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How Do You Teach Children Multiculturalism?
Early childhood is the perfect moment to teach children multiculturalism.This article tells you how to incorporate multiculturalism in preschool.
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Early childhood is the perfect moment to teach children multiculturalism because this is when they begin to know children of different cultures, backgrounds, languages and races. We can address their curiosity using different educational tools and methods as they observe differences between them and other children. This article tells you how to incorporate multiculturalism in preschool.
How Do You Teach Children Multiculturalism?
Although some believe that children are too young to learn about diversity and multiculturalism in preschool, research indicates that children begin to understand notions regarding race, traits or social status by age five. Their understanding relies on what they have learned from adults and their immediate environment. Teaching them by inspiring an open mind, kind and compassionate behaviour, and an empathic attitude towards all peers is paramount.
Diversity in early care and education can be taught by creating an environment that promotes inclusive experiences in the early learning centre, ensuring the educational space and the lessons taught reflect the similarities and differences of all children.
The teaching methods you use in the classroom shape how children perceive multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion.
The Reggio Emilia approach, for example, aims to strengthen the sense of identity in each child by promoting diversity and inclusion in all their needs and abilities. Some of the most relevant methods you can use to teach children multiculturalism are:
Choose lessons themes that enable children to show who they are
These themes allow them to speak about their culture, background and family traditions so that their colleagues learn more about them.
Use learning materials like toys, books, and presentations that showcase the different characteristics of each culture, ethnicity or race in your classroom. This diversity in learning materials enables kids to acknowledge what they have in common with their peers and teaches them how to interact with those different from them.
Organize celebrations that highlight the diversity of children in your classroom
Holidays are a great opportunity to celebrate the diversity of the children in your classroom. You can ask them to speak about the decorations and foods their families prepare for the holidays and encourage them to present their customs and traditions during these holidays. You can schedule throughout the year multicultural events celebrations like the Jewish Hanukkah, the Hindu Diwali or the Chinese New Year to showcase the achievements of different cultures.
Use educational materials to celebrate similarities and differences
Children are very responsive to what they learn when you involve them directly in the educational process. For example, by asking them to create artwork that displays how they see themselves and the children who are different, they can express how they perceive the similarities and differences between them and the other kids.
You can create with the children a large diagram listing the colour of their skin, eyes and hair, their favourite foods, stories, holidays, family traditions and other items that highlight how they are similar or different from their peers.
Display these works somewhere visible in the classroom so the children can learn to acknowledge and value diversity.
Have “Questions and answers” regular sessions to support children in knowing better their colleagues
Organise regular sessions where children can ask their peers what makes their culture different and unique, from how they celebrate holidays like Christmas to customs and traditions found only in certain cultures. This encourages children to acknowledge their uniqueness and share it with others.
These “Q&A sessions are the perfect opportunity to promote diversity in early care and education because children can ask potentially sensitive or personal questions regarding the physical appearance of other children in your classroom. By voicing children’s curiosity in this educational-led environment, they learn how to politely formulate questions and respect the traits that make their colleagues different from them.
Promote empathy and teach children about its role in better understanding their colleagues
Teach children multiculturalism by talking in your classroom about how sometimes it is difficult to be different and how being different can generate feelings of fear or lack of self-confidence. Then ask the children to imagine they are different in a group where all the others are alike and to express what they believe would make them feel better. This enables the little ones to get in touch with and exercise empathy, defined as “the ability to understand or feel what another person is feeling, from their perspective“. Children become more aware of why being different can be difficult, and this helps them generate ideas about how they can help someone experiencing these feelings gain self-confidence and self-esteem. It also shows them how to feel valued instead of alone.
Discuss openly stereotypes and biases
Most adults acquire a biased attitude when they are children. You can discourage this approach by explaining to children what biases and stereotypes are and how hurtful they can be, especially to those who are different in one or more ways. Help develop a sense of fair treatment, understanding and compassion in the children in your classroom by telling them why they should not treat others differently because of their cultural background, physical traits or gender. These free discussions, where you encourage children to voice their opinions or ask questions, will make them more likely to grow into adults who display fair treatment of everybody, no matter how different they are.
By the role model, children will be happy to follow
Children are like sponges; their minds and behaviour absorb everything they see in the adults close to them.
As a teacher, you must manifest a genuine interest in the cultural background and features that make each child unique. Treating with respect, understanding and having an open heart and mind teaches children to do the same now and in their adult life.
When you help children who struggle to express their ideas or feelings or who display tantrums, regardless of their cultural background, when you explain why certain behaviours are not beneficial for them or for those around them and when you assist children in better understanding themselves, you create an environment of mutual trust, respect and self-confidence that all children appreciate and begin to see as a natural state.
You will always have children of different cultural backgrounds in your classroom. It’s your mission to make them feel accepted, praised and valued for their unique traits, development and abilities and to teach them about multiculturalism and diversity by promoting an environment focused on understanding and respect.
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Our early childhood centre environments strongly reflects our inspiration – The Reggio Emilia philosophy, from Reggio Emilia, Italy.
We provide a creative and open ended environment that encourages infinite learning for the children and strong relationships between teachers, children and families.
The day’s routines are flexible. At the same time, care is taken to recognise and respect each child’s needs.
Why Choose a Bright Beginnings Early Learning Centre?
- Encouraging the use of natural materials
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- Teaching team inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach supports your child’s creative potential.
- Healthy, tasty hot meals cooked fresh on site
- 20 ECE hours available/free sessions for 3 year olds
- A boutique, homely feel to our centres
- Strong connections between teachers and whanau.
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We are so happy that our son is a part of the Bright Beginnings family. The staff have been so welcoming and caring since the day he joined here. He has the freedom to explore and experiment as he learns about the world around him. With each passing day, he is growing into a confident and independent young boy, while building friendships and learning important life skills. We are also especially happy that he gets nutritious meals everyday, an important concern for us as parents. Most importantly, he loves it so much here that he can't wait to be back at the Centre every morning! As parents, we can go about our day with the assurance that our son is in good hands within a safe environment. Thank you to the entire BBELC team for that, Devika.
Bright Beginnings has and is a second home to both my son and now my daughter. Amber loves coming to the centre everyday and to see the relationship she has with the teachers is very special. We love everything Bright Beginnings embodies and are thankful to have found this centre.
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Dillon absolutely loves his new big boy class. He even asks us if he can go on a Saturday and Sunday. Thanks all for making going to school so easy for us. Thanks, Anika.
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THANK YOU for helping my kids explore new things. You are all amazing. Like what I always say to the teacher, I don't know how you all do it but the teachers here at BBELC are SUPERHEROES! As parents we feel your passion, dedication and love.
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