Wellbeing

Tolerance: A vital ingredient for your child's success

Making sure your child is tolerant towards other adults and children with individual differences will set them up to be successful in a world full of diversity.  The child who is open to differences is more likely to have more opportunities in school, business and life in general. 

If you take a look at the many different schools throughout Australia you will see a common theme of children from different culture, racial and family backgrounds. You will also see different children with different needs and diverse ways of expressing themselves. Some children wear their hearts on their sleeves while other children will be unforthcoming and quiet. Tolerant children are accepting of these differences and will not only include but show kindness to anyone.

Intolerance is at the very heart of a great amount of  bullying throughout children and young people. Children who act or look differently or are often more isolated are often more frequently bullied for no apparent reason other than they are different. 

Children often reflect the attitudes like tolerance from those around them. Children especially in primary school reflect the attitudes of their parents. If you want your child to be accepting of other people's differences you need to model that to them. Help your child feel loved, accepted, respected and valued. 

Some tips on creating an atmosphere of tolerance that your children can reflect:

• Model acceptance.
• Challenge prejudice or narrow-minded views.
• Answer children's questions about differences honestly and respectfully. 
• Respect individual differences within your own family. 

(Tolerance: a vital ingredient for your child's success, Michael Grose)

I hope you all have a wonderful school holiday.

Eddie