What’s Fair and What’s Equal
We don’t want to play favorites. That’s a basic tenet of raising kids. Yet our quest for impartiality can get in the way of recognizing, supporting or celebrating one child.
Don’t play favorites, that’s still true, but kids can handle differences. Life does not have to be equal.
Making Room for Justice
Possibly this: Sexism. Girls discriminated against. Our adult minds leap to what seems obvious. We might sigh and despair: it starts so young, especially in sports. We might speak up and intervene; force the boys to let the girls play.
Debunking ‘Choice’ in Children’s Behavior
Choice gets a bad name in early childhood. Adults scold kids about the “choices” they make on a daily basis: “That was not a good choice” (when she hits her brother). Or perhaps we interrogate: “Was that a good choice or a bad choice?” when kids behave in a way we don’t like. “Let’s see you make a better choice now.”