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: 05-13-2009
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 9:29pm
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 9:32pm

And? The op has NOT said that the accounts WERE actually deleted from fb. Shrug.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2009
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 9:34pm
Avatar for mom34101
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 12-30-2010 - 9:35pm
Mine are 13 and 11, and we also have used the same discipline method since they were small.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 12:26am

I believe when you create a fb account you have to put your date of birth.

“Clearly," said Arthur,"you're an idiot- but you're our kind of idiot. Come on.” 
― Markus ZusakThe Book Thief

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-04-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 3:01am

The reason why Facebook (and iVillage, for that matter) restrict membership to age 13 and up

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Kitty

"If you can't annoy somebody with what you write, I think there's little point in writing."-- Kingsley Amis, British novelist, 1971 t .

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 8:19am

The basic philosophy has not.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 8:23am

I find it may take longer in the short tem (in terms of parental time and energy), but we save in the long term.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 8:31am

i agree, de-friending the bully.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 8:52am

You, your dh and your children tell everyone the truth 100% of the time, all the time?

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