We strive to be an inclusive organization at Girl Guides of Canada. Inclusivity can be more difficult than we think. This article is directed at parents, but I think it’s important information for anyone who spends time enriching the lives of children, including Guiding.

I know with my units, especially the younger ones, awkward statements and questions come up all the time. My policy is to never shy away from awkwardness with the girls. I encourage difficult discussion at any age. If the kids are bringing things up, it’s because it’s already on their plate. Ignoring or shushing them up does nothing for their personal growth, and as we can see in the article, it can actually be counter-productive.

But how to proceed in a responsible manner? This article gives some fantastic tips and food for thought.

Lots of parents think if they are “colorblind,” their kids will be too. Don’t make that mistake. Talk about race from the earliest days. — Read on www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2015/07/06/how-silence-can-breed-prejudice-a-child-development-professor-explains-how-and-why-to-talk-to-kids-about-race/