11-30-2009, 01:33 AM
I guess I'm a little unclear on the question. It seems to me that discussing race in general is something to bring up as soon as the kid is able to determine that people look and talk differently. However, since you mention an "incident" I think perhaps you are asking more about discussing racism/ignorance than race. I'd say that is something that should be discussed before your kid encounters any such incidents so that he/she will have a way to judge/understand what it is about. Given that the degree of overt racism varies significantly from region to region around the country I'd say that the area you live in makes a big difference in how you prepare your child to deal with racists.
My personal feeling about when to discuss death is as early as possible and to present it simply and matter of factly. I think it does a terrible disservice to kids to hide this inevitable part of life, especially in cases where a relative, friend or pet dies when the kid is unprepared.
My personal feeling about when to discuss death is as early as possible and to present it simply and matter of factly. I think it does a terrible disservice to kids to hide this inevitable part of life, especially in cases where a relative, friend or pet dies when the kid is unprepared.