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
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:14pm
"Oops, I messed up, won't let that happen again" type things and if I never saw a reason to punish for them"

I agree with this depending on what the "oops" was and with which child.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:30pm

<>

I didn't "want" any, you said they were personal, so I respected that boundary. If you expect people to respect your boundaries about personal and non personal topics, then you might want to start respecting others.

Then why did you ask?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:31pm

Did I say that?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:33pm

Again, if the bullying is not towards MY child, I see no reason to eliminate their site. My dd de-friends other who DO bully other children though. If she WAS being bullied (again, she has not been), I still wouldn't see the need for the entire site to come down. The child would simply de-friend those people.

Again, taking away fb (as it is a communication method) from a child does NOT mean they are not ready for it. It is taking away something important that "gets to them" so they learn a lesson.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:34pm

ok, logical consequences.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:35pm

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

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:36pm

Again, I don't know this. This is why I asked.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:38pm

Was that my question?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:39pm

Yep, the privilege that is taken at certain ages.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 1:39pm

ITA

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