Following the murder of George Floyd that came with massive civic support via protests in Canada and the US, we as Scouters (or caregivers, parents, or older siblings) are left with wondering how we might addres the topic of racism with our youth. How would we even start? What’s too much information? What if they’re not ready and we scare or confuse them? What if we are scared and confused, too?
Our Rover Crew had recently hosted an online event that addressed systemic racism in Canada, and it was no easy task. Talking about racism with anyone can be hard and uncomfortable. It certainly was for a few of us, but our leaders felt that this needed to be addressed as a group and we’re happy that we did. We learned a lot from the experience.
From research and interviews with Youth Scouters in our group, we learned that children are never too young to be exposed to diversity. Children notice differences in skin colour at a very young age. According to an article by Embrace Race, at 6 months of age, children will start to notice racial differences. By age 4, children might begin to show signs of racial bias. What they do with these observations and biases can be influenced by us, the adults who lead them and whom they trust.
Disclaimer: Even with lived experiences and training provided by Scouts Canada, we would not consider ourselves specialists in this particular area. We of course recommend further research and to find the ways that work best with your child(ren). Our hope for this blog is to provide informative tips based on experience and to maybe help put some of your worries to rest.
Here are 5 tips to help leaders prepare for difficult conversations about racism and race with youth.
- Plan the conversation ahead of time.
Write out what you’re going to say and practice. Starting a discussion about race may cause nervousness, fear, and discomfort for us as well, so have this conversation with another adult first. Once you’re comfortable with talking about race, try imagining the kinds of questions your child might ask so that you can prepare some answers.
Scouts Canada best practices includes having a partner with you when working with youth. Ensure that your partner is on the same page by practicing this conversation with your partner as well (or group of leaders).
2. Encourage your child to ask questions and share how they feel.
Help your child clearly communicate their emotions by asking how they feel directly. Children might not want to share their honest feelings with adults if it’s about something they’re nervous about. Encourage your child to ask questions, share experiences and observations, and be respectfully curious.
As well, it’s okay to not have an answer to every one of their questions. You don’t have to be an expert on race to have this conversation. Be honest about uncertainties and work with your child to find the right information. They will notice and follow suit to your curiosity, vulnerability, and empathy.
3. Check your bias.
Biases can be tricky for a young child to understand. Give examples of racial bias and how it might manifest in everyday life. Most importantly, be aware of the biases you might have. Show that you acknowledge your biases and share how you face them. Children will pay attention to your behaviour more so than your words. If you act fearfully of people of (different) colour, they will notice, and it might confuse your message.
4. Create Opportunities for Inclusive Activities & Racial Cultural Literacy.
The Scouts Canada program is designed to allow youth to create their own adventure with the help of their Scouters. Encourage play time that includes members outside of their patrol (or immediate friend-group).
If your group consists of children from similar backgrounds, storytelling via picture books and film can be very powerful in helping them understand how different racial and ethnic groups live and love. Talk about the histories and experiences of people they might meet around them.
Volunteers of Scouts Canada also hosts giant outdoor camps where youth and their parents from different cities and provinces can attend. Joining these camps can be a great way for your child to meet new friends from different backgrounds.
Of course, these camps have been put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If your group meets online, try reaching out to scouters from other groups to see if they’d be interested in collaborating.
5. Help your child understand how to be an ally.
In addition to sharing stories about allyship, ask your child how they might react if they saw a character in a book or another kid at their school being bullied. You can ask your child to write a short story or draw a picture about allyship, diversity, and/or inclusivity. Using art in this way can help your child to imagine the power they have towards creating a better place for everyone.
Thanks for taking some time to read our blog. Remember that this is a marathon, not a race, and that we are here on this journey with you.
Shout outs to Scouters Karina and Nicholas for helping us put this together!
Additional Reading:
Scouts Canada’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy
https://www.scouts.ca/resources/bpp/policies/diversity-and-inclusion-policy.html
Embrace Race
The PRIDE Program
The Conscious Kid – Books, Resources, and More.
https://www.theconsciouskid.org/
Talking about Race as a Parent or Caregiver
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race/audiences/parent-caregiver
Intersection Allies – We Make Room for All.
https://www.amazon.com/IntersectionAllies-We-Make-Room-All/dp/1948340089