Racism is not exactly an issue that can be assumed in a kindergarten. Ball games, painting and romping – yes. But analyze, recognize and learn to avoid racist ways of thinking? That sounds more like a debate among adults at the dinner table than after a conversation with apple slices in the kindergarten group.
It belongs right there, educator Luisa B .. She is currently preparing a project called "Me and You". It is about identity, self-discovery, social interaction, similarities, but also differences between people. The issue existed long before the current debate about George Floyd's death sparked. Because racism happens every day, in Germany and the USA, on a large scale, but above all on a small scale in everyday life – and is therefore already in good hands with the little ones. In an interview with BRIGITTE.de, the educator reveals how and why she speaks openly about racism to her kindergarten children.
Why should we talk to children about racism?
Luisa, many parents are wondering: Can and should I talk to my child about racism?
"So if is not a question at all and there is a very simple reason for: We adults are just noticing that we have grown into a society that is still characterized by privileges. That still involves racism. You can see that in part with your own parents, who may throw terms at you and don't even notice that they are racist because they don't mean it badly. "
Can children already deal with the topic?
"It is even best if you start as a child. Then you begin to teach children values such as politeness, tolerance, etc. Resilience is also important – if, for example, you are already confronted with racism in old age. If a child is marginalized on the basis of skin color or origin, one has to intervene as a child.
I think it's less about an opinion than something that is taken for granted: To hurt other people, to exclude them, in the worst case even to use violence, there is no opinion about that, that's just wrong. "
You shouldn't convey that we are all the same. Yes, we are all human, but we are not all the same. And that's a good thing.
Some people avoid the issue of racism with children in order not to go wrong. What mistakes should I beware of?
"A big point is that you shouldn't teach children: You have to find everyone nice now, for example everyone who is black or who looks different than you. That is not the point, it would be racism again! That is what makes you a character trait the skin color, that's exactly what we don't want. A classic is there: "Oh, the gays are always so warm." It's not racism, it's sexual identity. That is nonsense.
You can also find someone stupid. The only reason for this should not be the color of the skin. These are two completely different things that you have to teach children again and again. And that also means that you are not playing with anyone who looks somehow different, but whom you don't like, for fear of being racist. "
So you have to be careful not to learn any preference.
"You shouldn't convey that we are all the same. Yes, we are all human beings, but we are not all the same. And it is a good thing that we are all different. And not all white or all black people are the same. We are all different and that's good. The important thing is that we are all worth the same amount. You should teach the kids that. ”
There are many ways to playfully address racism, but the important thing is that it is not kept secret.
It always sounds so easy. And how do you do that?
- "Of course, a very big topic Books. Two classics are "Somehow Different" and "Elmar". Both deal with diversity and exclusion.
- Then you can Have self-portraits drawn or hands in young children. And also let the skin color play in: Do we all have the same color at all? No, it is always different.
- There is also Experiments to: All children take a lemon and you are asked what it looks like. Small, round, with bulges maybe. But if you look at a whole bag of lemons, you see, one is spherical, others a little longer – they never look the same. So you can do it with the bodies. This is also about getting to know each other regardless of racism. That you take a closer look at your own body, look value-free, what shape my nose has, I have long or short fingers. And then realizes: Even with the same skin color, we all don't look the same at all. And that has nothing to say at all.
- Then you can too Role play or puppet shows where, for example, situations of exclusion are explicitly played out and children ask: how is it for you? Is that right what is happening there? Do you notice anything at all? How do you feel about it It's about feeling empathy. There is not only exclusion based on appearance, but also on other things that everyone experiences at some point – and it's never a nice feeling.
- With older children you can already have one Analysis of the social environment start. Where am I from? What skin colors are there in my family, in my circle of friends? And then really asks if they have already had racist experiences.
So there are many ways to playfully address the issue of racism, but the really important thing is that it is not kept secret, but comes up again and again. I believe that one should speak openly to children and, above all, intervene as soon as racist conflicts arise – even if only in the game. To show the child, but also everyone else, that this is wrong. "
So maybe we can only change our society if we start with children?
"You always assume that children do not yet see racism. I also believe that it would be so – if it weren't for the adults and introducing their children to a world that is unfortunately shaped by prejudice. We have to break this pattern open. "
I think every person who is born is free from racism, but you have to try to maintain it.
Thank you for the insightful conversation, Luisa!