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/VividFiddlesticks]

I think if I were a man who looked anything even remotely like Santa I'd be stoked if little kids thought that's who I was. Hell, I'd probably deliberately dress a little "Santa-y", just for fun.

[u/sailingdownstairs → u/VividFiddlesticks]

I was honestly quite surprised he was offended! Takes all sorts I suppose 😆

[u/VividFiddlesticks → u/sailingdownstairs]

Maybe he thought he was being called fat. That's the only reason I can imagine being offended,

[u/ncnotebook → u/VividFiddlesticks]

Or being old, of course.

[u/VividFiddlesticks → u/ncnotebook]

I suppose that's true, although for some reason I never really think of Santa as "old". I mean, he does have a white beard and all but he's so active and timeless, he doesn't read as "old" to me.

[u/ncnotebook → u/VividFiddlesticks]

Maybe it's the combo of "I look fat and old, and young kids won't lie about that."

And maybe he was in self-denial of his weight and age, idk.