It’s Not Too Early to Start Talking to Your Child About Race

In partnership with EmbraceRace


Why is this important?

  • Children notice differences! By 6 months of age, babies are noticing racial differences; by age 3 or 4, many children have begun to show signs of racial bias.
  • Let your child know that it’s perfectly okay to notice skin color and talk about race. Start talking about what racial differences mean and don’t mean. 

Within months of birth, infants prefer same-race faces. Babies can tell the difference between skin colors and hair types. There is nothing wrong with that. We ALL notice such differences. This doesn’t mean that babies think about race the way adults do. It doesn’t mean that babies are “racist”! It just means that they have begun to join the ongoing conversation about race. Be sure to involve yourself thoughtfully in that discussion!

Encourage your child to ask questions, share observations and experiences, and be respectfully curious about race.

  • Expose your child to different cultural opportunities – photographs, movies, books, or cultural events, for example – and discuss these experiences afterwards.

  • You don’t have to be an expert on race to talk with your child. Be honest about what you don’t know and work with your child to find accurate information.

Want to learn more?

10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race (EmbraceRace)