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The Black Lives Matter movement is not new, but this might be the first time your child is old enough to have questions about what’s happening in the news or how he can help. It’s never too early to talk to your kids about racism, race, and current events. Experts are here with strategies for starting a conversation, fostering empathy, and helping your kids create change.

Meet your kids where they are. Ask them what they understand about what’s going on and build a conversation around that.

When Kenneth Braswell returned home from protesting the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore in 2015, during which he had been depicted on CNN, his 6-year-old son immediately asked him why he was in the same space as all the police and troops.

“He’s six years old, has some sense of what’s taking place, that something is not right about that. He’s heard us in our household talk about police and the narrative around police and Black boys, which he is,” Braswell says. “He was aware of what was going on and maybe even thought I was in danger or in trouble.”

Braswell is CEO of Fathers Incorporated and author of Daddy There’s a Noise Outside and other books about the rise of Black Lives Matter. He explains that kids are aware—from a young age—of race, maybe more aware than we think they are. But they can still have questions. Meeting your child where he is developmentally and making the situation easy for him to digest can help him understand concepts like protesting and police brutality.

“I had an answer [to my son’s question], but I didn’t have a six-year-old answer. And so I decided to talk to him about what was happening, but not why it was happening. At six years old, he didn’t need to know Freddie Gray’s name. He didn’t need to know the history of racial tensions in this country. He needed to be explained the situation in the moment that he was living in,” Braswell says. He explained that people were protesting for Freddie Gray because they did not agree with how Baltimore leaders were handling the situation and voicing their opinions—and that protesting is just one way to voice an opinion.

Concrete examples help kids understand concepts as well. Braswell gave his son an example of what a protest is by explaining how his son would probably react if Braswell asked him to do homework instead of play. His son immediately understood—and this conversation helped inspire Braswell to write Daddy There’s a Noise Outside to help more families have these conversations.

Annette Nunez, Ph.D., licensed psychotherapist and founder of Breakthrough Interventions, also advocates for asking your older kids about what they know about current events and using their understanding to spark a conversation.

“Have some of those difficult, uncomfortable conversations. Start asking: Do you feel like you’re racist? Why? How do you feel when you’re around people who look different than you? And why is it that you feel that way?” Dr. Nunez says.

It can be difficult to know how to start a conversation, Braswell adds. The most important thing to do is start one.

“Parents: Do not shy away from hard conversations,” he says. “Once you start the conversation, you will figure out what to say. But be transparent. Don’t be in protective parent mode.”

Acknowledge that racism exists and confront your own biases.

Children as young as 3 are aware of differences in skin color, according to Reena B. Patel, LEP, BCBA, licensed educational psychologist and board-certified behavior analyst. But no matter how old your child is, one of the first steps in having a conversation about race is acknowledging racism exists, Dr. Nunez says. “It’s okay to talk about race and that racism exists. Don’t brush things under the rug. When we do ignore the problem and act like everything is okay, what we’re saying to children is that people of color are not being seen and not being heard.”

Beyond acknowledging that racism exists, continue to encourage your child to play with, watch, listen to, and engage with characters and stories that look different than her. Oftentimes we see “different” as “bad,” Dr. Nunez says, but in talking to your child, redefine difference as good. This will help her develop compassion and kindness and help everyone learn. Furthermore, you can talk to her about how injustices and inequalities feel so she develops an understanding of how other people live, which will further encourage empathy.

One of the most helpful things you can do for your child is confront your own biases, Dr. Nunez continues, and be mindful of your words. For Nathan Chomilo, M.D., a pediatrician and Minnesota’s Medicaid medical director, parental reflection is paramount.

“You have to be actively anti-racist. In teaching our children to be anti-racist we have to look at our own histories,” he said in a Common Sense Media panel entitled Helping Kids Process Violence, Trauma, and Race in a World of Nonstop News on June 2. “[Kids are] noticing differences in how people are treated based on the color of their skin. Talking about how you may be explicitly or implicitly sending messages about race is important.”

Talking to your kids about race is a continuous and evolving process.

Your kids’ questions will likely evolve as they get older, as their understanding of issues change, as your own understanding changes. So keep talking about race and racism. “Keep going back to this conversation with your children. It’s not a one-time conversation,” Dr. Chomilo said.

Allison Briscoe-Smith, Ph.D., the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at The Wright Institute Clinical Program, explained in the Common Sense panel that having small, foundational conversations with your kids over time will allow you and your family to be proactive, not just reactive.

