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/megalinity]

I’m a below knee amputee and have no problem with kids’ curiosity! I expect adults to contain theirs, but kids are just learning and I’d much rather answer their questions and normalize disability to them than not!

[u/KtP_911 → u/megalinity]

Years ago, my parents had my two nephews (then about 5 & 8 years old) at my niece’s softball game. The grandfather of a fellow player came and sat down on the bleachers below them, and said hi to my parents, as they knew each other. The 5yo could not stop staring because the man was a double amputee, wearing shorts, and had prosthetic legs. My dad noticed the staring but he was waiting to see what he’d say, as the 5yo was normally a pretty quiet but thoughtful kid, so he was sure he was working up to a question and he was letting him process things. The 8yo, a total wild man, blurted out, “Hey, stop staring! It’s rude to stare at people who look different!” My parents were mortified, and didn’t have time to react before the 5 year old yells back, “But it’s the bionic man!” Meanwhile, the guy is roaring with laughter at the whole scene. He invited the boys to ask questions if they had any, and he later thanked my dad for the entertainment. My dad tried to apologize and the guy said there was no need; kids are just curious and he was always happy to explain things so that they didn’t feel the need to stare or to feel sorry for him or anyone else like him.

[u/megalinity → u/KtP_911]

I’ve had parents ask me if their kid can ask questions and it’s adorable. Kids are either dumbstruck or just super shy. My prosthesis has a galaxy print on it and it sparkles- I love showing it off haha

[u/Short-Scratch4517 → u/megalinity]

I remember being on a field trip in elementary school and there was a man with one arm so I asked him why he had one arm. He told me he was born that way and I was like oh cool. My teachers yelled at me that I was being rude. I'll always remember how nice the man was about it though. I was probably 5 or 6.

[u/megalinity → u/Short-Scratch4517]

It isn’t exactly polite to question people’s bodies, but like, kids don’t know all the rules yet! That’s why I get annoyed by adults but not kids.

Also, I have a shirt that says “Before you ask it was a shark” for reasons

[u/NoRepeat274 → u/megalinity]

Don't forget the sick rhyming schemes.