Counselor Corner

We at St. Ignatius share feelings of anguish about the death of George Floyd and patterns of racial injustice in America. We have compassion for our students and our families who may already be experiencing the emotional toll of COVID-19. At this time we must focus on our shared humanity. We must hold space for learning and talking about biases, protests, and activism in the home. This is a time to come together, listen, learn, share in grief and in hope, and act for a more just, equitable, and racially conscious world.

Opening up compassionate and educational discussions about the topic of race teaches our children that racial inequality is not too scary to talk about and is important enough to address. We have great power to disassemble harmful messages and shape our children to live in awareness, acceptance and kindness. Here are some resources to help:

Talking about Race: Age by Age

Talking about Racism and Bias: Resources for parents and caregivers

Parent Resources from American Psychological Association

Managing Strong Emotional Reactions to Traumatic Events: Tips for Parents and Teachers

Talking to Children After Racial Incidents

Videos:

• A look at race relations through a child's eyes - 9:29 mins

• Kids speak their mind about race - 3:55 mins

• Talking to kids about race - 2:18

• Anti-Discrimination 2:30 – K-8 Fun animated video that demonstrates how we are capable of so much more when we are inclusive of all.