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Loading...7 Tips for Building Tolerance in Children
- Sara, from Institute of HeartMath
- March 11, 2012
- 10:00 am
- 94 comments
Intolerance is a thread that weaves its way through human relations until it is broken by those who can look into each other’s hearts without prejudice and fear. Our race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, culture, politics, economic standing, where we live, how we dress, what we eat and much more can elicit the antipathy of those who are intolerant of people who appear different from them or conduct their lives differently. The lives destroyed and people whose happiness and well-being have been stolen by acts of intolerance number in the countless millions.
“Both research and experience with young children indicate that children notice differences in people from a surprisingly early age,” early childhood consultant and author Anne Stonehouse notes in her article, Helping Children Learn Tolerance. “Whether it is skin colour (sic), voices, hair texture, size, or other aspects of appearance, they note them, try to understand and experience them, and sooner or later accept them.”
Many people would contend that the seeds of intolerance are sown in children either for the reasons noted above or, equally important, because they were never taught to be tolerant by those who care for them.
If children are never taught or influenced to be intolerant, the chances are, Stonehouse and others would argue, they learn to accept people who are different from them. However, children who are exposed to prejudice and are never taught to be accepting of others certainly are at great risk of growing up to be intolerant.
The cultures of virtually all societies throughout history provide ample evidence of people learning intolerance at a young age, through the influence of parents, older siblings or relatives, friends, neighbors, teachers, etc.
A lack of emotional self-management and understanding our own feelings also can breed intolerance. Too often, adults and children deflect taking responsibility for feelings of hurt or disappointment by judging and blaming others. This perpetuates intolerance and even hate. Teaching children tolerance starts with adult modeling emotional responsibility and tolerance for others. Teaching children tools and skills for emotional self-management, compassion and understanding of others is the next step. Tolerance is a sensitive subject that parents need to discuss honestly and openly with their children.
Up Next – 7 Tips
Read more: Children, Emotional Genius, Family, Friendship, Global Healing, Guidance, Inspiration, Life, Mental Wellness, News & Issues, Self-Help, Spirit, Stress, Teens, The Celebrate Your Life Series, Anne Stonehouse, Building Tolerance in Children, Children, coherent heart, compassion, diversity, Dr Timothy Culbert, heart coherence, HeartMath, Institute of HeartMath, Jeff Goelitz, Managing Stress, Quick Coherence, Shift & Shine, stress, teens, The Heart Shift Tool, tolerance
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Sara, from Institute of HeartMath
Sara Childre is President and CEO of the non-profit Institute of HeartMath. Since 1991, Sara has helped oversee and develop HeartMath trainings, educational products and scientific programs. She was appointed vice president and CFO of the institute in 1992, then president and CEO in 1998.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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94 comments
+ add your ownI taught my children to celebrate ALL cultures. Didn't put people in separate categories. The world is beautiful due to the unique contributions of ALL people. Hate breeds Hate.
Info is implausible, I would want to see more and more from your writers.
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THANKS FOR SHARING ... especially the links
Good info, thanks, re-shared!
We can only teach acceptance of others by being an example!
the only problem is there are so many intolerant parents teaching their kids intolerance
This is a wonderful article and reminds me of my mother's memory of the first time I, as a young child, discovered/ realized that people are different colors. I asked her, "Mom, what color am I?" She said it was the sweetest, most innocent question, and I believe to this day that her response to my question made ALL the difference in how I began to formulate my understanding of peoples' differences.
I also give a lot of credit to having grown up withe Sesame Street in the 80s. :)
Helpful article
Helpful article. Thank you very much
Helpful article. Thank you very much
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