2015 - Page 2 of 7 - Raising Race Conscious Children

On the Spot: Unanticipated Conversations about Race

November 6, 2015 · by Raising Race Conscious Children · in Early Childhood, Kim Sherman, Race, Racial Identity, STRATEGY: AFFIRM CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS, STRATEGY: NAME RACE/WHITENESS, Toddlers, White Privilege

by guest blogger Kim Sherman When I was pregnant with my second child, I prepared to tell my then-two-year-old about the baby-on-the-way. I anticipated questions about where babies come from and whether we were having a boy or girl. I…

In light of Spring Valley (Part Two): Activism, the police, and my three-and-a-half-year-old

November 3, 2015 · by Raising Race Conscious Children · in Early Childhood, Elementary School, Race, Sachi Feris, STRATEGY: CHILDREN AND ACTIVISM, STRATEGY: NAME RACE/WHITENESS, STRATEGY: SPEAK TO IMAGES/WORDS, Toddlers, Uncategorized

by Sachi Feris Almost a year ago, when I was launching Raising Race Conscious Children, I wrote a post about what I would say to my future four-year-old about Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Well, my daughter is almost three-and-a-half…

In light of Spring Valley (Part One): Race, board books, and my 5-day-old baby

October 30, 2015 · by Raising Race Conscious Children · in Babies, Race, Sachi Feris, STRATEGY: AFFIRM CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS, STRATEGY: CHILDREN AND ACTIVISM, STRATEGY: FAIRNESS/UNFAIRNESS, STRATEGY: NAME RACE/WHITENESS, STRATEGY: SPEAK TO IMAGES/WORDS, Toddlers

by Sachi Feris I often get comments from readers of Raising Race Conscious Children, who have babies or young, pre-verbal children. These parents tell me that they are interested in this work, but feel it is a little early to be talking about race. This is not meant as a defensive posture…

A hard (but needed) conversation: New York City’s segregated schools

October 23, 2015 · by Raising Race Conscious Children · in Elementary School, Myra Hernandez, Race, STRATEGY: AFFIRM CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS, STRATEGY: CHILDREN AND ACTIVISM, STRATEGY: NAME RACE/WHITENESS, Uncategorized, White Privilege

by guest blogger Myra Hernandez One morning, I was working with a group of elementary students at a public school in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. As a program coordinator for a non-profit, I had been reading Harlem’s Little Blackbird by Renee…

Body conscious talk: Discussing masturbation

October 16, 2015 · by Raising Race Conscious Children · in Early Childhood, Elementary School, Katie Schaffer, Race, STRATEGY: AFFIRM CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS, Toddlers, White Privilege

by guest blogger Katie Schaffer Little kids masturbate. They’re exploring their bodies and it feels good. But one of the reasonable concerns that many parents have is how to encourage children’s curiosity and joyous sensual connection to their body while…

The problem with “Curious George”

October 13, 2015 · by Raising Race Conscious Children · in Early Childhood, Elementary School, Sachi Feris, STRATEGY: CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES, STRATEGY: CONSIDER FEELINGS, STRATEGY: EXPLORE THROUGH PLAY, STRATEGY: FAIRNESS/UNFAIRNESS, STRATEGY: NAME RACE/WHITENESS, STRATEGY: SPEAK TO IMAGES/WORDS, Toddlers, Uncategorized

by Sachi Feris The Spanish version of the original “Curious George” found its way to our bookshelf via hand-me-downs and my three-year-old daughter discovered it after diligently searching for a “new, new, new book that I’ve never, ever read.” It’s…

We are a family…not an “alternative” family

October 9, 2015 · by Raising Race Conscious Children · in Early Childhood, Elementary School, Gender, Janet Alperstein, Racial Identity, STRATEGY: AFFIRM CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS, STRATEGY: CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES, STRATEGY: CHILDREN AND ACTIVISM, STRATEGY: SPEAK TO IMAGES/WORDS

by guest blogger Janet Alperstein, Ph.D I have heard that my son and I are an “alternative family” too many times. It was said by people who meant well, but it hurt. While my son didn’t overhear many of these…

Confronting White bias: Bringing my research to my parenting

October 2, 2015 · by Raising Race Conscious Children · in Early Childhood, Elementary School, Gender, Race, Racial Identity, Richard Milner, STRATEGY: AFFIRM CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS, STRATEGY: CONSIDER FEELINGS, STRATEGY: NAME RACE/WHITENESS, White Privilege

by guest blogger Richard Milner, Ph.D As an African-American, middle-class professor of urban education, I am constantly bridging my research with my parenting responsibilities, reflecting on discourse and actions I take with my children as I attempt to help them…

A messy conversation with my three-year-old about the history of slavery and #BlackLivesMatter

September 29, 2015 · by Raising Race Conscious Children · in Early Childhood, Elementary School, Race, Sachi Feris, STRATEGY: AFFIRM CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS, STRATEGY: CHILDREN AND ACTIVISM, STRATEGY: EXPLORE THROUGH PLAY, STRATEGY: FAIRNESS/UNFAIRNESS, STRATEGY: NAME RACE/WHITENESS, STRATEGY: PARE DOWN THE VARIOUS ISSUES, Toddlers, White Privilege

by Sachi Feris I have been talking about race and racial justice with my daughter since she was a baby, not worrying too much when my commentary may have been over her head. I wanted her to hear my words…

“Are you a boy or a girl?”: Helping young children think through gender

September 25, 2015 · by Raising Race Conscious Children · in Early Childhood, Elementary School, Gender, Katie Schaffer, Race, STRATEGY: AFFIRM CHILDREN'S QUESTIONS, STRATEGY: CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES, STRATEGY: EXPLORE THROUGH PLAY, STRATEGY: SPEAK TO IMAGES/WORDS, Toddlers

by guest blogger Katie Schaffer I’m a queer woman with short hair who often wears button ups and slacks. (I use the word queer to talk about myself because it provides space for the recognition that both gender and sexuality…