January 2008

Diversify in Futures

Welcome back!  I hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful break.

I want to thank those of you who were able to hear Katie Kissinger at our January meeting speak on diversity.  I invite any and all questions this may have brought up for you.  Diversity is "near and dear" to my heart, and I am passionate about teaching diversity to young children as they are our future.  Prejudice is learned.  Consequently, I believe acceptance can also be learned.  Through an education of differences and similarities children begin to realize differences is not something to fear, but rather something to embrace.  It is just different.

But first understanding differences within our own families and cultures, we can begin to understand differences among other cultures, races, genders, ableness and other groups which have been left out of our mainstream society due to their "difference."  Children are very accepting and willing to learn about everything and everybody.  When Suzie says, "Why is that lady so fat?" We need to respond with an honest answer which is not hurtful to the individual.  "People come in all sizes.  Uncle Bob is large, Aunt Jen is small.  That lady is large."  By answering their question honestly when they ask them, or postponing until later with acknowledgment that you will get back to them, they learn about the difference in an open, honest way rather then fearing something must be terribly wrong because "we don't talk about that!"

My realization of children's ability to accept differences came 15 years ago.  My nephew was born with legs to the knee and arms to the elbow.  His condition was not known until birth.  As an adult hearing the news, I was concerned about how both children and adults would treat him.  I spoke with my nieces who were 8 and 11 about my concerns.  They told me, "He'll be fine, Auntie Sam.  He is different, but that doesn't mean he can't play and learn like us."  It was then I realized it was adults with our established adult knowledge that feared differences, not children.

My nieces grew up in an environment where various abilities were accepted as the norm.  Due to this environment, they had no concerns about their cousin's ability to make his way in the world.  My goal is to help children find an environment filled with differences so they may experience the world without fear of differences.

Last updated by lpaulson on Jan 22, 2008 at 08:00 PM