A Unique Child: Mixed race children - In the mix

With 50 per cent of the UK's 677,000 mixed race people under the age of 16, it may not be large, but is certainly a fast-growing sector of our population. With this in mind, it is going to become increasingly likely that practitioners experience caring for a mixed race child, and not just those who work in multicultural cities. Contrary to assumptions, there are also significant numbers of mixed families in more prosperous suburbs and small towns, with further groups in traditional manufacturing and industrial areas.

It was only in the last census in 2001 that a 'mixed' category was introduced. Before then, mixed race people were not counted. Charlie Owen, senior research officer at the Thomas Coram Research Centre, Institute of Education, who conducted research into the census data, says, 'In the pre-school age, nought to four years old, about 4 per cent in England and Wales are coded as mixed, which is quite significant - about the whole of the minority ethnic population in 1991.

'As the numbers of couples and number of mixed relationships continue to grow, it is to be expected that the numbers of children would also grow. In the 2001 census there were more people called white and black Caribbean, than were called black Caribbean. With white and Asian there are much smaller numbers, but as a percentage of the UK population the Asian group is much smaller.'

Mr Owen adds, 'People should expect to see more children of this background coming into the nursery. But people do get confused about how to deal with and talk about it.'

Deciding how to describe a group of people can be contentious. Talking about the children of parents from two different countries, religions or cultures is no exception. There are certain terms, such as half caste, that are now considered derogatory and should not be used, but other phrases are open for debate.

Val Hoskins, trustee and vice chair of People in Harmony (what's that?), says, 'People in Harmony use the term "mixed race" because it is the term preferred by children and families. This has been confirmed by recent research. Some people want to avoid using the word "race", so refer to children as being of mixed parentage, mixed heritage or dual heritage. But we find that the prejudice people face is predominantly racism. It is not about heritage, but to do with how people look.

'The mixed race term is used by us to describe anyone with a mixed ethnic minority background, not just people with one black parent and one white parent. For example, it could mean a child born to a Scottish mother and Persian father, or a child born to an Indian mother and Nigerian father.'

Stereotypes

Research fellow at London South Bank University, Chamion Caballero, is undertaking a two-year project into the parenting of mixed race children that challenges many long-standing assumptions.

She says, 'Our data analysis of the 2001 census shows a strong middle-class group of families, which challenges the inner city, underprivileged, lone parent stereotypes. The people who spoke to us also said they did not recognise themselves in the stereotypes that are out there.

'The biggest commonality for mixed families is the stereotypes and assumptions that are attributed to mixed families and that they face outside the home, rather than issues they face inside. They are just ordinary families. Sometimes they have issues like other families and these are not just to do with race and culture.'

The research findings, due to be published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation around March, include:

- Most parents of mixed race children (55 per cent) are still together, either married or co-habiting

- The majority of mixed families are middle class, with most educated to degree or professional level and living in homes they own

- There is a band of mixed couples living down the centre of England - from Leeds and Manchester in the north, to Birmingham and Leicester in the Midlands, and London and Brighton in the south.

'The implications from the research include that people working with mixed ethnic families will do better if they avoid assumptions and find out the needs of families directly, rather than presuming that mixed families have certain issues,' Dr Caballero says.

Sense of self

Young children of every cultural or ethnic background need to develop a secure and positive sense of their own identity which, psychologist and early years consultant Jennie Lindon says, should be reinforced in the nursery setting. She explains, 'It is important to have a sense of who you are at the centre of the family, society and cultural world, and a strong part of that for children is "where do I come from?" But children do vary a lot - some are not as concerned as others about context. But all do feel it to a certain extent, and they need to feel it is positive.

'Sometimes children with different strands to their identity, be that colour or faith, can have issues. Practitioners may recognise that a child is aware of two distinct parts of what makes them who they are, but they may not join them together and may need help with that. Also, if they feel they have to choose one side of their heritage, they may feel less valued because of that.'

But the vast majority of mixed race children seem to have a positive identity. 'As a population the mixed background is growing, and what we are seeing is not people who are unhappy but who see it as a positive benefit,' says Charlie Owen.

Dr Caballero agrees. 'From the interviews we held with inter-racial children, their parents and grandparents, it was clear that a lot of families, felt really positive about the benefits of being mixed rather than the negatives.

'Food was a huge theme, and celebrating their culture through food and music. They felt that their mixed background gave them something interesting and positive - it was something to celebrate rather than worry about.'

Good practice

- Find out about a family and how they perceive themselves; do not make assumptions

- Ensure there are positive images of mixed race children throughout the setting, through toys, books and pictures (see column)

- Do not automatically assume that a mixed race child has the identity only of the ethnic minority parent

- Avoid labelling mixed race children with the stereotypes of a parent - for example, don't assume that a child's dark curly hair comes from the black parent

- Do not automatically attribute a child's problems to their being of mixed race

Further information:

- People in Harmony promotes the positive experience of interracial life in Britain: www.pih.org.uk, tel: 01753 552 559,

- Early Years Equality: www.earlyyearsequality.org

- Jennie Lindon, Equality in Early Childhood (Hodder, £19.99, ISBN: 9780340913475, www.hoddereducation.co.uk)

- Joseph Rowntree Foundation: www.jrf.org.uk

Resources contacts:

- Letterbox Library, a multicultural, non-sexist children's book supplier: www.letterboxlibrary.com

- Tamarind Books: www.tamarindbooks.co.uk

- Working Group Against Racism in Children's Resources: www.wgarcr.org.uk

- Black Dolls Direct: www.blackdollsdirect.co.uk

- The Festival Shop has multi-faith and multicultural resources: www.festivalshop.co.uk

Children's books

These books all depict children growing up in mixed race families

An African Princess by Lyra Edmonds, illustrated by Anne Wilson (Random House, £5.99, ISBN 9780552550338) When Lyra tells her school friends that she is an African princess, they don't believe her. It is only when she flies to the Caribbean to visit her Taunte May that she discovers her own history.

My Two Grannies by Floella Benjamin, illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain (Frances Lincoln, £11.99, ISBN 9781845076436) Grannie Vero is from the Caribbean island of Trinidad, Grannie Rose is from the north of England. Alvina learns a lot when both grannies care for her while her parents are on holiday.

Billy and Belle by Sarah Garland (Frances Lincoln, £5.99, ISBN 9781-845070380) Billy and Belle are excited waiting for a new baby brother to arrive. But there's chaos on the day that he is born.

Double the Love by Bernard Ashley and Carol Thompson (Orchard Books, £4.99, ISBN 9781841212784) Blossom enjoys spending time with both her grandmothers, one who lives in the city and the other in the countryside.

Silver Shoes by Caroline Binch (Frances Lincoln, £5.99, ISBN 1845074718) Molly desperately wants silver shoes for her first dance class, but her mum says she has to wait ...