Talking Race With Young Children

Whether it's mini-makeup kits, gross-smelling slime or semi-automatic foam-dart guns, every parent or caregiver has fielded requests for toys that they're just not that into. Here's when you should worry. 

Even the most amicable split is world-changing for young children. Here are a few key tips for grown-ups trying to help their kids navigate this big transition. 

Actress Sonia Manzano is beloved by millions as Maria on Sesame Street. Her character on TV mirrored many of Manzano's real-life milestones, like marriage and motherhood (Elmo served as ring bearer for Maria's wedding on the show). She also wrote for Sesame Street in later years, ... Show More

Navigating conversations with kids around race and racism can be tricky. Here's what to think about while talking to kids about the rise in anti-Asian attacks and the shootings in Atlanta earlier this month. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices N ... Show More

Gene Demby and comedian Hari Kondabolu are both new fathers, and they're both learning to raise kids who will have very different identities and upbringings than their own. It's left both of them reflecting on some big questions: How will they teach their children about race? Wha ... Show More

Contributor(s): Dr Beverly Daniel Tatum | Walk into any racially mixed secondary school and you will see young people clustered in their own groups according to race. Is this self-segregation a problem to address or a coping strategy? Beverly Daniel Tatum guides us through how ra ... Show More

De nombreux parents sont dans une situation de multiculturalité, ils ont des origines culturelles différentes, ne parlent pas toujours la même langue. Cette situation suscite bien souvent de nombreuses questions : comment faire vivre chacune des cultures ? Que transmettre à l’enf ... Show More

Adults often find it really hard to talk about race. But kids? Maybe not so much. NPR received more than 2,000 entries in this year's Student Podcast Challenge, and we heard from young people all over the country about how they're thinking about race and identity in these trying ... Show More

Through coos and cries, babbles and thbbbbts, babies are learning how to communicate from the earliest days of life. Language development is a magical opportunity to watch a child learn to engage with both you and the world. It also feels highly consequential, and for so many par ... Show More

How can we practice anti-racism as a family? We feel a special responsibility to address this topic thoughtfully with you and your children beginning with this episode of Ear Snacks for Parents. In conversation with Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Shepherd of Alphabet Rockers, we think a ... Show More

A lot of us are angry right now, with good reason. We’re seeing people treated unfairly because of racism -- that’s when people don’t like someone’s race or the color of their skin. In this episode we’ll talk about how anger can be a useful emotion and can be used to push for cha ... Show More

Sex, genitals, consent, self-touching — it's tricky to talk to younger kids about these topics. This episode helps parents get past the confusion and embarrassment around sex education so they can raise healthy, responsible kids. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastc ... Show More

When did you know you wanted kids? Some of us are still waiting for that moment, and that’s okay. After reading a recent article about how friendships are affected when a child is introduced, Gwenna and Tori wanted to open a conversation about how society's mindset towards childr ... Show More