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UK agency gives tips for spotting racist toddlers

Categories: Babies, Toddlers, Preschoolers, In the news, Weird but true, Childcare, Education

In an effort to help teachers and child-care workers spot budding racists, the UK's National Children's Bureau (NCB) has come out with a 366-page guide called Young Children and Racial Justice. The guide includes helpful hints and tips on what to look for in determining if a little child is a potential racist.

For example, if a child should refer to someone with the words "blackie", "Pakis" or even "those people", the guide advises that the action should be condemned and reported to authorities. Playgroup leaders are further advised that even little babies are suspect when it comes to having a racial bias since they can "recognize different people in their lives".

Now, I would agree that if I child is using some of those words, there is a good chance that child has a racist adult in his or her life. But what about the pamphlet's advice regarding food? According to the NCB, if a child reacts with "yuk" to culinary tradition other than their own, that is a sign of racism.

The pamphlet encourages workers to report as many incidents as possible to their local council, saying: "Some people think that if a large number of racist incidents are reported, this will reflect badly on the institution. In fact, the opposite is the case." In other words, the more the better. Even if you have to invent them.

But the bigger question here is what exactly are they doing with this information? Are they going back to the parents or other adults and accusing them of racism? Is the child who dislikes spicy food going to end up with the word 'racist' in his or her permanent file?

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