Teaching tolerance to our kids

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2010
Teaching tolerance to our kids
1822
Mon, 12-27-2010 - 4:06pm

The discussion in the other thread about gay marriage (OK, it wasn’t so much a discussion as an attack on granitestategal, plus the last time I checked it had devolved into mumbling and maniacal laughter...time to move on!) got me to thinking about this new generation of kids and how things have changed for them. Technology has exploded, and kids are more connected than ever before. They’re also disconnected in a whole new way, but this thread isn’t about that. I’d like to know what we are teaching our kids as far as tolerance for other religions, races and lifestyles.

My parents were brought up by parents who were extremely prejudiced against non-Catholics and non-whites. My great-grandparents must not have passed along the lessons they’d learned as immigrants themselves. The town we lived in was predominantly white and Catholic, and up until high school I didn’t know anyone who was black, Jewish, Hispanic, or gay*. When I moved away from home, I was blown away by how different people outside my little world really were, and fascinated by it. I was, and am, determined to raise my kids to respect and appreciate the differences of others and to understand that deep down we really aren’t that different.

A few years ago when DS was 4, we ran into the husband of a co-worker at a music festival. My co-worker is also male. I probably went overboard in my introduction, but I wanted to get the point across that it’s perfectly OK for some families to consist of 2 dads or 2 moms, or one parent, or parents of different races/religions.

Kevali


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:41pm
I monitor mine by being friends with them. Iam also friends with some of their friends...the ones i know well.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:41pm
How do you explain to a child that it is okay to break the rules for some things, but not others?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:42pm
Have you reported these kids?
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:43pm

Please don't change the subject.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:43pm
I appreciate both of your pts.

I have always wondered about this, feeling as both of you do.

" I'd say the US legal age to drink is more a symptom than a cause."

ITA!



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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:45pm
I know that is exactly what you do!
thanks for clarifying that!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:45pm
I have, but it doesn't do any good if you don't read the posts.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:45pm

Wonderful diversion.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:46pm

The bullying stopped. If it did not, yes, I would have reported them.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 1:46pm
Yes, but it is very clear that it is not limited to facebook, as I just said.

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