Here at Lane Pediatrics, we believe Black lives matter.
To our families of color, we stand with you, and we are committed to be your ally and to actively work to combat racism.
For all our of our families, it is never too young to talk about race with your children. By age 3 months, infants look more at faces that are the same race as their main caregivers, and by 2.5 years, children may start to choose playmates of their same skin color. Children innately notice differences in physical appearance, but don’t naturally discriminate. As
parents, it is our job to acknowledge their observations in a positive way. Make an effort to expose your children to books, TV shows, and toys that feature characters of a variety of skin colors. Rather than teaching children to “not see color”, help them appreciate the unique beauty of all skin tones.
For too long, Black families have borne the burden of teaching their children about race and racism. In order to eliminate racism, on levels from personal to systemic, all families must share this mission. The events of the last few weeks have shown how racism and discrimination hurts us all. As parents, we have the opportunity to do better for our children, for all children. Now more than ever, it’s important that we all practice kindness and compassion, and support each other against hate and discrimination.
Here are some helpful resources to help you talk to your children about skin color and racism:
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