In light of Spring Valley (Part One): Race, board books, and my 5-day-old baby

In light of Spring Valley (Part One): Race, board books, and my 5-day-old baby

by Sachi Feris I often get comments from readers of Raising Race Conscious Children, who have babies or young, pre-verbal children. These parents tell me that they are interested in this work, but feel it is a little early to be talking about race. This is not meant as a defensive posture…

A hard (but needed) conversation: New York City’s segregated schools

A hard (but needed) conversation: New York City’s segregated schools

  by guest blogger Myra Hernandez One morning, I was working with a group of elementary students at a public school in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. As a program coordinator for a non-profit, I had been reading Harlem’s Little Blackbird by Renee…

Body conscious talk: Discussing masturbation

Body conscious talk: Discussing masturbation

by guest blogger Katie Schaffer Little kids masturbate. They’re exploring their bodies and it feels good. But one of the reasonable concerns that many parents have is how to encourage children’s curiosity and joyous sensual connection to their body while…

The problem with “Curious George”

The problem with “Curious George”

by Sachi Feris The Spanish version of the original “Curious George” found its way to our bookshelf via hand-me-downs and my three-year-old daughter discovered it after diligently searching for a “new, new, new book that I’ve never, ever read.” It’s…

We are a family…not an “alternative” family

by guest blogger Janet Alperstein, Ph.D I have heard that my son and I are an “alternative family” too many times. It was said by people who meant well, but it hurt. While my son didn’t overhear many of these…

Confronting White bias: Bringing my research to my parenting

Confronting White bias: Bringing my research to my parenting

by guest blogger Richard Milner, Ph.D As an African-American, middle-class professor of urban education, I am constantly bridging my research with my parenting responsibilities, reflecting on discourse and actions I take with my children as I attempt to help them…