helping mixed race kids as they navigate their identities

Our numbers are growing - dramatically. Data from the U.S. census and Pew Research Center suggests there are 9 million mixed race people in the U.S., though we know this number doesn't include everyone in our MiXD community, like people of multiple ethnicities (hello, half Puerto Rican here!). Even looking at just the race piece of the puzzle, the trends are incredible:

• Between 2000 and 2010, the number of white and black biracial Americans more than doubled.
• The population of adults with a white and Asian background increased by 87%.
• Interracial marriage is on the rise.

This means the numbers of multiracial babies being born are growing exponentially. And all of these babies are going to grow up figuring out who they are. Back to Pew data, a full 60% of multiracial people only consider themselves to be one race; the top reasons for feeling this way are looking like one race, being raised as one race, and not knowing the family member of the second racial background.

How do we help our children embrace their mixed backgrounds? Here are a few tips.

1. Expose them early. According to Stacey York, children have a solid idea of what race is by the age of 9, and their framework won't change unless they have a significant, life-altering experience. Talking about race, your family, and embracing a mixed identity has to happen at a young age for you to have an impact.
2. Provide examples. It's hard to understand what it means to be mixed when you don't have access to mixed characters or role models. We love this list of kids books with mixed families and characters - in our house, we read Ten Tiny Tickles to our 2-year old (a lot). Facilitating your kids meeting real life people across different races also makes a difference to helping them see the beauty in each facet of their racial identity. 
3. Choose your surroundings wisely. About 20% of multiracial people say they felt pressure to choose one race. If you want your children to self-identify, it's important for them to hear and feel that message from you, other family members, and everyone else who will spend significant time with them. If you hear whispers of pressure, address them head on the first time to avoid your child getting the wrong message.
4. Show them the value. Only one-in-five multiracial people see their mixed background as an advantage. You may have guessed that, here at MiXD, we see it as a huge asset! Talk to your children about how they have more cultural understanding, can connect to more communities, and can empathize with more people thanks to their background.

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