DEIBJ stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice. It is the way we work towards a program and society that values all voices and includes all people. Though there are some who believe that young children should not learn about DEIBJ because they are too young and aren’t born with prejudices, we know from research that children as young as six months old will show a preference for faces of their own racial group– the beginnings of “in-group/out group” designation. However, that effect is reduced when the infants grow up in diverse neighborhoods.
New film by Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo available to stream for free!
Wonderful resources and opportunity to reflect on anti-bias education
Reflecting on Anti-bias Education in Action: The Early Years features vignettes of anti-bias strategies in early childhood classrooms interspersed with teachers reflecting on their practice. Debbie and John partnered with filmmaker Filiz Efe McKinney of Brave Sprout Productions to create a film that shifts the focus away from the talking heads of experts and on to the voices of teachers committed to equity on a daily basis. By taking viewers into diverse early childhood classrooms, the film seeks to demonstrate the importance of teacher reflection on identity, context, and practice in anti-bias education and provides a much-needed resource for teacher education and professional development.
Adapted from Janet Gonzalez-Mena and Navaz Bhavnagri these questions are helpful for providers to self reflect when struggling with a family’s practice, that is different than their own.
This reading from the Head Start Early Childhood Learning and and Knowledge Center for Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness revisits the Multicultural Principles handbook from 1991. It provides updated research and information on key points including:
- Culture has an influence on the beliefs and behaviors of everyone.
- Culture is passed from generation to generation.
- Culture is dynamic and changes according to the contemporary environment.
- Home language is a key component of children’s identity formation.
- Successful programs respect and incorporate the cultures of children and families.
The first principle is “Every individual is rooted in culture”. To view all of the updated principles visit ECLKC.
This resource offers tips for choosing culturally responsive books for children and how to check for stereotyping and bias. There is a worksheet included that can be used when evaluating a children’s book and links to other helpful resources. Check out the Head Start National Center on Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness for more information and resources.
Selecting Culturally Appropriate Books Resource
Read this story by Patricia Grace that reminds us to be open to different experiences, ideas, and cultures.
John Nimmo is a professor of early childhood education at Portland State University and the co-author of Leading Anti-bias Early Childhood Programs. Listen as he talks of how to incorporate meaningful materials in a home setting.