“I think many families are concerned that their proactive conversations will incite or overwhelm children,” she said, adding that it’s important for all families to be proactive, do the work, and figure out what they want to communicate to their kids, especially if talking to your kids about these issues has not been a necessity.

Dr. Briscoe-Smith and Dr. Chomilo spoke on the panel with Jacqueline Douge, M.D., a pediatrician, creator of the podcast What Is Black?, and co-author of the American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health. The panel was moderated by Jasmine Hood Miller of Common Sense Media and aims to help kids process violence, trauma, and race in a world of nonstop news. You can watch the whole discussion, including answers to questions from parents, on YouTube.

Remember that while discussion is powerful, talking is exactly that—talking. Modeling actions to create change and help others is even more beneficial for your kids.

“It’s not just about discussion. It’s taking a stand and doing something about it,” Dr. Patel says. “We are kids’ first models, first teachers. Just because you may have not done anything prior [to this] doesn’t mean you can’t now.”

These are great resources for educating yourself, helping your kids learn

Books, tv shows, articles, podcasts, and more are great educational tools for both you and the kids. Here are just a few examples:

• Kids’ Books, Podcasts, and Other Resources About Diversity, Race, and Inclusion
• Dr. Patel recommends Daniel Tiger and Sesame Street as shows that are great at teaching kids kindness, respect, and inclusion.
• Daddy, There’s a Noise Outside features a guide for parents so they can work on educating themselves and talking about this with their kids. Each guide includes suggestions for materials that will spark conversation. Braswell also recommends reading I Had a Dream by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the kids.
• Here are some reading suggestions for parents looking to learn more about the historical context of Black Lives Matter and of racism in America.

Author: Jacqueline Neber is an assistant editor and a graduate of The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University. When she’s not focused on writing special needs and education features, you can find her petting someone else’s dog.

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It is never too early for your children to start learning about race, diversity, and inclusion. With all of the negativity and intolerance we—and likely our children—are seeing in the world, it is more important now than it has ever been to teach our children about race and racism. We encourage you to reference these kids’ books about diversity as a place to start. These stories will transport young readers into other cultures and inspire empathy and understanding.

Kids’ Books About Diversity for Ages 5-8

A Kids Book About Racism

Part of a series of easy-to-read books by creative authors that all start with “A Kids Book About…,” this one by Jelani Memory, an African American entrepreneur and creative thinker, introduces kids to the concept of racism. Readers will understand what racism is, how it makes people feel when they experience it, and how to spot it when it happens.

Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability

Shane Burcaw, who uses a wheelchair due to spinal muscular atrophy, transformed his 2014 memoir into a humorous, photo-illustrated books for kids. He answers questions like: “What’s wrong with you?” and “Why is your head so much bigger than the rest of your body?” and “How do you play with your friends?” The moral: people with disabilities have a lot in common with people who don’t.

Wishtree

Newbery Award winner Katherine Applegate (The One and Only Ivan), writes about an anti-Muslim incident: someone carves “leave” into a tree belonging to a Muslim family. However, the community rejects the bigotry and uses the opportunity to express welcome for the family. The story is perfect for young kids—it’s narrated by a talking tree and features talking animals, short chapters, and sweet illustrations.

Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters 

The ten eloquent portraits of African American activists who fought for abolition, women’s rights and civil rights, include Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Shirley Chisholm as well as such lesser-knowns like Fannie Lou Hamer, an indefatigable campaigner for African-Americans’ right to vote. The book explores their childhoods as well as their accomplishments as adults.

Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X 

Malcolm X’s daughter, an educator, activist, and motivational speaker, wrote this book about her father’s childhood, although it is mostly the story of Malcolm’s parents, and how they helped shape their son’s character and ideology. The story ends triumphantly in the seventh grade when Malcolm, the only African American at school, is elected class president.

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice

This story follows two families — one white, one black — as they discuss a police shooting of a black man in their community. It aims to answer children’s questions about such traumatic events, and to help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives. Also included: a note to parents with guidelines for discussing race and racism with children, child-friendly definitions, and sample dialogues.

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga 

This narrative by a native Cherokee simultaneously embraces modernity and a traditional presentation of Cherokee community and way of life. Colorful, folk art-style illustrations show Cherokee people during ceremonies, in family gatherings large and small, and outdoors enjoying each of the four seasons, always expressing gratitude.

Happy in Our Skin 

Following a light-skinned mother and her three children (who share their father’s brown skin), the author of this picture book creates an expansive, multicultural cast of urbanites enjoying themselves at a park, at the public pool, and at a boisterous block party.

