Parents often hope to give their children tools to deal with problems they struggled with themselves.  Each of us has grappled with prejudice and injustice, whether it’s been directed at us or at others.  Here are some ideas that arose out of a conversation about talking with children about social justice.

1.     Model optimism. Practice empathy.  Demonstrate involvement.

2.     Choose the language of justice when you talk about people. Use the words just, unjust, fair, bias, stereotype, prejudice, citizen, et cetera.

3.     Discuss newspaper articles with your children.

4.     Ask questions that provoke empathy (for example, “I wonder where that man will sleep tonight.”)            

5.     Talk about how you contribute your time, skills or money to causes you support.

6.     Talk about history. Talk about your life. Connect your life to history.

7.     Talk about stereotypes in books and movies. Point them out as you read or watch DVDs or television.

8.     Go to a political rally with your child.

9.     Write a letter to someone about an issue you care about. Talk about what you are writing and why. Talk about who will read the letter. Model involvement.

10. Create a place for “activism” in your household. Involve your child in establishing household “policies” (bedtime, bath time, story time rituals, for example).