Talking to our children about racism

Dear Springwell families,

With the killing of George Floyd and nationwide protests, parents are posed with the daunting opportunity and challenge to talk with our children about racism and injustice.

How do we even start?

1) Process your own feelings. The best way to prepare ourselves as parents is to take care of our own mental and emotional landscapes. With the uncertainty of the pandemic, George Floyd's death, the national protests, there is a lot to process. Make sure you're making time for yourself.

2) Get support with Springwell's Weekly Parent Circles. There is great benefit to supporting one another in community. Please know that as parents, you are not alone. Seek out support from Springwell's weekly Parent Circles on Fridays at 10am ET.

3) Decide on the age-appropriate approach that is right for you, your child, and your family. There is no "right" way to talk to our children about racism. Discuss with your partners or other caregivers in your family about your thoughts and feelings about how to talk with the children about racism and injustice. If you are the caregiving team, come for support at our parent circle.

4) Lean into learning moments with honesty and presence. Sometimes, we can't plan these conversations. They may happen organically, like when a child sees the news and wonders what is happening. Lean into these learning moments with honesty and presence. As always, your child can feel your authenticity.

5) Find multicultural resources. Check out this book list that Springwell's faculty development specialist and coach, Dr. Linda Krakaur, sent me yesterday: 37 children's books to help talk about racism and discrimination. 

6) Expose your children to people with diverse skin tones, cultures, and languages. All children can benefit from exposure to different languages and diverse cultures. Even if fluency isn't your main goal, our camps are super fun and engaging, and is a wonderful way to expose your children to diverse cultures. Enroll your child in our bilingual virtual summer camps in June and July. Learn more here.