Diversity

Now more than ever our communities are comprised of a mix of people from many nationalities, ethnicities, colors, and cultures. Our differences may be evident in our appearances, but also in ways that are not always visible such as our gender, language, age, abilities and economic status. As classrooms and society become more culturally diverse, early childhood educators must be aware and responsive to the needs of children and support their learning and development with cultural competence. Within this topic are resources related to:

• Gain an understanding of common terms related to diversity, equity and racial bias.
• Recognize and critically reflect upon one’s own cultural biases
• Begin to develop strategies for creating more inclusive classroom environments
• Understand the role of culture in the learning and development of young children