From New Crown Pneumonia to America's Race Struggle: Why Is Communication with Children Becoming More Important?

It has been two weeks since Freud's death. (Extended reading:"This time, don't do this" the death of Floyd in america, why did Starbucks and Nike talk? )

In just two weeks, the U.S. community has expressed its displeasure at the u.S. police's excessive enforcement and government inaction, including "Blackout Tuesday," where music groups such as Sony, Warner and Universal all stopped operating at 6/2; former first lady Michelle Obama, Beyonce and others reaffirmed the importance of racial rights in their graduation speeches; and more recently, "Defund the Police' budgets and the community's health)

The protests affected the United States and even across the world. "The status quo actually provides an opportunity for people to communicate," said Candra Flanagan, director of teaching at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Adults may want to turn off the TV and remain silent when they see the protest, but children get information from other places. So it's especially important to start a conversation on race issues at this time, and parents can make sure what kind of information their children receive. 」

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Why, is it important to communicate current events with your child?

There are many questions and uneasiness when a child perceives and is faced with a major event in society, and Candra Flanagan points out that the general public is used to responding to a child's question in a way that is ignored or avoided. This may be due to adults underestimating their child's ability to understand, or because they may not be able to give an answer to the child.

However, opening up a discussion about current events does nare not give your child the right answer, and even adults can find answers with their children. In this racial issue, for example, the purpose of the dialogue is to reduce anxiety and anxiety caused by confusion when children touch racial issues on a daily basis, whether they are aware of "my behavior can make an impact", "How do I respond/look at discrimination", and build on it, "Who Am I?" and "What Am I Value?"

How important is it to start a discussion with your child? In the case of the global outbreak of the new crown virus, Norway's prime minister held a children's press conference with the minister to answer questions such as "Is there any way to go to class when the outbreak is serious?" "What can I do for you?" Problems, not only to calm children's fears, but also to make children aware of the importance of active participation in society.

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How can we communicate with our kids on racial issues this time?

And watching America debate racial issues, we in Taiwan are not irrelevant. The issue of racial discrimination, in fact, can extend a lot of discussion, like how to respect each person's difference, and children feel their own differences, how to build self-confidence, believe in their own values? (Extended Reading: Written after "The Death of Freud": There is a kind of communion that is non-racial or gender-neutral)

If you want to start a discussion with your child about affirmative, plurality, the Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) also offers three recommendations:

1. Link skin color to values when avoiding communication

TV, movie drama or character personality can have an impact on a child's values, but many times we don't realize it. "For example, when a child sees that all the princesses are white," he might say, "I only like princesses who look like Elsa, I don't like girls with brown hair and skin like Moana," " says Maggie Beneke, an assistant professor of education at the University of Washington.

At this point, Beneke advises parents to listen to their children's thoughts without judgment, and then asks questions like, "What did he do, let you say that?" Then he began to explain what stereotypes were and why such thoughts were hurtful.

2. Increased diversity in daily entertainment

You can start to examine whether the diversity of movies and television, media, and the diversity that children come into contact with on a daily basis is sufficient, for example, if the characters are only white? Are African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and other ethnic groups of different colors associated with negative behavior?

If so, try to expand your library and cover your children more about their ethnic profiles through multiple books or televisions.

3. Expanding the diversity of personal life

When children are in the same group, it is difficult for them to be able to empathise with other people's situations, and parents can start by making changes, such as expanding their dating circles, participating in activities related to diverse ethnic groups, visiting cultural museums, etc., so-called expanding diversity, which can actually include different races, genders and religious beliefs. (Extended Reading: Are You Unconscious Bias? True equality, not inclusion, but inclusion)

Talking to your child is not the process of pursuing the right answer, and parents can also explore and be aware of their prejudices while improving. So, starting today, you don't have to be afraid to open any current affairs conversations with your kids and create a multi-harmonious discussion scene within your family!