I see what's possible when we recognize that we are one American family, all deserving of equal treatment. - President Barack Obama

Education is one of the greatest tools we have in breaking down the barriers supporting systemic racism. As your child’s first teacher, it’s important that they see you constantly learning, teaching and modeling behaviors that value equity and racial understanding in order for them to oppose racism and be anti-racist.

Research from HealthyChildren.org indicates that children as young as six months notice race-based differences and begin internalizing racial bias between the ages of two and four years old. Experts constantly inform us that the most important brain growth is between the ages of birth and five years old, which supports that these early years are when you have to instill and reinforce values that uphold equity.

Tips from EmbraceRace for teaching and talking with your kids about race:

1. Start talking early to your child about what racial differences mean and don’t mean.

2. Expose your child to different cultural opportunities and encourage them to be respectfully curious about race.

3. Be mindful in that you are modeling the values you want your child to see. Expand your friend group to be more diverse if it is not already.

4. Face and know your own bias.

5. Share your family history and experiences with your child, including race, ethic and cultural groups you identify with.

6. Teach your children the history of different race groups as well as that there is much diversity within the racial groups as across them.

7. Be honest with your child, in age-appropriate ways, about bigotry and oppression.

8. Introduce your child to the stories of the resistance and resilience.

9. Connect the conservations you’re having to the change you and your child want to see.

10. Make race talks with your child routine. This is not a “one and done” situation.

We’ve compiled some additional resources to help you talk with your children about race and current events, including book lists that help parents select books that include diverse characters.

Book Lists for Children:

• Brightly: Books and Resources to Help You Raise Anti-Racist Children

• EmbraceRace: Looking for Excellent “Diverse” Books for Children? Start Here!

• Diversity Book Lists & Activities for Teachers and Parents

Start the Conversation:

• Child Mind Institute: Talking to Kids About George Floyd

• EmbraceRace: 10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race

• Zero to Three: Racism and Violence: Using Your Power as a Parent to Support Children Aged Two to Five

• Huffington Post: How White Parents Can Talk to Their Kids About Race

Podcasts for Adults:

• 1619, A Podcast from the New York Times

• Code Switch