1. Chapter 8: Diversity and Young Children
Teaching Young Children
Fifth Edition
Michael L. Henniger
Developed by:
Kaye A. Marshall
Mt. Baker School District and Whatcom Community College

2. Goals: Chapter 8 Study how people develop attitudes towards diversity
Identify ways to encourage acceptance
Discover inappropriate responses
Learn to integrate diversity throughout the curriculum

3. “When we do not actively include, we actively exclude.” -L. Talusan

4. Video: Love Has No Labels

5. What messages about diversity can be found in children’s books?

6. Diversity
Considered an essential element of early care and education in this text
Directly influences other essential elements
Child development
Play
Guidance
Working with families

7. Attitudes Toward Diversity
Racial/cultural
Attitudes develop as early as age 2½
Gender
Girls don’t have the same educational opportunities as boys (AAUW)
Sexual orientation
Prepare to address this issue

8. Attitudes: Special Needs, ELL, Religion
Children with special needs
Model appropriate interactions
English Language Learners
Positive attitude is essential
Religious Diversity
Spirituality: belonging, respect for self and others, awareness and appreciation of the unknown (to develop inquiry)

9. Encouraging an Acceptance of Diversity
Begin with self-analysis
Describe your own racial/ethnic identity
Talk about differences
Talk about similarities
Expose children to diversity
Plan for a variety of experiences with toys, materials, pictures, books

10. Inappropriate Responses to Diversity
Ignore diversity
The tourist approach
Simplistic, stereotypic
Isolated, discontinuous lessons
Leads to belief that European American perspective is the most important
Disconnects multicultural content from main curriculum

11. Integrating Diversity Throughout the Curriculum
Antibias curriculum
Four goals: Each child will…
Demonstrate self-awareness, confidence, family pride, and positive social identities
Express comfort and joy with human diversity; accurate language for human differences and deep, caring human connections
Increasingly recognize unfairness, have language to describe unfairness, and understand that unfairness hurts
Demonstrate empowerment and the skills to act, with others or alone, against prejudice and/or discriminatory actions

12. Integrating Diversity: Antibias, cont.
Five-step approach
Make a personal commitment
Organize a support group
Do consciousness-raising (self-analysis) activities
Make a plan for implementation
Move slowly and carefully

13. Integrating Diversity: Toys, Games, Literature
Portray similarities and differences
Games
Natural exposure to difference cultures
Quality children’s literature
Find books that represent the children in your class AND introduce new cultures

14. Integrating Diversity: Environment, Experiences
Visual-aesthetic environment
Pictures, posters, art reproductions
Artifacts, music
Meaningful diversity experiences
Bring diverse people to program
Plan for informal and focused activities
Carefully consider holidays

15. Integrating Diversity: ELL
English language learners and the curriculum
Acknowledge/support home language and culture
Provide multiple ways to demonstrate success
Understand that language learning can be difficult
Involve families (NAEYC, 1995)
VIDEO: ESL Bob

16. Integrating Diversity: Individuals with Special Needs
Develop inclusive environments
Guide and adapt when needed
Select appealing/engaging toys and materials
Use assistive technology
Strengthen social interactions
Use prompts
Collaborate with other professionals
VIDEO: Susan Laughs

17. Integrating Diversity: Gender
Language
Carefully self-assess for subtle, but powerful messages
Accessibility
Encourage children to try new activities, provide novel materials, model nontraditional play
Attitudes
Identify and understand your own feelings
VIDEO: Like a Girl
VIDEO: Transgender Child:

18. What do you notice?

20. Summary Attitudes toward Diversity
Encouraging an Acceptance of Diversity
Inappropriate Responses to Diversity
Integrating Diversity Throughout the Curriculum