Yesterday Afternoon myself and DD (3yrs) were in a taxi.
The driver was very very dark skinned and I think he was african or something similar.
DD asks me loudly..."Mummy, why is the taxi drivers skin black"

I almost died, I felt so terrible, I didn't say anything but just gave her 'LOOK'

What should I have said, should I bring it up with her again and explain it to her?

That was a first for me, I just stopped dead in my tracks!

It isn't a rude question from such a young child, rather a result of curiosity.

I would have explained that people are different and some people have different coloured skin, just the same way that some people have different coloured hair or eyes, but that inside all people are the same.

You should have said something along the lines of 'because he is from a different race' and something about how in some different countries in the world, people have different colour skin but we are all the same on the inside and then see if she wants to talk about it more.

You could bring it up again if you see another person around with darker skin....along the lines of 'remember the other day when you asked......."

I also tend to make compliments when speaking about phyiscal differents, just to emphasise that different is not a bad thing.

hehe oh the joys of children!

Same as what pp said.
Just explain to your child that we have many different types of people living in Australia. some have white skin, some have tanned skin, some have dark skin.. etc.. We are all the same, just our skin colours are different.

Be prepared for many more lovely, embarrassing questions hehe

Definatly along the lines of what I was thinking in the first place, I just really didn't want to go in to it infront of the taxi driver.

She is a very curious little one

lisamarie*** I don't think the taxi driver would have been offended if you explained in a way that implied acceptance rather than exclusion.

It is a natural question. I have a red-headed friend who lived in Egypt for a while with her very red-headed baby. She said it gave her a wonderful insight into how it felt to be "different". Every time she went out with the bub they were approached by locals who wanted to touch their hair as it was MOST unusual in the area she was living.

She said it was completely different to being teased here about her hair colour when she was growing up. In Egypt it was more of a reverent curiosity so she wasn't offended at all (just made shopping a lengthy endeavour!!).

I would have explained to my child then and there that not everyone looks the same. Even spoke to the driver and asked him where he was from originally and show my child that everyone is the same even though they look different. This is something I want my children to know and be comfortable with as they're from a mixed race family themselves. Maybe get some books covering this topic like "Whoever you are" by Mem Fox. HTH

Just popped out of my usual section as the topic title grabbed my interest!

When I was little my mum asked me (obviously interested in what I'd noticed about skin colour) 'Do any of the people on Sesame Street have different coloured skin'? I replied 'Yes of course - Bert!'

Who knows what's going on in their little heads sometimes! My DD is only a baby so I haven't had any awkward question moments yet. But I agree with all the PPs - hopefully in that situation the taxi driver wouldn't have been offended if you said something along the lines of there being different skin colours, like different coloured hair, eyes, etc.

I guess it's a matter of thinking of the perfect thing to say in the split second after they've come out with something a little challenging!

We too have Mem Fox's "Whoever you are" and we use it as a tool with friends from different backgrounds, with different accents and with disabilities.

I always try to point out that everyone has feelings and we have to respect that they are different, but each & everyone of us has the same blood - and it seems to work for us.

There is nothing more beautiful than you 2 & 1/2 year old saying - "Everyone has a beautiful heart" when she sees someone from a different race.

Something that could help, is an ethnic doll to play with, I've bought one of these for DD -

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Brown-Boy-doll-NIP-...1QQcmdZViewItem