How to Educate Children Against Racism and Discrimination?

Educating children today against racism and discrimination is essential to avoid negative social consequences in the future.

Reviewed and approved by the psychopedagogue María José Roldán.

Written by María José Roldán

Last update: 27 December, 2022

Unfortunately, we live in a society where racism and discrimination are still present. But if we all do our part and educate children from an early age, in future generations, this will no longer be a social problem.

Children can internalize prejudices towards other people through what they see and hear from those around them. Therefore, as parents, we must be a good example for them and treat all people with the same respect.

It’s essential that children grow up with good values, such as tolerance, inclusion, and equality. All of them are essential in our society.

Educate children not to fall into racism and discrimination

This is something that is not learned overnight and must be worked on day by day, with constancy and coherence between what we say and what we do. That is, we must treat others with respect for their differences and their idiosyncrasies. Let’s see how to get it.

1. Be the best example

Your children notice everything you do and say, so they’ll repeat what they learn at home. They’ll grow up with the values that you transmit to them and you’ll be the greatest influence in their lives. In this sense, your attitude towards others will be key so that they learn to be tolerant of others.

Always show your utmost respect for other people, regardless of their origin, language, skin color, culture, or way of thinking. Respect for everyone and defense against racism are the best solutions to this problem.

2. Have friends from different cultures

If you have friends from different cultures, your children will see it as normal to accept other people that are different from them. In the future, they won’t close the doors to people from other cultures and they’ll understand more ways of seeing and feeling the world. Therefore, they’ll have multicultural experiences and will be more tolerant of others.

3. Travel as a family

Traveling as a family is the best way to see the world and to know how others live. Children believe that everyone does and thinks like them, but nothing could be further from the truth.

They must be allowed to know and understand other cultures in order to minimize those prejudices that still live in our society. This way, they’ll understand that we’re all human beings, with similar feelings, fears, and experiences.

4. Educate them in good values

Home education is essential in order to ensure that children accept equal opportunities and inclusion, two aspects necessary to living in a cohesive society that’s respected and that lives in peace and harmony.

To achieve this, you need to teach children that life is like a ladder: There are those who are above us and others below us. No one is better or worse than anyone, only that each one lives in a different context in the present.

Another fundamental aspect for them to internalize this learning is to maintain a coherent attitude with everything that we’re expressing here. Remember that your children perceive everything, even if you don’t realize it.

Finally, in order to educate in inclusion, you need to raise children who are open to the world and, above all, assertive. This way, they’ll be able to express their ideas and feelings without offending or emotionally hurting others.

5. Take care of what you say and do

Pay attention to your vocabulary and always use inclusive words that don’t discriminate against others. Make it clear to your children that skin color, culture, or origin don’t define us as people.

Cultural diversity is wonderful because that’s what makes us such a rich and learning society.