How to talk to children’s about BLM?

[Fladadafada]

Had the football on in the background yesterday evening and dd (5) asked why all the players were kneeling.

I have been trying to hold on to her innocence of the world while I can and didn’t really know how to explain it to her in an age appropriate but accurate way. At the moment she doesn’t notice skin colour at all and I don’t want her to start to think of people of another race differently. But maybe I should have been more open.

I just said “ they are kneeling because some people are very unkind and treat others badly, the kneeling is to say that they think everyone should be treated with kindness and love” kind of a cop out as I didn’t mention race at all, but now I think maybe I should have used the opportunity.

Does anyone have any advice on how to talk to young children about this. I really don’t want to get it wrong and confuse her.

I think what you said was fine

What you said sounds fine to me. There's a podcast we sometimes listen to, But Why, which is doing something on the issue tomorrow. They usually approach things in a really child friendly way but with reliable info. Details here www.vpr.org/programs/why-podcast-curious-kids#stream/0.

Great thank you. That podcast sounds like it will help!

It just seems like such a big subject to discuss with such a small person. I want her to be aware while keeping it age appropriate. And also to hold on to the innocence of not even noticing if someone is a different colour to her, for as long as I possibly can.

All the time, as and when the situation presents itself.

No big lectures, but having subjects like this as general topics of conversation.

Cbeebies did a great clip though, one sec..

Here

twitter.com/CBeebiesHQ/status/1271548341713801216?s=19

I had a bit of a botched conversation with my 4.5 year old where I went a bit further, explained that a man had been hurt by police and this was wrong and people are very angry. Various questions which I tried to answer and spoke about how the man was black and that for a long time people with black or brown skin have not been treated fairly. More whys led to conversation about slaves. Afterwards I thought there were good aspects to the conversation but I worried that I’d been negative about race, as in not wanting racism to be how she defines black people. Then I ordered a few books with kickass black protagonists, they arrived today, I’m half expecting her to be like Mum what’s going on with you!

I also got sent this resource at work which looks good and may help you - I have just skimmed it so far but looks good and plan to go back to it. yoopies.co.uk/c/press-releases/blacklivesmatter

We tend to talk to our daughter very straightforwardly and I often worry we go to far - it’s hard not to though when they ask astute questions! I figure though she doesn’t need us to be perfect, it’s better to be trying to educate them than not trying at all. I also read some awful stats about how racial prejudice is well established by age 6, suggesting early messages are important. All that said, what you said is true and it’s not a bad thing to come back to things but by bit.

I think what you said what fine. It depends on the child how you approach it.

Both my kids have heard a lot about a lot of difficult subjects (due to my job). I don't go overboard, don't go into detail, and I don't give them too much information, but little ones can deal with more than we credit them with.

Just don't bombard her with too much at once. She'll handle it

What I've said to my dc is that racism is when people treat another person unfairly because of the colour of their skin, which is wrong. That at the moment a lot of people are protesting to stop racism, particularly in the police.

Newsround has covered this really well.

The cbeebies clip is brilliant- thanks for that.
I think what you said was fine OP- I wouldn’t have expanded on the race element unless your child asked how they were treated badly.