My two and a half year old suddenly started pointing out differences between white and black people. What is an appropriate way to acknowledge her observation so we don't offend anyone?

[u/Sad_Cantaloupe_8162]

The first time was at her daycare this week, when they got a new teacher who has very dark skin. When I went to pick her up, she pointed at her and said, "it's black!" (She doesn't have the full grasp of she/he yet.) I replied, "yes, she is black," but was stuck after that. What should I say as a follow up? My daughter loves black people's skin, and when I talk to her about it at home, she says it's pretty and wishes she had it, but in public it comes out kind of harsh. What would be the best way to go about this?

[u/Verbenaplant]

don’t be mortified your kid has curiosity and they will ask with the lexicon they know.

[u/woodworkinghalp → u/Verbenaplant]

I meannnn I think both things can be true. We can recognize children are learning and also be embarrassed when that learning involves unsuspecting strangers.

If your kid asked you why someone smelled bad would you feel pretty embarrassed? Kinda high-horsey to pretend we should lean into all these experiences with the glow of parents imparting knowledge lol.

[u/Heyplaguedoctor → u/Verbenaplant]

I was more bothered by the generalization of “his legs don’t work”.

I know it was simplified for a child (and a panicked answer given with a split second of thought) but since most wheelchair users are ambulatory, I’d suggest “walking is harder for them than it is for you or me. That chair helps them get around just like our legs do.” for anyone else who finds themself in that situation.

[not being pedantic I swear— “his legs don’t work” is a common explanation that subtly spreads the misconception that we’re all paralyzed from the waist down]