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Kids Books About Diversity for Ages 9-12

Ambassador

National Book Award–winning author William Alexander sets this story about immigration in present-day Minneapolis and in outer space. It’s told from the perspective of 11-year-old Gabe, whose Mexican parents and older sister are threatened with deportation. With many laughs along the way, readers learn to see things from others’ viewpoints and the importance of empathy and flexibility in solving problems.

Blackbird Fly

As the only Filipina in her small Louisiana school, Apple gets teased by those who think she’s different. She’s also on a not-so-secret list kept by the boys of the ugliest girls in school. Her feelings will mirror many young readers’ experiences, and she eventually learns to use music to move beyond the experience of feeling like a misfit.

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings

In this poetic memoir, Margarita Engle, the first Latina woman to receive a Newbery Honor, writes of growing up as a child of two cultures during the Cold War. She lives in Los Angeles but longs to be in her homeland of Cuba where everyone looks like her. When the hostility between Cuba and the United States erupts at the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Margarita’s worlds collide in the worst way possible.

Flying Lessons & Other Stories

This anthology of stories written by children’s authors including Kwame Alexander, Meg Medina and Jacqueline Woodson, features believable tales of kids coping with their differences. For example, a young boy playing basketball gets insulted by street-smart players for being “too Mexican.” His resolve yields multiple life lessons on and off the court.

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation

This award-winning picture-book brings attention to the 1947 California ruling against public-school segregation. The concise, informative text, with occasional and always translated Spanish lines, discusses how being banned from enrolling in an Orange County grade school because of her skin tone and Mexican surname inspired Sylvia Mendez’ family to fight for integrated schools.

The Whispering Town 

Based on a true story, this book recalls the neighbors in a small Danish fishing village who, during the Holocaust, shelter a Jewish family waiting to be ferried to safety in Sweden.

Kids Books About Diversity for Ages 13-18

Dear Martin

Nic Stone’s book tells the story of an Ivy League-bound African-American student named Justyce who becomes a victim of racial profiling. He struggles to reconcile the fact that he’s a “good kid” with suddenly being in police handcuffs. In the months that follow, Justyce confronts injustices he experiences at his mostly white prep school and the fallout from his brief detainment.

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass

This award-winning contemporary novel follows a NYC-based Latina teenager named Piddy Sanchez who is bullied because of her race. The bullying eventually leads to physical abuse in this unflinching look at the various ways that cliques and racism operate.

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Count Me In

Told from alternating perspectives, this is a tale of friendship between a second generation Indian-American girl, her grandfather, and her white next-door neighbor. After being a witness to a hate crime, Karina becomes an activist by sharing pictures on social media. She starts tagging her posts with #CountMeIn and learns to use social media to make a positive difference in the world.

Patron Saint of Nothing

Jay is a Filipino-American boy who has one semester of high school left when he finds out his cousin in the Philippines has been killed. He convinces his parents to send him back to his aunt and uncle’s house in the Philippines so he can try to piece together the murder. This emotional rollercoaster not only addresses difference, but also family, faith, friendship, and grief.

Other Resources to Help Talk to Your Kids About Diversity and Race

Another great place to find books about racism is this list of winners from the Coretta Scott King Book Awards. The awards are given out each winter to outstanding African American authors and illustrators whose books demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture. The author or illustrator must live in the United States, and the book must have been published in the preceding year.

Podcasts are another great way to disseminate stories about inclusivity, and can inspire important discussions about race, difference and humanity. Fare of the Free Child features Akilah S. Richards, plus rotating guests, who discuss raising black and brown children in a world that will treat them differently. The weekly podcast addresses how parents can help their children live free of this burden, with Richards emphasizing unschooling and the Self-Directed Education movement.

Television programming can also offer children windows into worlds outside their own. PBS Learning Media has a great lineup of short history lessons featuring former slave and abolitionist Sojourner Truth, scholar Dr. W.E.B. DuBois, and others. PBS also published children’s book author Cheryl Willis Hudson’s noteworthy suggestions to help you connect your kids with Black history.

Finally, follow the Conscious Kid on Instagram for some critical ways to educate your kids about racism—including tips, lists, news and quotes that will provoke discussion and entice you into important conversations about diversity and politics. The educational nonprofit also has a very affordable Patreon Page which allows you to be part of a more intimate community discussion.

Shana Liebman is the features editor of NYMP. She’s a writer and editor who has worked for magazines including New York Magazine, Salon, and Travel & Leisure—and she is the mom of two energetic little boys.

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