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Raising Asian American Kids: Questions, Reflections & Resources
Have questions about race, racism, and your Asian American child? You’re not alone! Take a look at these FAQs from parents and caregivers like you.
Why tailored resources? Because children in the U.S. have very different experiences based on their racial and ethnic identities: from their experiences of immigration, family history, and collective history; opportunities to see themselves fully represented in media; opportunities to celebrate their heritage and culture; their experiences of discrimination and stereotyping; and more.
The racial label “Asian American” is a huge umbrella that includes tons of diversity – different ethnicities, immigration histories, languages, and approaches to talking about race. Asian Americans also share some similar experiences, which may include family traditions and values as well as being viewed through particular cultural stereotypes, including the “model minority myth.”
This toolkit contains some resources that are just for you, as a caregiver, and some that are designed to be used directly with kids. Some are downloads and some are videos. They address different themes, including cultural pride and family roots, understanding and managing racism and bias, and cross-racial solidarity. Take a look through and see where you might want to begin!
EmbraceRace is grateful to the researchers from the Asian American Families Study Collaborative for their partnership on this toolkit.
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Have questions about race, racism, and your Asian American child? You’re not alone! Take a look at these FAQs from parents and caregivers like you.
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This short, kid-friendly video introduces the rich diversity within Asian American communities — perfect for watching together with your child. After watching the videos together, discuss your reactions, reflections,
and wonderings by using the accompanying discussion prompts.
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Sometimes, we may feel like being “different” than others — for the way we look, for eating different foods, or for speaking different languages — is a bad thing. Whenever being “different” makes us feel unhappy, thinking about the special details of our cultures and heritages can help us remember how our cultures actually make us unique and important.
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One powerful way to support your child’s racial learning is to reflect on your own experiences with race. Use this resource to explore real responses from Asian American caregivers and spark thoughtful conversations with your family, friends and community.
Stories
How can Asian American children understand, process, and respond to being stereotyped? This kid-friendly video gives an introduction and examples that many Asian American kids and adults will relate to.
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These comics are meant to start conversations between children and caregivers about race and racism, centering the diverse experiences of Asian American children. They relate to themes of cultural pride, coping with racism, interracial solidarity, and adoption.
Stories
Watch how educator Katie Yue-Sum Li adapted “A Kids Book About Racism” to reflect her own Asian American experience—and why representation, identity, and community matter when teaching kids about race.
Children’s Books
Are you looking for “mirror” books that reflect your Asian American children’s own experiences and identities? Check out this list of picture books celebrating a wide diversity of Asian and Asian American characters, cultures, and experiences.
Children’s Books
Check out this list of chapter books celebrating a wide diversity of Asian and Asian American characters, cultures, and experiences.
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This resource contains three scenarios for caregivers. All involve young Asian American children’s experiences with racism and bias. Reflect by yourself or with a partner or friend and think through how you might respond in each situation, then read through our suggestions.
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This resource is designed for caregivers and children to explore together, to learn the stories of Asian American activists and leaders, past and present, who have stood up for the rights of their own communities and others.
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Families grow and change over time, shaped by many people and experiences. This resource invites you to explore how family histories can flow like rivers—and to reflect on your own family's journey with your child.