https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 00:07:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-your-lo-tolerance#post-1100184 Fri, 20 Sep 2013 06:46:53 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1100184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm glad someone mentioned Todd Parr. His books are great for younger children. This topic came fairly naturally for us since so many aspects of our lives model how normal different families are. Lala's best little guy friend is biracial and has two white dads, her aunt dates women, her sister is adopted and multiracial, and we have birth parents in our lives.</p> <p>It's never been a big topic of discussion because it is so normal. So we answer questions as they come up and we've been known to reinforce different family structures. So I'll say "some families have two moms, some families have two dads, and some families have a mom and a dad" and the response I get is something like, " I know that mom.". Very much a non issue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-your-lo-tolerance#post-1100154 Fri, 20 Sep 2013 06:22:07 +0000 Cherrybee 1100154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the key is to spend time with a diverse range of people and treat everything as normal. I mean, you don't have to teach kids that some people have dogs like us, some people have cats, sone people have fish and some people have no pets. They just see it and accept it at face value....</p> <p>I grew up in a very deprived area; there were only a handful of white children in my year at primary school - most of the kids were Indian/ Pakistani/ Bangladeshi - and I was the only white kid with two parents! Nobody had to "teach" me that families came in different shapes and sizes because they just did! So Claire only had a mummy and an older brother with different coloured skin - normal. Carly lived with her foster parents sometimes and her dad other times - normal. Ravinder celebrated Diwali but we didn't - normal. Fazana wore a head scarf but Bina didn't - normal. Gemma's dad wasn't her real dad and she called him Steve - normal. I had a mummy and a daddy but no brothers and sisters - normal. </p> <p>My early school career was awesome! A lot of people look down on my old school (results wise its not so good) but the experiences I had there set me up for life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-your-lo-tolerance#post-1100092 Fri, 20 Sep 2013 02:14:39 +0000 lamariniere 1100092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not a lot of advice, but I just treat every situation like it is completely normal. My best friend is gay and has a partner. They came to visit us this summer and for DS, who is 2.5, we didn't explain anything too in depth. We don't really know any other "alternative" families, but I would never make a big deal out of it if we did. If we did meet, say, a 2-mom family, I think my reaction would just be to affirm it, "yep, X has two moms". I think that part of tolerance is not getting hung up on differences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-your-lo-tolerance#post-1099803 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 20:57:35 +0000 mrsbookworm 1099803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you ask the childrens' librarian at your public library, I'm sure they would provide you with a booklist. They can let you know what books they have, but also give you a more comprehensive list if you want to purchase your own books. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-your-lo-tolerance#post-1099750 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 20:44:44 +0000 immabeetoo 1099750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: I meant our personal library, ha! These are the ones that come to my mind at the moment but I'm sure there are more out there -</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Big-Book-Families/dp/0803735162" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Big-Book-Families/dp/0803735162</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Family-Book-Todd-Parr/dp/0316070408" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/The-Family-Book-Todd-Parr/dp/0316070408</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Everywhere-Babies-Susan-Meyers/dp/0152053158/" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Everywhere-Babies-Susan-Meyers/dp/0152053158/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-your-lo-tolerance#post-1099419 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 19:21:37 +0000 deerylou 1099419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: Do you have any favorite library books that depict nontraditional families? I'm curious. </p> <p>And yes, I work with elementary kiddos. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-your-lo-tolerance#post-1099413 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 19:20:14 +0000 immabeetoo 1099413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: LO is not an older child - but we talk about this. I think the #1 most important thing is to demonstrate tolerance and vocalize it - "X has two moms, have you met them? isn't that cool that families are different?" Kids parrot what they hear their parents say -- as I'm sure you know since I think you've read that you work with kids professionally :) We've also strived to get books into our library that depict different types of families and races. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-your-lo-tolerance#post-1099406 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 19:17:36 +0000 Silva 1099406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think books are always a great way to get a topic started. And then you can ask questions after, too deepen the conversation. And maybe paying attention to heteronormative toys, like doll house families...?<br /> I'm off to research books now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/teaching-your-lo-tolerance#post-1099379 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 19:11:19 +0000 deerylou 1099379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With lots of recent talk about about non-traditional family units, I've started thinking about tolerance, and how we instill those values in our children. </p> <p>Growing up in the public school system, I don't remember being exposed to many children with two mothers, or two fathers. Heck, I believe I made my first friend with divorced parents in junior high school. I don't think I ever knew anyone who was adopted or conceived into a single parent home. My, how times have changed!</p> <p>Now that I work in the public school system, it's awesome to see so many different types of families! Twin boys being raised by two moms, a little girl being raised by her uncle, who she considers "daddy". </p> <p>It's so important to me for DD to start school knowing that not every family looks like her own. I don't want her to be shocked if some of her friends get dropped off by two fathers, or only have a mommy at home. Not only do I want to instill her with tolerance, acceptance, and love, but it's my hope that *every* child is empowered to feel proud of their family, no matter what. </p> <p>We are still a long way off from starting school, so I'm curious how parents of older children have or plan to approach this, if at all (i.e. a conversation, role playing, a storybook dealing with the topic, etc). </p>