Parents and teachers have the responsibility to teach multi-culturally and practice it in their own lives. It's also important to parent and teach children from a nonsexist point of view. Children like to feel good about themselves. They enjoy the feeling of not only knowing who they are, but also that others appreciate them, respect them, and value their participation and contributions.
Children notice differences between people's skin color and gender at a very early age.
That's why it's so essential to promote cross-cultural, nonsexist awareness as early as possible. Give children the message that being different, whether in sex, race, culture or abilities, does not mean inferior. Your challenge is to learn how to teach the principle of equity - that while we don't all have to get along with each other all the time, all people do have the right to be treated with equal respect, care and consideration. Emphasize to your children that every child has the unique, gift of individuality to share with others. Yet we each share basic human needs in common with everyone else.