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Poll

Teaching Tolerance

 America’s melting pot continues to blend into a unique cultural and living experience for all of us.  How do you teach your kids to value and be tolerant of differences?


Understand what tolerance is about.  Tolerance refers to an attitude of openness and respect for the differences that exist among people. Although originally used to refer to ethnic and religious differences, the concepts of diversity and tolerance can also be applied to gender, people with physical and intellectual disabilities, and other differences, too.  Tolerance means respecting and learning from others, valuing differences, bridging cultural gaps, rejecting unfair stereotypes, discovering common ground, and creating new bonds. Tolerance, in many ways, is the opposite of prejudice.  But does tolerance mean that all behaviors have to be accepted? No, of course not.  Tolerance is about accepting people for who they are — not about accepting bad behavior.

Like many important lessons in life, tolerance is taught in subtle ways.  Even before your kids can speak they are learning from you about how to treat others.  Kids of all ages develop their own values, in great part, by mirroring the values and attitudes of those they care about.  Parents' attitudes about respecting others are often so much a part of them that they rarely even think about it. They teach those attitudes simply by being themselves and living their values. Parents who demonstrate (or model) tolerance in their everyday lives send a powerful message.  Their children learn how to appreciate differences too. 

You can also teach tolerance in other ways.  Parents who want to help their kids value diversity can be sensitive to cultural stereotypes they may have learned and make an effort to correct them. Demonstrate an attitude of respect for others.  Remember that your kids are always listening.  Don’t make jokes that perpetuate stereotypes.  Point out and talk about unfair ways differences are portrayed in the media.  Select books, toys, music, art, and videos carefully. Keep in mind the powerful effect the media and pop culture have on shaping attitudes.  Learn together about holiday and religious celebrations that are not part of your own tradition.   Remember that tolerance doesn’t mean tolerating unacceptable behavior.  It means everyone deserves to be treated with respect and should treat others with respect as well. 

Source: kidshealth.org