Better Chicago
3 Key Strategies to Talk to Young Children About Racism and Social Justice
Systemic oppression in our country is nothing new. The difference now is that we have greater access to the technology that can expose these inequities. Our children have grown up with social media as a pillar of their everyday life. We will never be able to control everything they read and watch, but we can support them in developing critical thinking skills and taking action against injustice.
One of my students’ favorite books is Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds. It teaches us that children’s voices are different and unique, and we cannot force their expression by aligning it to our own beliefs or priorities. Students can speak up through art, community-building, or even by connecting with nature. They need to share their stories in a way that feels right, not to us, but to them.
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