Anti-Racism for parents

At Belmont Infant and Junior Schools, we believe that working in partnership with families is key to helping children develop respect, empathy, and understanding of the world around them. Below is a selection of resources to support conversations about race, identity, and inclusion at home.

Reading

National Literacy Trust has published book lists for children and young people of all ages to share black stories and promote black voices.

Talking to children about racism  NSPCC- Advice to help understand how to talk to children about race and racism and what you can do to support a child who’s experiencing racial bullying

Understand Me Childline Website

How to talk to toddlers and young children about race, racism & religion – BBC Tiny Happy People

Talking to children about Racial Bias – An article published by Healthy Children.Org weblink includes additional resources to support parents addressing racism and discrimination.

Reading a wide range of books together helps children see different perspectives and feel confident talking about identity and belonging.

Follow

Everyday Racism– website and Instagram account providing educational resources and artwork based around how to be actively anti-racist.

The Conscious Kid – ‘parenting and education through a critical race lens.’

The Black curriculum – a social enterprise founded by young people in 2019 to help address the lack of black history in the curriculum.

Inclusive Story Time– an introduction to black history for children.

The Tiny Activist– introducing children to social justice.

The Black Nursery Manager

Watch and Listen

Parentsfordiversity.com An-anti-racism-collection
A wide range of videos, podcasts, and articles for families to explore together.

Healthline.com anti-racism resources for parents and kids Parent and child media recommendations (Healthline)

BBC Woman’s Hour – How to talk to your children about race and racism– some starting points for discussions and how to empower children.

How do I talk to my children about race– BBC Radio London presenter Eddie Nestor talks to other fathers about how to talk to their children about race.

Podcast – Talking race with young children– some helpful tips on how to initiate conversations and be proactive with discussions.

All Bugbears – a girl explains how she is sad when she sees people being racist– thoughts about how everyone is the same on the inside

Nova Reid: Not all superheroes wear capes – how you have the power to change the world TED Talk by Nova Reid looking at how early experiences and micro aggression impact on our children.

A Better Future – Raising Anti-Racist Children Resources for parents and caregivers looking to talk and teach children and young adults about racism
Suggestions for films, podcasts, and other media to support ongoing learning at home.

Racial Literacy for Adults

Brit(ish) On Race, Identity and Belonging Afua Hirsch – Sunday Times bestseller that reveals the uncomfortable truth about race and identity in Britain today.

Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala – a book which focuses on the divisions in society, particularly in terms of class and race, is hip-hop artist and writer Akala’s fantastic book Natives, a blend of autobiography and political history that holds up a mirror to contemporary Britain.

Why I’m No Longer Talking About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge – For years, racism has been defined by the violence of far-right extremists, but a more insidious kind of prejudice can be found where many least expect it – at the heart of respectable society.

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, a 2018 book written by Robin DiAngelo about race relations in the United States.

Wish We Knew What To Say – talking to children about race by Dr Pragya Agarwal – A vital book that equips adults to have conversations about race and racism with young people, ensuring we are all playing our part to raise the next generations as anti-racist

Learning More as a Parent or Carer

Harvard anti-racism parenting resources
https://antiracismresources.hsites.harvard.edu/parenting
A collection of reading and learning materials to deepen understanding.

UK-based anti-racism resources for families
https://www.hextable-primary.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Anti-Racism-Resources
Accessible resources with a UK perspective on race, identity, and inclusion.

Supporting Your Child at Home

There are many simple ways to help children develop respect and understanding:

• Talk openly about differences and celebrate diversity
• Encourage questions and have honest, age-appropriate discussions
• Challenge stereotypes when they arise
• Share books, stories, and media that reflect a range of cultures and experiences
• Model kindness, fairness, and inclusive language

Children begin to notice differences from a young age. Regular, open conversations at home can help them develop confidence, empathy, and a strong sense of fairness. 

Contacting Us

If you would like to discuss our work around anti-racism or raise a concern, we encourage you to speak with your child’s teacher in the first instance.

We also encourage you to join our Racial Equity Parent Group to help support and strengthen our work on developing racial equity across the schools.

We value open communication with families and welcome opportunities to listen, reflect, and improve. We are always happy to work together with families to support every child’s development.