How do we teach our children 'tolerance'

[Michele]

when many people are so intolerant of things and people that defy what we believe to be "normal?"

Is tolerance the right word? What about acceptance?

[April]

I think tolerance is a good word. To me, tolerance means you don't have to like or accept it, you just acknowledge someone's right to their actions, thoughts, beliefs.
I try to teach my kids tolerance by exposing them to different types of people. My children have been around people of all races, religions, and sexual orientations and I think that has helped prevent them from forming prejudices and stereotypes.

[Slabobbin]

That's a great question. It is something I am facing because I live in a very small, very intolerant town in the south. I WANT to expose my son to all types of people but I can't find them in order to do that. :lol

I am 27 years old and I, to my knowledge, have never met a person of another religion (Jewish, Morman, etc.) other than Christian and Pagan (and that is because I myself am Pagan and have a RL friend that I met online who is Pagan). I don't know a single person of another race (although we do come into contact with people of other races but sadly it is only at restaruants and while shopping).

So how do I expose my son? I feel like a fraud to go out specifically looking for people of other races, religions, etc. JUST so I can expose my son to them. lol But I have a hard time making friends the way it is, so I just don't see myself all of a sudden having a wide, diverse group of friends.

I just know that I do NOT want him to be an ignorant, narrow minded, homophobic, racist, ass like most of the people around here, lol.

[kingclick]

when many people are so intolerant of things and people that defy what we believe to be "normal?"

Is tolerance the right word? What about acceptance?
I hate the term "tolerance" because it implies that I am being put out by having these people around.

I tolerate pain. I tolerate nausea. I tolerate a long flight. I tolerate a screaming baby.

I should not just be TOLERATING gays, or blacks or whites or chinese or Jews or Protestants or Catholics. I should be accepting of them. Acknowledging our differences and move on. Tolerance temporary.

[Slabobbin]

That is an excellent point KD.

[Michele]

I hate the term "tolerance" because it implies that I am being put out by having these people around.

I tolerate pain. I tolerate nausea. I tolerate a long flight. I tolerate a screaming baby.

I should not just be TOLERATING gays, or blacks or whites or chinese or Jews or Protestants or Catholics. I should be accepting of them. Acknowledging our differences and move on. Tolerance temporary.

Kudos! That was why I asked if that was the right word. It's thrown around so freely and has always bugged me. Acceptance bothers me as well. Like I am accepting that someone is a minority or gay. Ugh!

What word do we use? How do you teach tolerance if it is such a "bad" word? In my head I know what I am trying to ask. LOL

People put themselves into groups: minorities, christians, gays, etc. Therefore, they are labeled as different than" other people. And thus needing acceptance. kwim?

[kingclick]

I don't see a problem with acceptance.

I accept a job. I accept a bad day of weather...

It implies a sense of "ok". "I'm alright with it."

[RogueAngel]

Hmmm, you know is a good question I think. To be honest, I don't think I thought about teaching my children in those exact terms. I taught them kindness. So far it has worked and I have seen very little acknowledgement if any at all of other peoples differences.

[Demona]

Teach them by being accepting yourself. I don't think you have to be pro-active about it, except to vocally disapprove when your child observes intolerance.

[Tuba Dude]

when many people are so intolerant of things and people that defy what we believe to be "normal?"

Is tolerance the right word? What about acceptance?

I think that it could be as simple as, from the start, don't expose them to prejudice. Through their toddler years, through elementary school, reinforce the idea that everybody is equal. Talk to them about people with different beliefs, different looks, different races.

[mom2burgess]

I really want to teach my kids that reguardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation, they are all PEOPLE. You don't have to like the choices that people make, but you do have to respect the choices that they make in life. You don't have to agree with them, but you have to respect them. I really try not to differentiate things, like saying " see, right next to that black guy over there" but rather, " see, next to that guy wearing the red shirt by the flowers" or soemthing like that. By pointing out that he is a different color, makes the children(more) aware of that fact IMO.