Mum perfectly explains why you shouldn’t teach children ‘not to stare’

Facebook is a weird place filled with pet pictures and embarrassing familial updates.

Sometimes however, you find a diamond in the rough; a status that's actually important to read.

This was the case when user Jenna Gines shared a message about how you should stop teaching your children not to stare at people.

The message bears repeating as it highlights a vital point about being different.

Gines goes into detail about how being curious is important for children.

She argues that if you child is staring, let them and also encourage them to ask questions and be curious so that they grow to understand that everybody is different.

What are we teaching them when we say that?

Don’t look at someone that is different then you.

Don’t be curious or want to learn about something you’ve never seen before.

Stay away from things that are different.

It's a powerful point about difference and it's an even better way to teach your children that sometimes people are different to how you are, but that's okay. You're allowed to notice it and talk about it.

It would be worse, she argues, to instead ignore it, to look away or act as if the person isn't event there. Whilst seemingly being sensitive to other people it can often have the opposite effect and cause ignorance to thrive.

Let’s embrace different. Let’s talk about differences & be the change we want to see in this world.

The emoji-illustrated post really resonated with a lot of people and they were quick to share it around.

In full, it reads:

Please stop teaching your children not to stare!

What are we teaching them when we say that? Don’t look at someone that is different then you. Don’t be curious or want to learn about something you’ve never seen before. Stay away from things that are different.

Instead, let them stare. Let them ask questions, talk about it. What is it that they see? What is it that they’re curious about? What is different? What is the same?

If it’s someone using a wheelchair, say hi. If it’s someone that looks or acts different, say hi. If it’s someone of short stature, say hi.

Teach your child about differences. It’s okay to be different. It’s okay to notice it & to talk about it. It’s even better to make a new friend. It’s not okay to ignore, look away, or act like a person who is different isn’t there.

Let’s embrace different. Let’s talk about differences & be the change we want to see in this world.

This, more than anything, is the kind of message people need to hear in a time of such divisive politics and ideologies.

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