The Importance of Inclusion

When there is so much upheaval going on in the world today that is tearing people with differences apart, teaching our children to be inclusive is of the essence. Kids aren’t born knowing about differences and intolerance, they only learn such concepts and behavior from their environment. While it is good to understand that all people are unique and have different beliefs and ways of life, what bonds us is that we are all human beings.

There will always be people in this world who do terrible or troubling things and are unkind to others, but for the most part, when understood, humans simply want to be included. This begins at an early age, so as parents, it is vital to instill values into the minds of our youth about treating others as we’d like to be treated.

Fitting In

When youngsters are in school or daycare, oftentimes there is a child or two who is left out. They are not asked to partake in play with the others, and usually there isn’t a good reason for this. Lots of kids are impressionable and follow the lead of the ones who are more outspoken. If one popular child decides to exclude a particular child, others may unfortunately follow suit, so they fit in too.

Teach your child to lead by example and include this child with the rest of the bunch. This child may be too shy to speak up or not have the nerve to step in on their own confidently. It may not be easy, but your child will feel proud of themselves knowing that they can make a difference in another’s life. And as kids get older, they will appreciate the gesture and hopefully become more caring and inclusive as well.

We may never live in a world of perfect harmony, but if we start teaching children when they are small that all people are important and have something beneficial to add to the world, better communication and relationships have the chance to form and flourish.

Reaching Out

Talk to your child about reaching out and including those kids who are not part of the group. No matter what they look like, how many friends they have, or if they have anything in common. They may not turn out to be the best of friends, but at least there was an effort of kindness presented. This can change a child’s life forever.

How do you teach your children to be more inclusive in a world of barriers and even hatred, some may suggest? Our kids are our future, and without their compassion, we’ll only grow further apart.

For more information like this, please visit All My Children’s blogs.

By: Melissa A. Kay