Dr. Guo in the Media

3 Practical Tips on Starting Difficult Conversations with our Children

Initially, the topic was about giving parents advice on how to talk about Xenophobia and Anti-Asian sentiments due to the Coronavirus. But now, more than ever, in the larger social context, we need to be more proactive about talking to our children about race. Experts recommend acknowledging and naming race and racism with children as early as possible.

I understand this conversation may be challenging for some, so my 3 practical tips on how to approach this conversation (and other difficult conversations) are the 3 A's:

Acknowledge - "I've noticed a lot of hate/racism on the news, in the community, etc"

Ask - "Have you noticed or experienced it? How do you feel about it? What do your friends say about it? What do you think?"

Affirm - "I think this is an important topic that we should discuss as a family. If it's ever on your mind, or if it ever bothers you, it's okay, and I would like you to talk to me about it."

By doing this, we set the stage and create a safe space for ongoing dialogue for this (and many other) difficult subject as it pops up throughout our life. We want to be there for our children and each other. Racism can be incredibly divisive and isolating, and by creating this safe space, our children will not have to process it or endure it alone, and it will increase the likelihood that we can learn about it and fight racism together.