These Books Can Help You Explain Racism and Protest to Your Kids
The conversation about race needs to start early and keep happening, but many parents and caregivers are wondering how to talk about the deaths and unrest with children - and
how to keep the important conversations about race and racism going when we’re not in a moment of national outrage.
Books & Tips for Talking With Children About Race
Talking to children about race isn't easy, but it is necessary because racism can thrive when you don’t. Before teaching your children anything, it's important to understand their development level. You have no reason to hide anything from them, but you also don’t have to go into great detail and cause unnecessary stress if it’s beyond their comprehension levels.
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How to Talk to Children About Racism, Prejudice, and Protests – An Age-by-Age Guide
The world has again been shaken by trauma. Many children will be distressed and confused by what they are seeing, hearing, or experiencing. This is the time to
have the conversations that can build a more compassionate, kinder humanity, starting with the children close to you. If we want to raise children who celebrate diversity, and who feel empowered to call out injustice and prejudice in all its forms, we have to talk about what’s happening. First though, we have to help them feel safe.
31 Children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
Research from Harvard University suggests that children as young as three years old, when exposed to racism and prejudice, tend to embrace and accept it, even though they might not understand the feelings. By age 5, white children are strongly biased towards whiteness. To counter this bias, experts recommend acknowledging and naming race and racism with children as early and as often as possible.
Children’s books are one of the most effective and practical tools for initiating critical conversations about racism; and they can also be used to model what it means to resist and dismantle oppression.
Webinar: Moving Beyond Multicultural Education- Promoting Equity in Early Childhood Education
This
inspiring webinar is designed to create a shift in how early childhood professionals view and address educational equity in early childhood settings. The session will help you learn about implicit racial bias and its role in managing behaviour, learning experiences, and relationships. Participants will leave the webinar with a better understanding of the inequities and barriers as well as practices that promote more equitable learning experiences for all children.
Celebrating Diversity In Preschool
As early childhood programs become more culturally diverse, many educators are wondering how they can teach about diversity in the early years. In this HiMama preschool podcast, Jordana Shakoor talks about shifting perspectives on diversity and how
diversity is an exciting learning experience for both children and teachers. She talks about how genuine curiosity when learning about new cultures makes celebrating cultural differences a more natural process.
Free diversity posters to download and print
Here are some beautiful
posters that celebrate diversity to help you get your program ready for the fall!
Empower Dual Language Learners With Conversations!
All through college and professional development experiences, educators learn what to say to children. But, one of the greatest gifts you can give to young learners, especially DLLs, is to step back and let the children do the talking. Find out
what happens when young DLLs have more opportunities to talk, converse, and lead discussions!
Helping children become brave, informed and thoughtful about race
EmbraceRace is a multiracial community of parents, teachers and experts who identify, organize and create tools, resources, discussion spaces, and networks. Their goal is to nurture resilience in children of colour, nurture inclusive, empathetic children and programs, and support a movement of advocates for all children. Their
website is full of information, videos and tip sheets for caregivers like you.
Culturally Appropriate Positive Guidance with Young Children
Many parenting approaches and children's behaviours have cultural roots, and while it's important for early childhood educators to foster each child’s developing identity, it's also important to
share cultural lessons and help cultivate shared norms for your program. This article is full of examples and strategies for helping culturally diverse children and families to understand and negotiate differing norms and social expectations.
