Multicultural Ideas

For our QRIS assessment we have to have certain materials or be discounted. To meet the highest, a provider would need to meet diversity with these items......puzzles, books, displays, food, dress-up, dolls, art activities (skin tone paint, etc.), parent involvement, block peoples, music, etc. These are some of the ways I meet this requirement.

**midaycare** · 08-07-2015, 04:52 AM

A few of my links didn't post, so I will come back later and put the rest up.

**midaycare** · 08-07-2015, 04:55 AM

Originally posted by Annalee

For our QRIS assessment we have to have certain materials or be discounted. To meet the highest, a provider would need to meet diversity with these items......puzzles, books, displays, food, dress-up, dolls, art activities (skin tone paint, etc.), parent involvement, block peoples, music, etc. These are some of the ways I meet this requirement.

Ohhhh puzzles! What kind of puzzles do you use? I have yet to find multicultural puzzles.

Would you mind editing out links 3, 4, & 5 above? It contains personal info. Whoops!

**childcaremom** · 08-07-2015, 06:20 AM

In one of my previous groups I had families of different cultures. We spent one week on each family, learning a bit about each country of origin, some of their traditions, learned a few key words, and the families even brought in traditional dishes for our lunch and snacks. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved it. We made passports and received stamps for each activity we did.

**Annalee** · 08-07-2015, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by midaycare

Ohhhh puzzles! What kind of puzzles do you use? I have yet to find multicultural puzzles.

Would you mind editing out links 3, 4, & 5 above? It contains personal info. Whoops!

Discount school supply, constructive playthings, etc. have these puzzles...They are wood and very different shaped but I took a marker and drew out the pieces to make it age appropriate for my younger kids.

**Laurel** · 08-07-2015, 12:04 PM

I know this is going to sound odd so first to answer your question. I had baby dolls, books, etc. with different races/cultures but I really never had discussions with the children about 'differences' except one time in an interview. More on that later.

Mostly, I just had a high number of black children (I am white) in my daycare. I also had a few biracial children.

I kind of just felt that a discussion/activities on differences was unnecessary at this age as I just wanted them to identify each other as 'friends'. Actually I was curious to see if any of them even noticed race. None seemed to except one little girl who was half Hispanic and half white. I had a white lady come in who had adopted a black child. She visited with her child before enrolling him and this little girl asked about his color. Maybe she was confused as to why a white mom had a black child or maybe she had never seen a black child before, dunno. I am fair skinned so told her to put her arm next to mine and then the new baby's arm. I explained to her simply about different skin colors and told her to notice how the 3 of us had different colors. I told her basically that skin comes in all colors but it is all just skin. That's it. The mom signed on. No other child ever asked in 20 years about another child's skin color that I can recall.

I'm not so keen on having 'lessons' on 'differences'. Later on, as they get older, it is interesting to know about other cultures and traditions but with those 5 and under I think it is best to just answer questions that might come up (if any) and just let them all be friends.

I did have dolls, books, etc. that showed different races/cultures and sometimes when coloring in a coloring book, I'd color my faces various shades. So I guess I would say it was more subtle and not something I would bring attention to really.

Laurel

**CalCare** · 08-07-2015, 12:40 PM

I recently completed my diversity class for my AA and I got all kinds of assessment lists from that. The main idea is that each race should be represented equally. So if you have 6 dolls and 4 are white, and you have 2 black, you might be thinking, 'ok cool, I have diversity'. But, no. You would want to have 2 white, 2 black, 2 with Asian characteristics to be closer to an equal representation of the different races. Of course there are a huge variety of skin types and facial features and you can't have a hundred and one dolls to represent them, but having a couple of token non-white dolls isn't going to be equal.

Also we looked at disabilities, gender, ages, and professions. What is represented on the walls, in books, doll house dolls, baby dolls, books, art supplies and manipulatives.

