101 Tools for
Tolerance
Simple Ideas for Promoting Equity
and Celebrating Diversity*
Ideas for Your Home
*A project of the Southern Poverty Law Center www.tolerance.org
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101 Tools for
Tolerance Ideas for Your Home *A project of the Southern Poverty Law Center www.tolerance.org |
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| 1. Invite someone of a different background to join your family for a meal or holiday. | 2. Give a multi-cultural doll, toy or game as a gift. | 3. Assess the cultural diversity reflected in your home's artwork, music and literature. Add something new. |
| 4. Don't buy playthings that promote or glorify violence. | 5. Establish a high "comfort level" for open dialogue about social issues. Let children know that o subject is taboo. | 6. Bookmark equity and diversity Web sites on your home computer. |
| 7. Point out stereotypes and cultural misinformation depicted in movies, TV shows, computer games and other media. | 8. Take the family to an ethnic restaurant. Learn about more than just the food. | 9. Involve all members of the family in selecting organizations to support with charitable gifts. |
| 10. Gather information about local volunteer opportunities and let your children select projects for family participation. | 11. Play "action hero" with your children. Are the heroes all aggressive males? help your children see the heroic qualities in those whose contributions often go unrecognized (e.g., nurses, bridge builders, volunteers in homeless shelters). | 12. Affirm your children's curiosity about race and ethnicity. Point out that people come in many shades. |
| 13. Help young children make an illustrated list of what friends do or what friendship means. | 14. Read books with multi-cultural and tolerance themes to your children. | 15. Watch what you say in front of children when you are angry. Curb your road rage. |
| 16. Watch how you handle emotional issues with girls and boys. Do you attempt to distract crying boys but reassure crying girls? | 17. Examine the "diversity profile" of your children's friends. Expand the circle by helping your children develop new relationships. | 18. Enroll your children in schools, daycare centers, after-school programs and camps that reflect and celebrate differences. |
| 19. Participate in a Big Brother or Big Sister program. | 20. Live in an integrated and economically diverse neighborhood. | 21. Watch a movie about another culture. |