Kids are more accepting than we give them credit for

Mums often put themselves under unnecessary stress when it comes to how to handle situations when their kid meets a person who is different from them. However, it’s time we gave our sons and daughters the credit that they deserve, and perhaps learn a thing or two from them in the process.

 

Recently while out and about catching up on family-time with my seven-year-old, we came across an exhibition titled, Here I Am, in the local park. The project celebrated the unique personalities of children with Down Syndrome in Ireland and aimed to change the perception of people with DS.

 

I’ll admit that the first thing I noticed about the youngsters, before I'd gotten close enough to understand what was going on, was that they all had Down Syndrome.

 

However, I can proudly say that, much to my daughter’s credit, not once did she ask why the children looked different or what was wrong with them. To her they were kids and all she wanted to know was why there were giant posters in the park!

 

 

 

 

It was this little comment which made me realise that we definitely don’t give kids the credit they deserve in terms of accepting others. Yes, they question things but their interest is based on curiosity rather than judgement and should be encouraged not dissuaded.

 

Black or white, tall or small, able-bodied or not, kids tend not to see differences - all they see is a new friend.

 

To me, discrimination is not something that a child is born with, but rather is something that they learn through their own parents or their surrounding environment.

 

And while kids can and will ask awkward questions that can leave you feeling red-faced, it’s not their curiosity that is wrong but rather your need to shush them and stop them asking.  

 

So the next time you pass a person with a disability and your child asks what’s wrong, don’t hush them; instead answer their questions and, if possible, say hello to that person.

 

Your child looks to you to be their role model, so be the best one you can be.

 

Mary Byrne is a staff writer at MummyPages and mum to a horse-crazy, sports-mad, seven-year-old girl.

 

image via Pinterest