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: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 8:01pm
I think it's a fine line to walk and honestly? I'm surprised by the number of underage kids and even kids who are over 13 on facebook that have totally open profiles and friend as many others as possible.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 8:06pm

So you don't think teaching your children what pictures are put up on facebook by kids under 21 is educating them?

Didn't you say that your children are 13 and 11? Not young to know what happens out in the real world, including facebook, IMO.

Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 8:08pm
It's really odd to me that you describe these pictures as "horrible," yet somehow think they are educational for tweens and young teens. So do you allow your kids to see any movie, regardless of rating?
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 8:08pm

I allow my kids to see things that I think they can learn from. I don't think you can shelter children from everything in the world, except if you homeschool and NEVER show them the world and the people in it.

I would rather have MYSELF teach my children things BEFORE they are taught by friends.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 8:09pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 8:11pm

"Horrible" to me could be a half naked girl in a picture, someone underage drinking, doing drugs, smoking. I DO think it is educational to show them WHAT is not appropriate at certain ages.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 8:11pm
....rationalize those lies however you want. But given the history of the type of posts that are familiar to you, I would suggest a bit of research on this topic.
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 8:11pm
What on earth do kids learn from viewing other kids "posting pictures up half naked, doing sexual things, drinking, smoking, doing drugs, etc.:? Yuk. So are you going to answer my question? Are your kids allowed to see any movie, regardless of rating?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 8:12pm
With what? You didn't answer the questions, again.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-07-2003
Sat, 01-01-2011 - 8:13pm
No. It would be the lack of judgment required to post pictures, etc. about it in a quasi-public forum. As for the behaviors, for an 18-21 year old, I would be more concerned about the smoking than the drinking, unless the drinking involved driving under the influence or binge drinking or other really risky behaviors.

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