In these times of racial unrest across the country as well as in our very communities, you may feel overwhelmed to begin having difficult conversations with your children or assuage their grief. If you identify as a Black person, like me, you may be in a perpetual state of fear about how to protect your loved ones while suppressing feelings such as frustration, rage, or anger. If you don’t identify as Black, you may be feeling helpless and confused about how to start a meaningful conversation regarding these issues and how to advocate for change. 

The resources below provide developmentally appropriate ways to engage with children about racism, white supremacy, and police brutality. I hope you will take the time to explore these resources as they will help you to complement the work we continue to do at school. Please reach out if you would like additional support. I am grateful to be part of a community that will stand with each other and join in the dialogue to search for truth. I hope you will join me in navigating these difficult times together with hope, empathy, love, and compassion.

Resources for Lower School Families

"Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism. A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Families" - CNN & Sesame Street are airing a town hall on Saturday 

“How to Talk to Kids about Racial Violence and Police Brutality” – USA Today interview with psychologist and author Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum and Pepperdine professor Erlanger Turner

“Talking to Children after Racial Incidents” – an interview with Penn Graduate School of Education clinical psychologist Howard Stevenson

“George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. What do we tell our children?” - USA Today 

“Talking Race with Young Children” – NPR Podcast

“Talking to Kids about Race” – National Geographic

“Understanding Race and Privilege” - National Association of School Psychologists

Resources for Middle/Upper School Families

“Talking about Race” -  National Museum of African American History and Culture 

“Talking to Children after Racial Incidents” – an interview with Penn Graduate School of Education clinical psychologist Howard Stevenson

“Explaining the News to Our Kids” – Common Sense Media

“How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism” – Parent Tool Kit

“Beyond the Golden Rule: A parent’s guide to preventing and responding to prejudice” – TeachingTolerance.org

“An Antiracist Reading List” by Ibram X. Kendi – The New York Times

“Table Talk: Family Conversations about Current Events” – Anti-Defamation League