Teaching Your Child About Cultural Diversity

The world is made up of all kinds of people.  Our children see and interact with people of many different races and ethnic groups every day.  Studies have shown that children begin to recognize gender and ethnic differences as early as 3 years of age.  It is our job to teach our children how to appreciate and value the qualities and differences that make each one of us unique.  Here are some helpful tips:

Create opportunities for your child to meet and play with children of different ethnicities, family structures, or socioeconomic backgrounds.

Help your child understand we are not all the same and we should appreciate each other's differences.  Talk about differences in a positive way to help children appreciate the unique qualities of all people.

Expose your child to artwork, foods, customs and books about different cultures.  Read your child books that teach tolerance and inclusion.  Here are some recommendations to get you started!

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

Wonder by RJ Palacio 

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Jo Marie S.

It's Okay to be Different by Todd Parr

I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

Whoever You Are by Mem Fox

All the Colors of the Earth by Sheila Hamanaka

A South African Night by Rachel Isadora

All the Way to America by Dan Yaccarino

Mama's Saris by Pooja Makhijani

The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania

The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss

"This is what kindness does, Ms Albert said.  Each little thing we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world." -Jacqueline Woodson, Each Kindness

Tell your child that even though another child may look different, eat different foods, and have different customs, we have more similarities than we do differences.  We all have hopes and dreams and feelings.  We should always treat each other with respect.

If you hear your child say something prejudicial about a person or group of people, tell your child that those kinds of words are hurtful to others and are totally unacceptable.  Children are not born to be hurtful to others of different ethnicities, family structures, or backgrounds.  Let's lead by example and make the world a more tolerant place!

Children's Classic is dedicated to bringing cultures together to teach peace, inclusion and equality!  We celebrate holidays, read books, and talk about different cultures from all around the world.  If you or someone you know speaks a different language or practices different customs that what your children are used to, we would LOVE to have them come to our centers and introduce them to the children!

Sincerely,

Your Children's Classic family