Ideally, you want to have equal males and females (most baby dolls are girls or non-gender). You want to have books and posters that show children with disabilities doing activities- not just watching. You want to have books that show different clothing, culture, religions, family structures (2 moms, kids live with grandparents, adopted- different races, etc), different types of homes (apartments, houses, trailers etc), also you want to show non-gender stereotypes (dad holding a baby, grandma playing at the park with the kids, mom with her briefcase, dad buying groceries).

I've probably forgotten a few things but this is what the class was about. Also a big point of the class is that saying that children this age don't notice differences isn't true. They see all the differences and if we act like the differences don't exist (or say "no no we don't talk about that), we make differences bad. This young age is actually considered the ideal time to start the conversation and to make all types welcome and represented in the environment.

I have some links to share- coming up!

**CalCare** · 08-07-2015, 12:45 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkpUyB2xgTM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcAuO0PNnrs

These are some videos on youtube showing the way young kids view differences in race. Some of the views are pretty sad.

Edited to add: if you Google anti bias education, you'll find a lot of info.

**midaycare** · 08-07-2015, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by Laurel

I know this is going to sound odd so first to answer your question. I had baby dolls, books, etc. with different races/cultures but I really never had discussions with the children about 'differences' except one time in an interview. More on that later.

Mostly, I just had a high number of black children (I am white) in my daycare. I also had a few biracial children.

I kind of just felt that a discussion/activities on differences was unnecessary at this age as I just wanted them to identify each other as 'friends'. Actually I was curious to see if any of them even noticed race. None seemed to except one little girl who was half Hispanic and half white. I had a white lady come in who had adopted a black child. She visited with her child before enrolling him and this little girl asked about his color. Maybe she was confused as to why a white mom had a black child or maybe she had never seen a black child before, dunno. I am fair skinned so told her to put her arm next to mine and then the new baby's arm. I explained to her simply about different skin colors and told her to notice how the 3 of us had different colors. I told her basically that skin comes in all colors but it is all just skin. That's it. The mom signed on. No other child ever asked in 20 years about another child's skin color that I can recall.

I'm not so keen on having 'lessons' on 'differences'. Later on, as they get older, it is interesting to know about other cultures and traditions but with those 5 and under I think it is best to just answer questions that might come up (if any) and just let them all be friends.

I did have dolls, books, etc. that showed different races/cultures and sometimes when coloring in a coloring book, I'd color my faces various shades. So I guess I would say it was more subtle and not something I would bring attention to really.

Laurel

I don't actually have discussions on differences - that's kind of strange and counterproductive, I think. But I use materials in the environment so kids see differences from an early age by incorporating it into their play.

**Febby** · 08-08-2015, 01:50 PM

I do have a few of the Best Behavior books in the English/Spanish versions. Those books are pretty good about showing a variety of skin tones and, depending on my mood and group, I will sometimes read them in Spanish.

Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Hurting-palabras-lastimar-Behavior-English/dp/157542312X/ref=pd_sim_14_11?ie=UTF8&refRID=0Q4J73F9Q5KB7X9P94EC

http://www.amazon.com/Hitting-Behavior-English-Spanish-Edition/dp/1575423103/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VRPR80T3MG4FQ0XPQPT

http://www.amazon.com/Sharing-g%C3%A9rmenes-compartir-Behavior-English/dp/1575423685/ref=pd_sim_14_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QRS5EJN2CV6NHSJ29J6

And that would, sadly, probably be the highlight of my room's culture and diversity.

**Laurel** · 08-08-2015, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by midaycare

I don't actually have discussions on differences - that's kind of strange and counterproductive, I think. But I use materials in the environment so kids see differences from an early age by incorporating it into their play.

So do I. I know they 'see' it but I don't think they see the biases unless their family has them.

What I thought was the most beneficial in that regard is that I did have a lot of black children and white in my care so it seems that is the best way to experience cultures/colors is to live it. I realize that we can't always say who will choose to sign up but I was lucky.

Laurel

**midaycare** · 08-08-2015, 06:53 PM

Originally posted by CalCare

I recently completed my diversity class for my AA and I got all kinds of assessment lists from that. The main idea is that each race should be represented equally. So if you have 6 dolls and 4 are white, and you have 2 black, you might be thinking, 'ok cool, I have diversity'. But, no. You would want to have 2 white, 2 black, 2 with Asian characteristics to be closer to an equal representation of the different races. Of course there are a huge variety of skin types and facial features and you can't have a hundred and one dolls to represent them, but having a couple of token non-white dolls isn't going to be equal.

