Are you a parent, caregiver, or educator who wants to help children become brave justice seekers? Subscribe for practical tips, children's book recommendations, and resources for antiracist families and classrooms.
A reader requested book list
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Hi Reader, About a month ago, a newsletter reader asked me if I could recommend any books for her preschooler about the history of residential schools for Indigenous children. This is a topic I'd been thinking about addressing, and her email prompted me to pull together a blog post of books about this painful history in both Canada and the United States. You may not be familiar with the residential school era (usually called the boarding school era in the U.S.). This was a period of over 100 years when both Canada and the U.S. forced tribal nations and Indigenous families to send their children to schools that attempted to strip them of their cultures. Many children, including kids who were quite young, were only able to see their families during the summers. At the schools their long hair was cut off, children had to throw away their traditional clothes, and they were forbidden from speaking their Indigenous languages. Physical abuse, malnutrition, and poor health were everyday experiences for many children. I was shocked to learn that by 1925, approximately 83% of Indigenous children in the U.S. were enrolled in boarding schools. Talking about this topic is not easy, but it is important history for Canadians and Americans to acknowledge and learn from. There are many age-appropriate books that can help you talk with preschoolers through high schoolers about it. Head to my blog post on books for young people about the residential schools for Indigenous children. You'll find:
Especially with Orange Shirt Day approaching on September 30th, now is an ideal time to read one of these books. Orange Shirt Day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is observed most often in Canada, but people in the U.S. are also starting to take part in larger numbers. Sending you good courage, Rebekah Rebekah Gienapp (she/her/hers) | rebekahgienapp.com | Connect on Instagram | Coffees for Gaza | Knit 4 Justice |
Raising antiracist kids
Are you a parent, caregiver, or educator who wants to help children become brave justice seekers? Subscribe for practical tips, children's book recommendations, and resources for antiracist families and classrooms.
Hi Reader, I'm currently taking a class on Teaching about Native Americans from Kelly Reagan Tudor. We're spending the first three class identifying and countering stereotypes about Native Americans (including stereotypes that seem positive) because they are so commonplace. One of the statistics that Kelly shared with us is that forty percent of adults believe that Native Americans no longer exist. While this number is jaw-dropping, that mistaken belief is communicated often to children. For...
Hi Reader, Figuring out how to talk to kids about racism isn't easy. A lot of times when adults try, we only talk about the words and actions of individual people. It can be easy for kids to get the false impression that racism is just something “mean people” do. No matter what age children are, caregivers and educators can help them understand that racism is also about systemic injustice. One definition of racism I use with younger kids explains that racism is about patterns - it's all the...
Hi Reader, There are just 20 days left until the midterm elections, but that's plenty of time to do a few voting related activities at home or in your classroom. Been thinking about getting my Past and Present Fights for Voting Rights Activity Pack for Kids and Teens? Save 20% for one week only! Here are four activities to try at home, and four activities to try in the classroom. A star next to the activity indicates that my voting rights pack has resources to help. Activities to try at home...