With a worldwide pandemic, protests, and riots happening around the world and in our immediate communities, our lives have forever changed. Many adults are challenged to understand the indescribable, now imagine you’re an impressionable 5-year-old seeing what’s happening on the news, or 15-year-old seeing this on Snapchat. How do you explain this to them? Several of our students have reached out to us regarding the recent riots and concerns viewed on social media posts in our community. In response to student voice, it is important that we not only respond to our students with resources, but also our families as well. We will continue to supply information regarding racial supports for families. The American Psychological Association has resources for parents to openly discussion on race, below please find links to several of their resources.  

• Racial Stress and Self Care: Parent Tip Tool https://www.apa.org/res/parent-resources/racial-stress 
• Reading and RES: Parent Tip Tool: Choosing and Using Books to Discuss Race and Ethnicity https://www.apa.org/res/parent-resources/reading 
• Engaging My Child: Parent Tip Tool: https://www.apa.org/res/parent-resources/engaging-my-child 
• Books about Race and Ethnicity recommended by American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/res/parent-resources/books 
• Click here for a list of Anti-Racism Book Resources

Additional Books on race and diversity for children: 

• Whose Toes are Those by Jabari Asim 
• Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester 
• Lovely by Jess Hong 
• Sugar Plum Ballerinas by Whoopi Goldberg 
• A Kids Book about Racism by Jelani Memory 

Additionally, below is a series of blog posts that the American Psychological Association (APA) has published regarding racial/ethnic socialization practices, programs, and approaches. 

• https://psychologybenefits.org/2017/07/26/but-daddy-why-was-he-shot-how-to-talk-to-children-about-race-today/ 
• https://psychologybenefits.org/2017/11/29/shall-we-dance-how-parents-can-work-together-to-teach-kids-about-race/ 
• https://psychologybenefits.org/2018/06/29/children-are-not-colorblind-4-ways-to-talk-to-young-children-about-race/