"A child educated only at school is an uneducated child"

As some of us urban dwellers become parents, we fight the pressure from our parents to move back to the suburbs. We want to stroll with our little red wagons past tattoo shops and record stores, not perfectly manicured lawns. However, our attempt to stay city folk has forced us to, almost daily, stroll past social issues we would not have to explain to our child if we lived in those "little boxes made of ticky-tacky."

We take pride in how cool our little urban village is. Many characters walk the streets. From our local "crazy" guy conversing with his imaginary enemy to "The Sheriff" directing traffic in full military dress. For our suburban counterparts, these scenes may be unnerving, to us, they are endearing. Everyday we come face to face with so many interesting people and situations. These situations raise questions and present learning and character building opportunities for our little hipsters in the making.

A question I often get, prompted by passing someone snoozing on a bench, is "why." Why is he there?  Why does he not have a mom, a home, a room? When these questions start flowing from the mouth of your child how do you answer them? How do you turn this social problem into a learning experience for your young urban preschooler?

Barbara Levinson, manager of Education and Training at Bright Horizons Family Solutions states: "Teaching our safe, secure, comfortable children about homelessness gives them the opportunity to participate in making a difference in other people’s lives." She says you should explain what it means to be homeless and how some people may become homeless. It is also helpful to read books with homeless characters. Discuss what the characters could be feeling. There are many approaches a parent could take on the issue, depending on the parent's views and the child's readiness.

I want to raise my children in a diverse environment. I want them to walk down the street and be exposed to many different cultures and types of people. I will do all I can to ensure the negative aspects of the environment are used in a positive way to educate my children. Perhaps leading them to become more compassionate people. Everything is a learning opportunity and a chance to grow as an individual.

What are your thoughts on talking to children about homelessness? How do you think discussing this social problem with your child could be beneficial or damaging?