How To Raise Your Biracial Child

By Subodh / June 27, 2015

Bringing up a biracial child has its pros and cons. While your child will get the best of the two worlds, he/she might struggle with an identity crisis also. Love, as you know, has no skin color, race, or language! This concept should be the first thing you should make your child aware of. Here are some simple tips that might help you to raise a confident biracial child.

1. Be Proud of Your Relationship!

If you want your kid to be positive about his biracial aspect, then you should be proud of it first. If your kid is confused or ashamed about this particular aspect, then make him understand that it adds a unique dimension to his life and might even prove to be beneficial for him in the future.

Raise Your Biracial Child

2. Allow Them To Choose Their Identity!

Many a time, a kid would want himself to a part of one race at a time. So allow him to choose that one that gels perfectly with their thoughts. He will sooner or later adopt the other.

3. Teach Them About Their Heritage!

Sit with your kid and instill the first lessons of pride by teaching them about their root and cultures. In this case, you will have to explain the histories of both the races, thus embedding a sense of richness about both the worlds.

4. Teach The Kids To Expect Rudeness!

People do showcase a differential behavior towards the biracial kids. So ensure that your kid is very well aware of this behavior that persists among the people.

5. Teach Your Kids To Ignore Rudeness!

Kids, especially when in their teens, have a tendency to respond wildly to the rude behavior that emanates from people. That is why it is essential to inculcate the habit of ignoring such behaviors and instill the habit of forgiveness.

6. Teach By Examples!

There are numerous living examples across the world, including renowned celebrities and political leaders, who have a biracial background. Bolster your kid’s sagacity of belonging by pointing out to those illustrated lives. Celebrities like Mariah Carey and Halle Barry and the President of the United States, Barack Obama, are wonderful examples your kid will easily be able to imbibe.

7. Opt For A School That Offers Support!

Schools are yet another vital place where your kids might engage in this biracial discussion. Ensure that the school you choose has positive atmospheres that will empower your kids and put them at ease. When a school nurtures diverse cultures, your kid will feel safe and will be able to accept their racial facts in easier ways.

8. Engage Them In A Social Circle!

Yours alone is not the single family that has mixed races. There will be countless other families with whom the kids can bond and learn more about the racial mixing. When peers with similar backgrounds and habits surround them, they will find the whole stuff of biracial simple.

9. Prepare Your Child For The Discrimination!

Even though the world have evolved a lot, and people are accepting mixed races in an easier way, there will be hurdles your child might have to cross. So prepare him/her mentally for those discrimination obstacles they might face. Teach them to tolerate such incidents and handle them with grace so that they will be able to rise above all of them.

10. Love Unconditionally!

Love is a four letter word that can bring in loads and loads of positive changes. It can instill a sense of positivity and foster pride. Your unconditional love as parents will give your child a sense of poise and self-confidence as he navigates through this world with his head high.

Challenges are bound to be present when you raise a biracial kid. Just make sure that you are always there for your kid, mentally strengthening them, so that they are able to carve their niche space in this world!