International Day of Tolerance

Today is the International Day of Tolerance! Let's make everyday a day of tolerance, not just November 16th.

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Lead children by example. Demonstrate tolerance and compassion. Avoid making negative statements about any racial, religious or special needs groups, etc. Reach out to your neighbors and community members who might feel at risk because of their ethnicity, religion or other traits.

   

Provide useful information. Accurate information about people, events, reactions, and feelings is empowering. Use language that is appropriate for children. Make sure that all information is factually true. This is especially important when news reports have negative statements about any specific group.

   

Avoid stereotyping people or countries. Children can easily generalize negative statements that can lead to prejudice, anger, and mistrust for innocent groups of people. 

   

Stop any type of harassment or bullying immediately.  Make it clear that such behavior is unacceptable.  Talk to the children involved about the reasons for their behavior.  Offer alternative methods of expressing their anger, confusion, or insecurity.

   

Emphasize positive, familiar images of diverse groups.  Identify people of diverse ethnicities, religions and/or lifestyles that children know and who have a positive place in their lives. These could be neighbors, friends, school personnel, health care professionals, members of their faith community, or local merchants.  Discuss the many characteristics, values, and experiences the children have in common with these people.

   

Volunteering with people from diverse backgrounds, helps children to feel that they are making a positive contribution, it also reinforces their sense of commonality with diverse people.

   

Learn about the diverse communities and faiths represented in your area.  Knowledge debunks myths about other people and can humanize other cultures. Children can ask their classmates about their family or culture to reinforce the notion that all people have special beliefs and customs.

   

Read books with your children that address prejudice, tolerance, and hate.  There are many books and stories available for different age groups that can help children think about their feelings regarding these issues.  The school or local librarian can make recommendations.