Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Friday at work I had to bring four girls in my office because two of the girls didn't want their friend to play with one girl because she was "different".  That is what they told her on friend.  I had them explain what the word "different" meant.  They were quiet and stumbled on their words. I was very upset because the other girl was crying and didn't understand why they didn't want to play with her.  I really related with the little girl because when I was younger the girls in my class did the same thing.  We talked in my office for over an hour about how we should treat people and that everyone has feelings.  I also told them we do not judge people because of their skin color, way they look, if they are boy or girl.  They didn't like her because she didn't look like them, dressed like them and didn't have her own cell phone. Classism at its worst.  I can not control the world but I can control how the children in my center treat each other.   I wonder if I should talk to the parents but then honestly I believe the girls are learning from their parents, peers or society.  I guess I am so shocked how people feel that they can say any uneducated, racist, immoral comments to other people.  It makes me sick that people like that are teaching our young children.  How we break this sick cycle????