Handling Bias comments from a child

Most children that I have been in my classroom do not exhibit intentional bias towards anything or anyone.  I do work with very young children though so I get to be with them as they are learning to speak, comprehend and progress.  However, i have had the experience with my own child making a comment that was not appropriate in public.  For example, one day my son and I were at the grocery store and he blurted out, "That lady is Fat".  I immediately hushed him and explained that to him that was not the best way to describe that person.  Using the term "fat" may hurt that lady's feelings.  I gave him some better examples such as pointing out other features of the lady if he is trying to point her out such as her clothing, etc.  I also told him if he is wanting to talk about her size to quietly speak to me and use terms such as "larger than me or larger than you mama".  This son also has said things such as, "That old man gave it to me".  Then I corrected him by saying, "I think a better way to say that is "That older man over there gave it to me".  My son is old enough to understand the difference in these terms so I feel confident that this isn't too much for him to do.  

My first response about the large woman was quite hasty and startled my son.  He felt bad for pointing her out and was silent for quite some time.  I should not have been so abrasive with him and maybe used an example in his life to explain how it hurts a person's feelings when you point out their physical make up in such a way.  

I think my second example of handling my son's comments was better.  I think this is because the context in which the comment was made.  The first commented was more offensive in my mind whereas the second was a way of describing a person who gave him something.   

I felt in general that I had broken the cycle of how bias was handled when I was a child.  I can remember instances where I was physically corrected for missteps in my words.  I feel that I have identified and corrected the path placing my family on better road to change our core and lead an unbias life (Harro, 2008).

Harro (2008). Readings For Diversity and Social Justice.