘try it, you’ll like it!’ Bring in an unfamiliar food, game, or type of clothing. Encourage the children to try and experience and describe their reactions. Talk about how it takes time to enjoy unfamiliar things, and how if you don’t try, you can miss out on something good. Encourage children and parents to contribute things from their own family and communities.