Drawing attention to differences D&D

I turned on Barney for my daughter yesterday, and they were talking about how everyone was special, regardless of skin color, hair and eye color, etc. It actually made me really uncomfortable because I don't think my daughter has ever noticed or thought about people looking different, despite living in a really diverse area and having a diverse group of friends.

Do you think drawing attention to physical differences before a child notices on their own does more harm than good? Clearly they have good intentions but I can't help but think if we didn't teach these things, people wouldn't care nearly as much.

I think if my niece had been positively and gently introduced to people's differences, she wouldn't go around asking people why they are brown and whatnot.

I think it is a good thing. Like when we see someone with a fake leg or a deformed hand. DD will ask me about it and I tell her what it is and that it doesn't make them any different. They are teaching them that it is okay to be different and that is a good thing

Meh, I think even when it's unspoken a child is not stupid, they will see a difference and something like this might answer any questions they may have (within themselves). It's teaching them not to think or wonder or worry why this or that isn't the same. That all is good in the hood   That's my .02 anyway.

Kids notice, even if they aren't saying anything. My daughter notices, so we just talk about it. I don't see the big deal. People look different, it is what it is. There's no better, or no wrong, just different. She's has a friend with very dark skin, and she's expressed multiple times that she wishes her skin was that dark, too. *shrugs*

Quoting Blythe.:" I think it is a good thing. Like when we see someone with a fake leg or a deformed hand. DD will ask ... [snip!] ... is and that it doesn't make them any different. They are teaching them that it is okay to be different and that is a good thing"

If she asks, I wouldn't ever have an issue answering. I was just thinking that she still doesn't categorize people, and it seems like that would encourage that.

Quoting Danielle: Jack&Basil'sMom:" I think if my niece had been positively and gently introduced to people's differences, she wouldn't go around asking people why they are brown and whatnot."

lol. My son has been told many times and yet he still does that kind of stuff. He is 5 and a half now. lol.

Quoting the grace life:" Kids notice, even if they aren't saying anything. My daughter notices, so we just talk about it. I don't ... [snip!] ... has a friend with very dark skin, and she's expressed multiple times that she wishes her skin was that dark, too. *shrugs* "

I guess I expect that she notices, but she doesn't seem to think anything of it, if that makes sense.

Quoting Yurvette [♥]:" lol. My son has been told many times and yet he still does that kind of stuff. He is 5 and a half now. lol. "

I think that's something to be admired, lol. I love how my daughter can just walk up to whomever and ask all sorts of questions and not feel ashamed of her curiosity. People discourage that sort of thing because they think it's rude but I just let it be because most of the time, people do not mind answering questions like that for children.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Chim Richalds:</b>" If she asks, I wouldn't ever have an issue answering. I was just thinking that she still doesn't categorize people, and it seems like that would encourage that."</blockquote>


But categorizing thm isn't the issue. Discriminating is.
There are obvious differences among people. I'm sure it doesn't go unnoticed by her. This just teaches her that those differences aren't bad and that everyone is different.

Quoting Mayhem ♥:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Chim Richalds:</b>" If she asks, I wouldn't ever have an issue ... [snip!] ... sure it doesn't go unnoticed by her. This just teaches her that those differences aren't bad and that everyone is different."

I guess that is good to teach her. Among the kids she plays with most days, she is the minority, so maybe even for her own self esteem.

Thanks for the input  .

<blockquote><b>Quoting Chim Richalds:</b>" I guess that is good to teach her. Among the kids she plays with most days, she is the minority, so maybe even for her own self esteem."</blockquote>

Right. Or even for reassurance, if anyone ever points out to her that she's the different one, KWIM?

i dont think its a bad thing,its good to teach kids about differences
i cant count how many times ive had small kids walk up to me and ask why i have a fake leg or what it is etc
ive also had embarrassed parents apologize to me for their kids asking questions

i think its good for kids to learn about all the differences of people

Quoting Chim Richalds:" I guess I expect that she notices, but she doesn't seem to think anything of it, if that makes sense."

Yea. I guess I just wanted to immediately make those difference a positive thing. My daughter mentioned it before I did though, mostly because I didn't even think about it. We were in Target and she just goes, "Mom, what are those two dark black guys doing?" I was just like....uhh, shopping? lol. So, we had a conversation about everything.