Ask the Expert: dealing with and preventing racism

Hi Kimberly, great question. Children are most certainly not colour blind. One of the biggest misconceptions that parents have is that their children don’t notice race unless it is pointed out to them—and that children only become racist if they are taught to be. But research shows the opposite: Kids can naturally develop racial prejudice unless their parents or teachers directly engage with them about it. Babies notice physical differences, including skin colour, from as early as 6 months. Studies have shown that by age 5, children can show signs of racial bias, such as treating people from one racial group more favourably than the other. Ignoring or avoiding the topic isn’t protecting children, it’s leaving them exposed to bias that exists wherever we live. Children who encounter racism, can be left feeling lost while trying to understand why they are being treated a certain way, which in turn can impact their long-term development and well-being, as well as trigger yet another cycle