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
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 12:42pm
So when a child has a birthday you just change how you discipline? Even if it was working or stick with something that isn't working because of a certain age?

I really don't agree with that.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 12:48pm
I think you need to re read my example, it was not about one friend needing to be unfriended. I clearly said a track record, a history, a problem of seeing bullies on facebook as you have described, then yes I would eliminate facebook for my "underage" child. I would also rethnk having a facebook for an "underage" child if it was constantly being taken away from that "underage" child for discipline reasons. All of the above would send a clear message to me that the child in question and most likely the other underage friends are really not mature enough to handle the social situation on facebook.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 12:53pm
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How is anyone forcing anyone to live by others rules? Again, it is the rules of facebook. Are you saying by allowing facebook for underage children and claiming that it's okay to break the rules you are forcing me to allow my underage child to have facebook? I think not. I hate to break it to you but any judgement you (or really anyone) have made about my parenting over the years hasn't "forced" me into anything. I think not.

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You don't know that. A child can create a facebook account without the parents knowledge.

Why do you think the rules of one site aren't in stone?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 12:54pm
How do you know that facebook didn't take the site down, the parents don't care and that facebook doesn't care? There isn't anything that supports any of those assumptions.

Facebook hasn't changed their rules, have they?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 12:55pm
Oh, those aren't written in stone....per egd. I'm sure that facebook doesn't mean those rules, I'm sure there is a winkie icon somewhere in there, right?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 12:58pm
Why would you encourage a child to lie?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 12:59pm
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I thought you said that discipline changed with age? Here you are saying that it is the same at any age.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:05pm
I agree.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:05pm
I haven't seen an issue either.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:10pm
That is what i was wondering...

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