Barnardos and Save the Children Launch Fair Play Booklet 07/06/02 [NI]
The Fair Play booklet compiled for parents and guardians of children in Northern Ireland examines how to talk to children about issues of prejudice and discrimination.
Fair Play begins by considering why there is a need to examine prejudice and discrimination with children in Northern Ireland:
- 27% of all 12-17 year olds have been threatened or verbally abused because of their religion.
- 66% of minority ethnic school children in Northern Ireland have experienced racist harassment.
- Over 90% of girls in one study reported being sexually harassed.
- 48% of lesbian and gay students have been violently attacked. Nearly half of these attacks had occurred in schools.
Fair Play sets out 3 key strategies for parents and guardians to adopt in tackling prejudice and discrimination:
- Set a good example for children through their own attitudes and behaviour towards others
- Talk to children about prejudice and discrimination and get them to think about their attitudes and the way they treat others
- Give children help and support if they experience prejudice and discrimination
The booklet focuses on how these strategies can be achieved and considers different approaches that parents commonly use and the results these approaches produce.
There are suggestions on how to talk to children about prejudice and discrimination. Discussion centres on:
- Being open and relaxed
- Always showing children respect and taking them seriously
- Being willing to learn from children
- Not forcing things
- Thinking about their own personal attitudes and behaviour
There are examples of questions that children might ask and advice on what to actually say.
For those parents and guardians whose children have been directly affected by prejudice and discrimination there are a number of guidelines to help them support children through such experiences.
For a copy of the booklet please contact:
Barnardos
Parenting Matters Project
453 Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 3GQ
Tel: 028 90491081
Or
Save the Children
15 Richmond Park
Belfast
BT10 0HB
Tel: 028 90431123
