1. A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid
Kids are kids. It should be that simple, but it's not. The number of biracial children--more than one race--has quadrupled since 1970, but you still find adults who view biracial children as "different." Kids model actions and behaviors from their parents, and soon pick up on differences too. People often assume that biracial means children with both an African American and Caucasian heritage, but it also describes people who are Asian and Caucasian, Native American and African American, etc. In fact, children increasingly come into the world with more than two races in their genetic makeup--multiracial. Parenting a biracial child provides unique challenges.
2. Talk About Racism
At a young age, children notice stares when interracial families appear in public. However, don't think you're doing children any favors by not talking about racism. Sadly enough, racism exists, and your child will see evidence of it no matter what their appearance. Recognize racism wherever it appears and use it as a starting place for dialogues about racism with your biracial child. Challenge racial stereotypes because they often lead to racist attitudes. It's easy to get angry over racism, but remember that your children take clues from your behavior. Don't allow racism to rule how they feel or act.
3. Help Children Forge Their Own Biracial Identity
Perhaps the most difficult thing for a biracial child is finding his identity. Society often pigeonholes interracial kids. People say, "What are you?" to biracial children. School and government forms force categories by not allowing you to check boxes for both African American and Caucasian. When you must only check African American, it sends a message that children must reject part of their heritage. Teach your child that they are more than a sum of skin colors, but don't worry if a child goes through a stage where she identifies with a specific race. Support your child's decision and know her choice will likely change many times as she grows older. Eventually, she finds a way to describe herself that includes all of her heritage.
4. Parenting Solo
Biracial children in a single parent family may have greater identity problems unless both parents are actively involved with the child. If both parents can't be involved, see if extended family can step in to provide a multiracial upbringing. Exposing children to different cultures not only helps children form a healthier identity, but also encourages them to appreciate the differences that make people unique. Celebrate Kwanza, Cinco de Mayo and attend powwows. Such activities only enrich your child's life.
5. Life is Not Black and White
And neither are children's toys and books. While every child should have toys and action figures of different races or read about children from different cultures, it's especially important to expose biracial children to a variety of culturally appropriate toys. Children's book publishers have started publishing more stories in different genres with multiracial characters. It's nice for children to read about (or watch on TV) another biracial child where race isn't the issue of the story, just part of what makes up a child.
