Parents: Handling Racism Against Your Child

It can be so tricky to navigate the support available for your child if they experience racism at school. What can you do?

It is entirely natural to want your child to feel safe, valued and respected at school. If your child experiences racism in any form, you might struggle to know how to handle your child’s feelings, your own feelings and the response of the school, especially if it does not feel productive.

Listen to Your Child and Offer Emotional Support

More than anything, it is essential to listen to your child and provide emotional support - after all, they may be confused and hurt. If they come home and share that they have been subjected to racism, whether through words, actions, or exclusion, it is important to take their experience seriously.

Let your child express their feelings without interruption or judgment. Acknowledge their emotions and reassure them that they did nothing wrong. Avoid dismissing or minimising the incident. Phrases like, “I believe you,” or “I’m sorry this happened to you,” help affirm their feelings. Let your child know they can always come to you with any concerns and that you will take their experiences seriously. Be realistic - you might not be able to make it all go away, but you will do your best.