Why Taking Your Child to a Pride Parade Will Make Them More Open-Minded

The Ultimate DEI Parenting Hack

Despite the latest mind-boggling opposition, acceptance of diversity and inclusion is steadily progressing. Agreed, progress has been super slow, but the good news is that it is moving forward.

Most parents want their kids to successfully grow into that positive momentum. That means it’s more important than ever to make sure kids are exposed to different ways to look and love (and laugh!).

And what better way to teach kids about being proud of who they are than watching a colorful parade of unique people go by while candy is thrown at their feet?

Celebrating diversity is a good thing for kids to see

Four years ago, hell even six months ago, diversity and inclusion weren’t nearly as significant as they are today.

It was more of an ‘I’m glad diversity is finally in the public eye’ inner thought than the more urgent ‘I better make sure my family fully embraces this cultural shift’ necessity that it is now.

At Pride parades, people from all walks of life come together to honor and embrace their unique identities. It’s like a big, colorful party where everyone’s individuality is celebrated. People of all genders, sexual orientations, and backgrounds come together to celebrate diversity.

It’s the perfect opportunity for kids to witness first-hand the incredible variety of people, genders, and sexual orientations that our society is made up of. And what parent doesn’t want to raise a well-rounded kid? Right?

Okay there could be a downside. Sometimes at Pride parades, you do see exposed body parts and odd behavior. If you’re worried your child might feel blindsided by that stuff, you could say something before you go like:

“All types of bodies and genders are worth celebrating. Sometimes that celebration goes a little overboard. If you see that at the parade, try to remember that it’s all about being proud of who you are.”

Of course, you could reiterate that message when you’re actually at the parade.

Remember, the purpose of exposing kids to diversity is so they can see for themselves that our world is made up of countless unique people, and everyone deserves to be valued. No exceptions.

You’ll be there with them

Try not to stress too much about going to the parade. It’s not like you’re sending them off to Woodstock at age 8 with no parental supervision — you’ll be there with them the whole time.

It’s actually a fantastic chance to give your child a healthy understanding of it in case they heard random half-truths from peers or misinformed adults.

Besides the nudity, here’s another ‘gotcha’ to watch out for. Kids learn by asking questions, so be prepared to respond. Check out these common questions and (concise!) answers:

Why do gay people have a pride parade?

Because they’re often treated unfairly, and they want the world to know they’re proud of who they are. It’s quite brave.

How long is the parade?

It usually lasts about an hour, but we can leave whenever we want.

Will there be kids’ food?

Yes. We can buy whatever food we want while we’re there. We can also pack what we love to eat and take it with us. Let’s make a list.

Is there stuff for kids to do?

Lots of parades have separate kids’ activities like face painting and bounce houses. Let’s check online and see if ours does.

If needed, you can read more answers to common questions about the LGBTQ+ community.

It’s a party!

Try not to make it too much of a teaching moment. Afterall, it is a celebration.

That means you don’t need to have a deep discussion about the implications of changing sociocultural norms (unless they want to, of course!).

Your child’s only takeaway should be an understanding that everyone deserves to be treated fairly. People come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and they should all be treated with the same kindness and respect. Period.

Don’t forget to have fun! Take in all the colorful outfits and wonderful smiles! If your child sees you having a good time, they will too.

Enjoy!

More Resources:

· Family Pride Kit: How to Prepare Your Kids for a Pride Event

· United States Gay Pride Events 2023

· How to Explain Transgender to Kids Using Simple Words