Also we looked at disabilities, gender, ages, and professions. What is represented on the walls, in books, doll house dolls, baby dolls, books, art supplies and manipulatives.

Ideally, you want to have equal males and females (most baby dolls are girls or non-gender). You want to have books and posters that show children with disabilities doing activities- not just watching. You want to have books that show different clothing, culture, religions, family structures (2 moms, kids live with grandparents, adopted- different races, etc), different types of homes (apartments, houses, trailers etc), also you want to show non-gender stereotypes (dad holding a baby, grandma playing at the park with the kids, mom with her briefcase, dad buying groceries).

I've probably forgotten a few things but this is what the class was about. Also a big point of the class is that saying that children this age don't notice differences isn't true. They see all the differences and if we act like the differences don't exist (or say "no no we don't talk about that), we make differences bad. This young age is actually considered the ideal time to start the conversation and to make all types welcome and represented in the environment.

I have some links to share- coming up!

I'm happy to read this, because it is how I set my daycare up. Not just a few token things here and there, but really thought out whether it's books, kitchen food, dolls, Barbies, etc. etc.

I don't do lessons on differences though. At least not like, "Let's learn about disabilities today ...". I just try to incorporate differences into play. I do however, have lessons on different countries around the world. But that covers a range of different topics. And yes, some of it is diversity.

**midaycare** · 08-08-2015, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by Laurel

So do I. I know they 'see' it but I don't think they see the biases unless their family has them.

What I thought was the most beneficial in that regard is that I did have a lot of black children and white in my care so it seems that is the best way to experience cultures/colors is to live it. I realize that we can't always say who will choose to sign up but I was lucky.

Laurel

I agree with kids not being biased unless their family is. I will add ... In my experience. I've never met a biased kid, and I've been working with kids a long time. Not in daycare, though. Their families attitude seems to pave the way for this.

**Unregistered** · 08-09-2015, 05:26 AM

Originally posted by CalCare

I recently completed my diversity class for my AA and I got all kinds of assessment lists from that. The main idea is that each race should be represented equally. So if you have 6 dolls and 4 are white, and you have 2 black, you might be thinking, 'ok cool, I have diversity'. But, no. You would want to have 2 white, 2 black, 2 with Asian characteristics to be closer to an equal representation of the different races. Of course there are a huge variety of skin types and facial features and you can't have a hundred and one dolls to represent them, but having a couple of token non-white dolls isn't going to be equal.

Also we looked at disabilities, gender, ages, and professions. What is represented on the walls, in books, doll house dolls, baby dolls, books, art supplies and manipulatives.

Ideally, you want to have equal males and females (most baby dolls are girls or non-gender). You want to have books and posters that show children with disabilities doing activities- not just watching. You want to have books that show different clothing, culture, religions, family structures (2 moms, kids live with grandparents, adopted- different races, etc), different types of homes (apartments, houses, trailers etc), also you want to show non-gender stereotypes (dad holding a baby, grandma playing at the park with the kids, mom with her briefcase, dad buying groceries).

I've probably forgotten a few things but this is what the class was about. Also a big point of the class is that saying that children this age don't notice differences isn't true. They see all the differences and if we act like the differences don't exist (or say "no no we don't talk about that), we make differences bad. This young age is actually considered the ideal time to start the conversation and to make all types welcome and represented in the environment.

I have some links to share- coming up!

This. Honestly, half of the things the OP posted are offensive imo or wouldn't count for me when the state comes. They don't want to see people in foreign outfits acting like they just got off the boat. Honestly, this 2015. People aren't wearing traditional costumes in their homelands most of the times unless it's for celebrations or something. I don't get say a child from African wearing a dashki. I get a child from Africa (or African parents) who wears what we do. I feel this post is more true.

Multicultural Ideas

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