- 7 Things to Do When Your Kid Points Out Someone’s Differences by Rachel Garlinghouse
- Talking With Children About Racism, Police Brutality and Protests by Laura Markham
- 6 Things White Parents Can Do to Raise Racially Conscious Children by Bree Ervin
- How to Talk to Little Girls by Lisa Bloom
Resources for Girl Scouts
How to Talk to Your Girl Scout About Racial Equality
We at GSHCC acknowledge that in a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist (Angela Y. Davis). This is why we created a one-stop shop of articles, books, videos, podcast episodes, and other resources to help you in your conversations with your Girl Scouts.
Protests and outcries against institutional racism can prompt questions from your Girl Scout. It can be challenging to know how to navigate these valid queries in a way that is both mindful and age appropriate. We want to ensure you have the resources you need to have honest conversations with your Girl Scout about civic action, social justice, protesting, and racial inequality.
It is important to have an open and honest dialogue with your Girl Scout about why race-related protests occur. Even if your Girl Scout is young, she is capable of empathy. Jacqueline Dougé, M.D., a pediatrician and child health advocate based in Maryland, suggests starting with the following statement: “There are things happening in the news that are upsetting us. Unfortunately, there were police officers that made bad choices for the wrong reasons because of the color of our skin.” There are many more experts like Dougé who can help guide adults through these difficult conversations, especially with younger children. Children as young at 6 months can illustrate racial bias -- these conversations can never start too early.
Make sure your home library is packed with stories centered around black protagonists. Christine Taylor-Butler, author of the The Lost Tribes Series, wrote: “I want stories about kids in a pumpkin patch, and kids in an art museum,” she said. “Not only do we want our kids to read, but we want white kids to see — we’re not the people you’re afraid of.”
We hope this list is a helpful start, and we hope you enjoy some of our personal favorite videos and stories.
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How to Approach Conversations (for adults)
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Books
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Videos
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Podcasts
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Articles
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Activities
GSUSA also offers advice for caregivers wanting to help children take action against racism.
This resource list is just the beginning of what GSHCC hopes to intertwine in all aspects of our work. If you have a favorite story you’d like us to add to this list, we’d love to hear it. Storytelling is an incredible bridge towards building Girl Scouts who lead with empathy.