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Teaching Tolerance to Kids – getting their hearts right

Tolerance. It is something that I believe we need to teach our children. It has been something I have taught (though different units of work) when in the classroom. Tolerance is also something I am working on with my girls. We need it. We live in a diverse society. No two people are fully the same (not even identical twins!).

Tolerance is an important aspect of our children’s social and emotional development. They listen to and learn from us, so it is important that we are modeling and showing tolerance in our own lives. 

We are a tight group of friends showing diversity

WHAT IS TOLERANCE?

Tolerance is the capacity and ability to accept differences in others. And these differences might be age, sex, religion, nationality and culture, etc. They may also revolve around beliefs.

I have heard too often from children in my classrooms or other situations, “Oh they are dumb!” or “That’s stupid!” and there is no willingness to see that there might be another side to it, or it is just simply a difference. 

Some of these differences are easily seen – like limb differences or the color of skin. Some are not – like religion or nationality. But whether or not we can see them, we need to teach tolerance.

person with prosthetic limb

WHY TEACH TOLERANCE?

I think I can sum that up in one sentence – because we want to raise children who become kind and wonderful adults. I know I don’t want my girls to be jerks when they are older. 


STRATEGIES TO TEACH TOLERANCE

There are some easy things we can do to teach tolerance. If we make it part of our lives, it is easy to instill.

Lead by example

Children learn a lot by observing the behavior of adults around them. Model tolerant behavior by being respectful and accepting of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs.

Encourage empathy

Help children understand and empathize with others by encouraging them to see things from different perspectives. Teach them to consider how others might feel in different situations.

boy holding paper dolls showing diversity to teach tolerance

Celebrate diversity 

Expose children to diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives through books, movies, music, and other media. Encourage them to appreciate and learn about different ways of life.

Encourage open communication

Create a safe and open environment where children feel comfortable discussing their thoughts, feelings, and questions about differences. Encourage them to ask questions and engage in conversations about diversity.

Teach conflict resolution

Help children learn how to resolve conflicts peacefully and respectfully. Teach them effective communication skills, problem-solving strategies, and the importance of compromise.

Promote inclusivity

Encourage children to include others who may be different from them in activities and social settings. Teach them the value of making everyone feel welcome and included.

Address stereotypes and prejudices

Talk to children about stereotypes and prejudices, and help them understand how harmful these attitudes can be. Encourage critical thinking and help children challenge stereotypes they may encounter.

Encourage critical thinking

Teach children to think critically about the information they receive and to question stereotypes and biases. Encourage them to seek out diverse perspectives and form their own opinions.

Celebrate individuality

Help children understand that it’s okay to be different and that diversity enriches our lives. Encourage them to embrace their own uniqueness and appreciate the uniqueness of others.

Cute little girl holding bunch of internetional flags and smiling at camera, happy preteen female child wearing eyeglasses enjoying study foreign languages, standing on pink background

Provide opportunities for cultural exchange

Encourage children to participate in activities that expose them to different cultures, such as cultural festivals, language classes, or community events.


In the next post I will look some great books that teach about tolerance. It truly is a gift we can give to our kids.

We can also teach compassion. Why not check out this post!

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