We live in a highly diverse population of people, and, as much as we would like to ignore the fact that biases still exist in our society, we can’t. As parents, we have a necessary and challenging role to play in our children’s lives, as a teacher who models appropriate strategies when faced with situations of discrimination or prejudice. As an Early Childhood Educator, I have been taught the anti-bias approach for the education of young children. You see, although multicultural education has been a focus in our classrooms for over a decade, the idea of diversity (including all prejudices, such as issues of racism and sexism, ageism, et cetera) is becoming more complex, and needs to be taught to young children as a basis for an anti-bias value system. Did you know that preventing prejudice in your young child, and in our future generation actually begins with you? No pressure there, right? Wrong! You can have a hand in creating the possibility of a gradually emerging anti-bias society – a society in which all people, regardless of race, culture, ability, gender, are accepted, valued, respected, and included. This Black History Month, I encourage you to accept the challenge of preventing prejudice in your own children, and paving the way to an inclusive society.
Lana Kelly
Editor, momstown Belleville
As Louise Derman-Sparks points out so eloquently, "what issues (parents) see and hear from children, other parents, and society, and what they choose to act on or ignore, are strongly influenced by their own cultural beliefs, unexamined attitudes, discomforts and prejudice, as well as by their knowledge of children's development and learning and of societal biases." (reference below) In other words, in order to teach inclusion and anti-bias to our own children, we need to first examine ourselves and our own personal values and behaviours in the face of prejudices. For example, if you and your children have directly experienced discrimination or prejudice, how did you respond? If you responded positively and stood up to the injustice, your children will be directly impacted by your compassion, and likewise will show this compassion and inclusiveness to others in the future. If, on the other hand, you hold biases from experiences that have happened in your past, you may need to do a check on self-awareness, and expel these prejudices before your children formulate their own values (which may be a direct reflection of yours, due to the behaviour patterns that they have seen in you). Only when you, first, are able to examine yourself and explore your own feelings and attitudes toward issues of bias, are you then able to positively teach and model appropriate values and an anti-bias attitude in your children.
I encourage you to begin by doing the activities outlined in the book reference listed below. These anti-bias activities are intended to help you explore your own personal attitudes on such issues as family dynamics, race, culture, religions, class, and so on. Once you have examined your own personal values, and have developed an anti-bias approach, it is time to start preventing prejudice and encouraging anti-bias in your own children.
But how, you ask? The following are some simple strategies that parents can teach at home:
- Enable your children to develop a strong sense of self, which helps them to feel good about themselves (but not superior to others). There are many activities that you can do with your children which allow them to form their own self-identity. Encourage and give opportunities for your child to try a wide variety of activities, so that they are aware of what they are good at. Do an 'All About Me' theme book, so that your child can begin to acknowledge his or her differences and similarities by comparison to other children.
- Enable your child to feel comfortable with others. Providing social activities with children of all different backgrounds, values, et cetera is the key to your child developing empathy for other people. Although this is a hard skill to teach (empathy), as a parent your actions must convey this attitude. For example, take your child to volunteer with you at the local food bank, or to help distribute food hampers in an underprivleged neighborhood. If your child is exposed to a variety of different families from different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, and with differing challenges, he/she will develop feelings of compassion for others and a desire to help those in need.
- Enable your child to think critically and seriously about how they and others feel when encountering prejudices, and unjust situations. There are many books (some of which are listed below) in which you and your child can read and discuss together and as a family. Do not chastise your child for asking questions, even if it seems inappropriate or embarrassing (to you). Remember,iIt's never bad for your child to ask about what he's observed. Besides, if you give your child the idea that it isn't polite to discuss these differences, then you won't have the opportunity to correct any misconceptions he may have formed. Also, remember to respond to your child's comments on differences both directly and accurately. For example, explain to your child that a peer is in a wheelchair because he needs the wheelchair to get around, as his legs are too weak to hold up his body in order for him to walk, like your child walks.
- Enable your children to stand up for themselves and for others when in the face of unfairness and bias. Children learn what they see. Therefore, if they consistently see you, as a parent, stand up for what you believe in, your children will too. Help to develop in your child, a confidence that will exemplify their values, morals, and goals for creating an inclusive society.
Keep in mind that a sense of empowerment for your child will come with awareness. If your child is taught about anti-bias, prejudice, stereotypes, racism, then he/she will not be surprised when they face or see someone else face inequality. Your child (if you have been a good teacher in developing the anti-bias attitude) will then know how to act positively, and take a stand for justice, while identifying and forming the behaviour patterns that have been encouraged in their own value systems. Just think, you play a role in creating a society that is gradually emerging as anti-bias, where no person is left out, through the education of your child.
Worth taking a look at for Black History Month:
We need a Black History Month in order to help us to arrive at an understanding of ourselves as Canadians in the most accurate and complete socio-historical context that we can produce. As a nation with such diversity, all histories need to be known, all voices need to be expressed. Black history provides the binary opposite to all traditional histories. One needs traditional history to engender a common culture; one needs Black history to engender a clearer and more complete culture.
When the contributions of people of African descent are acknowledged, when the achievements of Black people are known, when Black people are routinely included or affirmed through our curriculum, our books and the media, and treated with equality, then there will no longer be a need for Black History Month.
(exceprt taken from the article: Why a Black History Month? By: Rosemary Sadlier
Lana Kelly( B.A, SSW, ECE, Montessori). For 20 years, Lana has been dedicated to helping children and families. In 2010, she published a book (The Sheepish Lamb) , aimed at building resilience to childhood anxiety. She is a mom to four daughters, and values her faith and family solidarity.
REFERENCES:
Saderman Hall, N., & Rhomberg, V. (1995). The Affective Curriculum. Scarborough: Nelson Canada.
CHILDREN'S BOOK LIST FOR PREVENTING PREJUDICE:
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Books-Childrens-Prejudice-Racism/zgbs/books/3135
http://www.scholastic.ca/clubs/images/5A15/I5A15_N.pdf
