Child curious about race

[pingu97]

My 4yr old daughter has goes to a pre-school which has a few different races & cultures of children and although she seems to understand the basic concept of religion (as well as any 4yr old can) through different festival celebrations at school she keeps commenting on the different colours of skin different people have, i've had a chat with her & told her that although people have different coloured skin we are all the same, she doesnt have any bias or anything like that her best friend is a beautiful chinese girl, but when she talks about different children she'll say you know that boy with really dark black skin etc, i know this isnt really racist and i do encourage her to use the childrens names instead, i'm just worried she might say something to offend someone, as she's started commenting in the street and even on the bus too! Can anyone recommend any tips to get her out of talking like this or should i just let her develop her knowledge herself, maybe there are some story books that can help
thanks

[Wiglet]

My son identified people in a similar way when he was very young; he gradually found other ways to identify people. Embracing difference with kindness will help to make the world a happier place.

[pingu97]

Glad i'm not the only one wigglet! i'm just worried about her offending someone! i dont want people to think she's talking like that cuz she's learnt it off me, i guess as you say she'll eventually find other ways to identify people

[curiosity]

We always laugh at a video of my now 20yr old nephew talking about his 2 grandads at age about 3/4 yrs. He talks about 1 grandad and says he's very Black (he's Sudanese) then says but my other grandad (my Dad whos an aged ex ginger) is very Bright. I have studied child development and remember doing a piece of work about stages of development, not sure if it was moral or personaltity development, but I had to get children of various ages to describe a person the youngest wrote the persons name and he has black hair and wears glasses, the next youngest, also described mainly physical qualities but added he is nice, this progressed through the ages to more personal qualities being described rather than physical. So focussing on different physical attributes is developmentally appropriate at this age. My youngest daughter unfortunately commented on her older sisters "very fat" friend, it's hard to explain that it's not nice to say that, without creating a situation where she thinks fat is wrong, if you know what I mean.

[crisgal]

I know where you are both coming from!
I too work with young children. It's difficult when a three year old is learning her colours, and she tells you that brown is like fred's face! After all, if fred's face IS brown then the child is right!
You're child will not be racist as you are not. She is just recognising that everyone is different. If my four year old mentions something similar, I aknowledge the comment positively, like, "Yes that's right, they do have beautiful brown skin."and then maybe mention someone's blonde hair, or daddy's glasses etc. - do you know what I mean?
If anyone on the bus takes offence then I'm afraid they are the one with the problems!
I wouldn't worry, you sound like you have a wonderful daughter! x