Expanding the palette of pediatric playthings: A call to action for pediatric dermatologists.

Abstract

Children recognize race and skin color from a young age. Given the important role of play in the development of children's understanding of social norms and cultural values, it is essential to incorporate toys and other educational materials with diverse skin tones to teach children about race and skin color. Analyses of children's books and toys have shown a lack of diversity in representation of races and skin types. Pediatric dermatologists are uniquely positioned to foster conversations about skin tone and advocating for more diverse materials in classrooms and clinics. In this manuscript, we discuss best practices and resources for facilitating discussions on skin tone with children in the dermatology clinic.