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
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:04pm

Do you go through your ds's friends on a regular basis? Do you check his fb to see the activity going on?

My dd has friended people she DID know. That does NOT mean kids change and the things they say and do are not always ok to be their friend on fb.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:05pm
Agreed.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-22-2009
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:10pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:12pm
I don't see a problem with losing the phone either. I don't know your dd to know if she is or isn't ready to use the phone and really don't care. There isn't an age limit for phones, there is one for facebook.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:13pm
Why on earth did she friend them to begin with? Wasn't/isn't she friends with them?
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2005
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:14pm

General question to all: If you were to un-friend a person on facebook, does the other person receive notification that they have been unfriended ,or do you just stop showing up on their account?





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:14pm
I agree but nothing in my message would suggest that those also weren't important; my comments were in a specific context and not a general statement that would include all forms of communication.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:17pm

No, you think because the rules say no one under 13 means that every child under 13 is NOT ready for fb. That is untrue. There are many things my children might be ready for that they are underage for that I don't think they SHOULD be doing. Fb is not one of them. Communicating with friends on facebook instead of the phone or texting is fine with me. I keep tabs on what she is saying and doing and what others are saying and doing. Do you check out your son's fb on a regular basis?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:17pm

She was. Things change. People change. You don't agree?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-01-2010
Fri, 12-31-2010 - 2:18pm

No notification. Only if you go looking for that person will you know if you have been de-friended.

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