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: 10-01-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 2:32pm

ITA. That is not why we have used facebook as a discipline tool though.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 2:37pm

I can see that.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 2:41pm

May I ask what YOU do to discipline?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 2:58pm
Okay, not sure why one would post a totally irrelevant example that had nothing to do with any of the discussion going on...but okay, if that's what you think.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 3:01pm
Then we don't totally agree. Again I think if a child loses facebook a good amount of the time for discipline issues, that would clearly tell me that the child is not mature enough to handle facebook and that can be for any age really.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 3:03pm
Yes...that is it exactly, I see facebook as a privilege and if a child needs frequent discipline measures, then I don't think the child is ready for facebook.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 4:50pm

Maybe you should back track the posts. Shrug.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 4:51pm

Nope, we don't agree AT ALL. I DID give you examples but again, you didn't see them, only what you wanted. That's ok. Have a nice afternoon.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 4:52pm

What do YOU use as discipline?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-21-2003
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 4:53pm
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