With June ending, we find ourselves finishing celebrating Pride month. Whilst Pride month may be over, that doesn't mean that all the work to help to raise awareness of the LGBTQ+ community should stop.
In fact, as parents, it is down to us to make sure that our children have the very best start in their lives and ensure that they have the tolerance to understand others around them, but also the ability to understand who they are too. Well, that is one of the best things we can teach our children.
This particular blog post is going to look at gender bias. Gender bias is when a child faces stereotypes that relate to their gender. Think of it this way; boys play with cars and trucks whilst girls play with dolls. It might not seem like it is that big a problem; after all, it has been this way for some time. However, just because something has been this way for a long time, that doesn't make it right.
If you want to try and tackle gender bias in your child and teach them to embrace the fight for the future, too, here are some ways to remove gender bias from at least some aspects of a child's life.
Whilst many children will align with the gender they are born with and fit into some of those stereotypes, this is not the case for every single child. Therefore, as a parent, you must make sure that you recognise and realise that not every single child is cis-gendered.
Recognising this and allowing your child to explore it themselves is the first step to stopping them from feeling trapped by gender bias.
There have been many advancements in how toys and clothes are marketed and advertised, but there is still a long way to go. You only need to look down the aisle of a clothes shop to realise that the girl's and boys' sections have very different approaches. The same is true for toys.
If you want to try and ensure that your child doesn't see the limitations, then teach them that there are no limitations. Let them shop in these aisles freely and choose what they wear and what they play with.
Set an example at home
You can't control what your child sees around them in the wide world. But, you can control what they see and hear at home. If you want to ensure that they have a tolerant and understanding viewpoint of the world around them, then you need to start by setting an example at home.
Think about switching up the job roles at home. Avoid blue and pink jobs and instead just have jobs that need to be done throughout the day, week or month. Work together on them or take it in turns. That way, your child will see that it doesn't matter what gender you are; you all muck in.
These are just some of the steps you can take to ensure that your child is not only tolerant but that they feel comfortable and happy to express themselves in any way they choose. It truly is one of the best gifts we can give our children.