Social Justice Parenting: How to Raise Compassionate, Anti-Racist, Justice-Minded Kids in an Unjust World

“I totally understand that each of you wants what’s best for your children... but Social Justice Parenting means you also want (and take action toward) what’s best for all children,” writes education professor Baxley in her powerful debut. Her program for raising children so that they can recognize injustice and work to change it consists of five parts: reflection, open dialogue, compassion, kindness, and social engagement. Through anecdotes from her life, Baxley explains how to use those principles to reject racism (“Learn something new. Acknowledge the fear”), become an ally (a friend of Baxley’s who said something racist was corrected and accepted the criticism with humility), and teach kindness to children (parents must make it a value in their own lives, and kids will reflect it). She offers exercises, too, such as creating a shared journal to better communicate with a child, and gives modeled dialogue for conversations about death, sexual assault, and homelessness in one’s community. Baxley shines in her ability to be encouraging without being judgmental: “If this seems like a lot to take in, let me tell you that it’s okay to start with small steps.” This hopeful guide inspires. Agent: Lynn Johnston, Lynn Johnston Literary. (Oct.)