How do you handle discrimination with 4-5 year olds?

Question

I have a mixed ratial group where they are starting to point out some differences that they feel are negative - like color, weight, shape of nose, eyes. I also want to know how you would respond to two 4 year old boys who say they want to marry each other and another child tells them that boys can only marry girls. Technically they could. What would you say?

Answer 1

racism is a learned behavior - you have the perfect opportunity to create a theme and make this a positive learning experience.  Bring two children in front  - two girls one with blonde hair, one with dark hair and ask what is the same, what is different - then in mock horror "what?  they don't have the same color hair?  Can they still be friends?" the kids will laugh and say yes - then bring on the dark skin and light skin.  Response to two 4 year olds boys wanting to get married - tell them we all love each other and it doesn't matter if we are boys or girls.  Let them get that first lesson from you - that lesson of acceptance.  Having this oppportunity in my classroom would just get me all excited to be a part of their awareness of the world around us.  Have fun with it!!

Answer 2

For the racial things, it sounds like you need to have an awareness unit - what makes us special?  Instead of getting down on them for being wary of differences, show them how differences can be a good thing.

They're only 4 - at this age, these reactions are learned.  Children that young only see color and race when it is taught to them...so teach them something different.

As far as the marriage thing goes...don't even touch it.  That is soooo not your job.  That is something to be handled within the individual families - just redirect, let the parents know it came up, and let them handle it.  Unless you'd like a lot of irate parents coming down on you for overstepping your bounds, don't go there.

Answer 3

The marriage thing, will pass, and if it doesn't their parents will deal with it. As far as questions about being different simply tell them that Jesus made us all different and that is what makes each one of us special, unless youare in a public school and in the case I wouldn't want you to lose your job.

Answer 4

A few  Ideas that can be used with a "Friendship" theme or through out the year...

APPLES---DIFFERENT COLORS --ALL THE SAME INSIDE

Set a red, a yellow, and a green apple on the table. Ask children to name the colors. Cut the apples open and talk about how they have different colors on the outside... but are the same on the inside, just like people. Enjoy the snack!

This is similar to the "Apples" above...

Take a carton of WHITE EGGS and a carton of BROWN EGGS. The children will see that the eggs are of different shades and colors. Ask them what they think the insides of the brown eggs look like and what the insides of the white eggs look like. Discuss how people are all different by their appearance on the outside. Then, have a child break open a white egg into a bowl---and another child bread a brown egg in to a separate bowl. The concept is that the eggs may all look different on the outside, but the insides are the same, just like us.

Make something with the eggs ...enjoy!!! :-)

DIVERSITY THOUGH ART...

#1...Put some water color paints on a sheet of paper... Have children use water bottles to spray the sheet. Let them watch as all of the colors run and blend together to make something beautiful.

#2...Paint on wet paper. Get a big sheet of paper completely wet. Dip it right into water in the sink. Then smooth it out on a cookie sheet or plastic tabletop. Brush thick, wet watercolors on top. They blurr and fuzz out on the wet paper, blending together and making wonderful shapes.

AFTER USING EITHER METHOD...

Talk to the children about how everyone is different but they all blend together in work and play to make the world wonderful.

ACTIVITIES TO OFFER IN YOUR PROGRAMS

Choose toys and games that REFLECT A VARIETY OF CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. Include multi-racial dolls, pretend play items and art supplies in true-to-life skin tones. Don’t forget the Multicultural skin-colored crayons and Colorations Multicultural Dough (Discount School Supply has them)…it’s amazing---most of the programs I’ve visited for consulting purposes don’t have these items in their centers.

Regularly READ STORIES that feature other cultures. There is an excellent "Multi-Cultural Themed" book thread in

http://www.after-school-care.com/Replies...

The posts are listed for individual ages... Pre-School is #33

The Putumayo Kids record label (www.putumayo.com) produces upbeat, culturally authentic MUSIC— including folk, Celtic, reggae, Latin and African music.

...Netflix (www.netflix.com) has a foreign children and family category that features award-winning films –

Pita, naan, and arepas are all types of bread. TRY FOODS from different cultures … Help kids make connections between a culture and its food!

GAMES...Games are good ways to share other cultures; research games that originated in different countries.

If you are a parent, visit different ethnic neighborhoods to shop in the markets and eat at authentic restaurants. Attend ethnic festivals in your community. Art museums and musical concerts and dance performances often feature multicultural themes.

FRIENDSHIP SNACKS

#1.....Have each child bring in a half cup of their favorite snack (You can offer parents suggestion at this point: cereal, raisins, crackers, etc) When you get all of the snacks--- mix them all in a huge bowl and serve them for snack.

Talk about how DIFFERENT THINGS GO TOGETHER to make something very good. This helps get the ideas of diversity, sharing, cooperation, and trying new things across.

#2....Do the same as above, however, USE FRUIT instead of snack mixes. Have each child bring in one can... or piece of fresh fruit...and then talk about how different things go together, to make something very good. This helps get the ideas of diversity, sharing, cooperation, and trying new things across. (Donate any left-over cans to a shelter)

This activity has done in many programs and classrooms...

THE CRAYON BOX...

Need:

Crayons, pencils, markers, paper , the following poem.

With a black marker on white paper- Draw a large CRAYON SHAPE and make copies for the children to use...Or you can download the pattern at: kinderart.com/kindercolor/crayon.htm

What You Do:

Read the following poem to your students.

Next--The children draw their own portrait on the pre-made crayon patterns--when complete--have children cut out their crayon self-portrait.

The self-portraits are then placed in a "giant box of crayons" shape-- that you can create using construction paper.

The children’s pictures are lined up next to each other and in rows—just as crayons in a crayon box would be.

___________________________

THE CRAYON BOX THAT TALKED

Poem by: Shane DeRolf

While walking into a toy store the day before today

I overheard a crayon box with many things to say

"I don't like Red!" said Yellow and Green said "Nor do I"

"And no one here likes Orange but no one knows just why"

"We are a box of crayons that doesn't get along

Said Blue to all the others "Something here is wrong"

Well, I bought that box of crayons and took it home with me

And laid out all the colors so the crayons all could see

They watched me as I colored with Red and Blue and Green

And Black and White and Orange and every color in between

They watched as Green became the grass and Blue became the sky

The Yellow sun was shining bright on White clouds drifting by

Colors changing as they touched becoming something new

They watched me as I colored - they watched me till I was through

And when I finally finished I began to walk away

And as I did the crayon box had something more to say

"I do like Red!" said Yellow and Green said, "so do I"

And Blue you were terrific! So high up in the sky

"We are a box of crayons each one of us unique

But when we get together the picture is more complete"

There are also other suggestions on the website :-)