As part of our Parent Education Series, Greene Towne Montessori School’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging committee of the Parent Association invited Wanjiku F.M. Njoroge, MD to return and continue the discussion about parenting and social justice. Many thanks to Dr. Njoroge and the Greene Towne Parent Association for arranging this meaningful and important workshop.
Dr. Njoroge’s workshop was full of science based information regarding child development and fascinating research detailing how and why children become aware of differences and practical strategies for conversations with children about it.
Here are some highlights from Dr. Njoroge’s workshop:
- Have open and honest conversations about race, culture and gender – Studies show that BIPOC families are much more likely to discuss race in their homes than white non-LatinX families. According to Dr. Njoroge, “This is a rich period to be talking about these kinds of things with your young children because they clearly see phenotypic differences.”
- Read books with diverse characters – Reading books like the Global Babies series or books that highlight different racial, cultural, or religious families is a way to normalize and find commonality with those different from us. Ask open-ended questions about the book such as, “What do you think is going on in the story?” and “Why do you think that?”
- You are probably already doing a good job – “You know what to do. You’re parents, you’re educators, you’re thoughtful folks.”
Wanjiku F.M. Njoroge, MD, is a psychiatrist and the Program Director of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Click here to see Dr. Njoroge’s first workshop with Greene Towne from 2021 here.