When Kids Ask About Race

Mary, an early literacy librarian, has some helpful resources for talking to your children about a touchy subject: race.

Young children notice differences—it's just what they do. They're little scientists, exploring and learning about the world around them and how they fit into it. What do you do if, at some point, your child asks you: "Why does that person have a different color skin?" Should you ignore the question or address it in some way?  

Here are some expert resources to guide you through this important conversation:

• Embrace Race, opens a new window: Raising a generation of children who are thoughtful, informed and brave about race.
• Raising Luminaries: Books for Littles: Anti-Racism for Kids 101, opens a new window
• National Museum of African American History and Culture: Talking About Race, opens a new window
• BabyCenter: How to Talk to Your Child About Race, opens a new window 
• Teaching Tolerance: It's Never too Early to Talk About Race, opens a new window 
• Parents: Talking About Race, Age-by-Age, opens a new window 
• The Children's Community School: They're Not Too Young to Talk About Race!, opens a new window
• We Need Diverse Books, opens a new window: Imagine a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book.

Here's a list to start the conversation about race with your children: Talking to Young Children About Race and Anti-Racism. Also, here's a list of great picture books to share with young children that show diverse kids just being kids!