Teaching Kids Acceptance #ShineBright
I am a ‘ShineBright’ Ambassador and have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.
Last week, we watched the 50th Anniversary airing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It’s a holiday tradition in our house and I remember watching it as a little girl myself. Who doesn’t love Rudolph?
But now, as a parent, I can see that there is something more to Rudolph’s story than he’s just the most special reindeer of all. PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center is encouraging parents to use this classic story to start a conversation with their children about our differences.
I will admit that we haven’t really talked to the kids much about differences because they haven’t started asking about people’s differences. I figured why start pointing differences out to them. But, it is a conversation we should have been having with them children regardless. By having the conversation with them and modeling the behavior, they will continue to be respectful to everyone.
While watching the movie, we asked the boys questions like “How do you think Rudolph felt when he was teased by the other reindeer?” and “How is Rudolph different from the other reindeer?’ Being 6 and 3, they’re answers were simple but they got the message. In fact, they started pointing out on their own when others were being “mean”. Ethan took a liking to Hermey and pointed out how he was different from the other elves.
I think they really got the message because we have been talking about Rudolph and Hermey ever since. It’s been an almost daily conversation. Who would have thought that watching a holiday classic would open up the lines of conversation for my kids and I?
If you need helping talking to your own children, visit visit PACER.org/ShineBright for some great ideas. This week, we are going to make stars to show how we “shine bright”!
This classic story from the television special is now available as an eBook – “The Legend of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. One dollar from each purchase will be donated to PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Additionally, a portion of the sale of each “ShineBright” t-shirt will be donated to the cause.
