Becoming parents is priceless but raising compassionate kids is a difficult task. We live in a time where diversity, interconnectedness, and multi-cultural are essential. However, even in a diverse modern society, we unfortunately still see racial discrimination and racial bullying. Raise Compassionate Kids- Say No to Racism!
According to new survey data from the Angus Reid (Angus Reid Institute in partnership with the University of British Columbia), 58% of Canadian youth say that they have seen kids being bullied, insulted, or excluded racially or ethnically at school.
Raise Compassionate Kids
The environment we provide for our children and choosing what to instill in their little minds, shape future generations. Healthy parenting takes time and effort, but if done collectively, it has the power to change society and the entire world.
Today racism persists and takes a great toll on our children. Many incidents show the racist mass killings of innocents. Why? Because somewhere, uncompassionate treatments and racial incidents still linger in their minds from when they were young.
Pew Research Center reveals that 46% of people say there is a lot of discrimination against Black people. Meanwhile, 3 in 10 see discrimination against Hispanics, and 27% see discrimination against Asians.
Healthy parenting is a difficult task that requires a positive attitude to instill good ethical, mental, personal, and physical habits in children.
Racism is a common topic of conversation for some families. To help end racism, everyone has to take an active role.
How does Racial Bullying affect children?
Racism affects children’s mental and physical health. Kids who experience racial bullying may develop anxiety, and depression, suffer with learning and have behavioral problems that lead to major psychological and physical diseases.
How To Raise Compassionate Kids- Say No to Racism!
Racism and bullying are common yet ignored practices. Mistreatment of anyone based on their physical appearance shall not be acceptable.
Raising compassionate kids is essential to fight racism, bullying, and injustice. You need to take action now – the American Academy of Pediatrics acknowledges that:
“Racism is a socially transmitted disease passed down through generations.”
1. Diverse Environment
Introduce your kid to different people from different backgrounds and cultures. This way, kids learn that they can find friends anywhere. They learn about people from other places, religions, and cultures.
You can say ‘ just because they’re different than you, either with skin tone or any other thing, it does not make them bad or ugly.’
2. Promote Inclusivity
Talking about unintentional exclusion and encouraging empathy are essential to promote inclusivity to combat racism. Promoting ‘opportunities for connection’ is a great way to deal with exclusion.
You may initiate friendship seats or buddy benches. This way, kids will learn to reach out to those who have been bullied into being excluded.
3. Speak up
When you see any mistreatment or unfairness based on skin color and race, please do something about it. Talk about other races’ physical appearance as part of nature, just as different flowers are part of a garden. Inculcate and demonstrate that ‘we shall celebrate the similarities and appreciate the differences.’
You will help your children learn co-existence, not only for the sake of others but also to make it easier for them to adjust and speak up.
Raise Compassionate Kids
4. Encourage Kindness
Encouraging and instilling kindness is one of the prerequisites of making compassionate kids. Use kind words with your kids. Please enable them to build a habit of using positive words and comments. Remember, kindness is contagious.
5. Build Confidence
Overly confident kids often are usually uncompassionate and lack empathy because they tend to be inconsiderate of others’ feelings.
Ensure to build confidence among kids and help them share their fears, strength, passion, and dreams. Kids give results right away; when they feel better, they usually do better.
6. Watch & Discuss
Watch videos, movies, or news related to racial discrimination. Listen and ask questions about what they hear at school, on television, and through social media.
Your child needs to understand what is happening in society. Discuss what they think about the world to make their view of it clearer.
Give them knowledge of what is right and wrong and how to respond to mistreatment.
7. Talk about Emotions
Teenagers express their views and feelings better. They can understand concepts more clearly. They may have stronger emotions than adults even. However, trying to understand how they feel and what they know is equally essential. Help victimized children express themselves to fight their fear. It also helps release their anxiety.
8. Give Responsibility
Instilling a sense of responsibility is one of the crucial parts of raising your child well. It’s essential to teach responsibility from a young age. You can initiate by teaching them about animals, caring for plants, and putting their toys and things in place. Also, teach them to help you with your domestic chores. They will learn to be helpful, compassionate, and responsible.
Demonstration is Louder than Words
There is a wise saying: “Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.”
Showing them and setting an excellent example for your kids is very important. Kids never listen to what you say; instead, they imitate what you demonstrate. Show them how to value and respect every human, and that no human is less than another whether based on skin color, ethnicity or religion. We should treat everyone the way we want to be treated.
Build a Bright Future and Raise Compassionate Kids- Say No to Racism!
Kids love freedom. Children should have enough freedom to be themselves once they’ve learned the rules.
Instilling healthy habits will help build a healthy anti-racism environment for your kids. We all have a responsibility to confront racism and raise better future generations.
Guiding our kids, especially girls, is essential. Helping girls learn to identify and challenge structural norms and practices of inequality will be a game-changer in creating the positive change our society needs.
If you enjoyed reading this article and want to explore more health & wellness that ties into raising compassionate kids, check out our article on emotional intelligence in children here.
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