How to explain differences in people to 20 mo?

[SummerHeightsHigh]

After some advice about how to explain to my 20 month old that people are all different. She is very aware of other people when we are out and about and always spots anyone who she perceives as different.
For example, yesterday in the supermarket there was a man using a wheelchair and she said 'look mummy' and pointed. She does it in a friendly, smiley 'wow, look at that' style but I'm concerned that she might offend someone unintentionally.
What can I use as my response for when this happens?

We live in a very multicultural town and she is beginning to realise that not everyone looks the same and so I think its going to happen more and more.

You wait for the 'is that a man or a lady Mummy?' which was my DDs favourite question in the supermarket. It was really embarrassing when I couldn't tell either - we always had to look for something really important in another aisle at that moment
Children always do notice differences - I always found it best to respond to there questions as honestly as possible and as factually as I could. People have to accept that children are learning all the time about everything.

oh dear......I can see this one coming my way soon too........interested in replies from the wise gurus

I'm thinking of something about 'people look different and come in all different shapes and sizes' or similar. I want to think about it before it happens IYSWIM because I am well known for putting foot-in-mouth when embarrassed so want to think about what my standard response can be.

Could you look at books on this topic with them? I haven't exactly searched around to find them, but have come across two which I've found quite useful.

One is called 'My World, Your World' by Melanie Walsh. It has children from all over the world and points out the differences and similarities between them. Another one is called 'Head to Toes: My First Body Book' by Zita Newcome. It is a book about the human body, but also has sections where it talks about how different people can look. Talks about things such as hair, age, size, skin colour and eye colour. It doesn't, however, contain any information about people with disabilities.

I'm sure there are other, perhaps better, books out there.

Thanks fo rthe advice, will have a search for some suitable books. In the meantime, a friend suggested recording 'Something Special' with Mr Tumble and Justin. We watched it this mornng and she was really interested and pointed at a wheelchair so I was able to explain what it was.

Loving Justin Fletcher by the way...

I have a 20 month old. I don't think she'd understand any explanation. Distraction to something else for now I would say.

Wannabe No, I don't think she'll understand as such, it just I think I need to be seen to say something appropriate when we're out and about in case next time she does it she offends someone.

Watching Something Special was good though, I think if she sees more examples of how much people differ she is less likely to do a big excited point and 'look mummy!!!' next time we see someone with a disability out and about.

i should not worry about offending anyone at her age, it is a natuaral curiosty. if she is just pointing at the moment I would aknowledge this with a simple oh yes i see darling. Once she is slightly older and asking questions. I would give very precise explinations once you are out of ear shot from others. If my dd asked i would say I will tell you in a little while once around the corner i would explain that person has different colour skin because thier family once originated from X country. or that person has a wheelchair, walking aid looks different becuase they have x condition or disability or injury. if explained well children tend not to ask too much from my experience.

my dn once anounced in the asda queue in a great big voice, whilst cooing over the baby next to them "Oh mummy isnt that a lovely chinese baby, hes got a very big head though" cringe the mum just smiled and did not seem offended in the slightest.

I think as long you handle the situation well and just smile, and react in such a way to make clear its just her innocence, then she won't offend anyone.

i still can't help smiling when i recall the incident when my husband was locumming in a very rural village and a very young boy came in with his mummy and said 'look mummy, it's a brown man" tbh i think it's hilarious! its quite clear that its just the child noticing something new and he would have had the same reaction if hed seen a green man or a purple man.

i think if you live in a multicultural town she'll soon get used to seeing different people.