Promoting Diversity within the Early Childhood Classroom

Early childhood classrooms are becoming more diverse in various ways: Cultural, racial, physical, religious beliefs, linguistic (exposing children to various languages), and family dynamics to name a few. However, diversity is not always displayed and shared within the classroom.

At this point we as early childhood educators have to ask ourselves why our classrooms are not promoting diversity. Is it because we do not understand different cultures and races?

Why do you feel diversity is not being promoted consistently within the early childhood classrooms?

Diversity within early childhood programs can go a long way with reducing prejudice because children will gain knowledge of various cultures at a younger age. Knowledge and exposure are the true keys to reducing all forms of prejudice.

Early childhood educators should be active in exposing children to the various cultures within their center as well as cultures not represented at the center. When children come from various cultures and races the families have different child rearing practices. These have to be recognized in order to provide the best learning environment for the children. When you have a child that does not speak English you cannot assume that their language is delayed because they are not advancing with emergent literacy as well as the other children. Staff can also have the opportunity to learn about various cultural customs and parenting styles that will provide a greater understanding of the children and families that they provide service.

A classroom environment that is demonstrating respect for various cultures will provide at a minimal the following: A variety of materials portrayed in real and non-stereotypic ways. Racial and cultural pictures and artifacts will be displayed. Real items that can be found in the children’s home along with photos of the children and their families will be incorporated into the classroom.

Teachers will create an environment within the classroom where the students and families feel comfortable. Teachers will provide a variety of cultural materials. The children will be eager to explore their environment, while engaging and learning about different cultures. There should be a table with various materials from different cultures. The materials should be labeled with a description of each artifact. There will be images on a board of different cultures with matching artifacts that the students can match themselves and the board displaying various cultures is at the children’s eye level. If there is another language spoken in the home there should be items labels in both the child’s native language and English. There should be books that represent various cultures. Hands-on activities should be provided to the children to allow them the opportunity to learn and mature through their interaction.