Supporting Healthy Identity Development – The Importance of Identity |
English | Spanish |
Supporting Healthy Identity Development, excerpted from A Place to Begin: Working With Parents on Issues of Diversity by Dora Pulido-Tobiassen and Janet Gonzalez-Mena (California Tomorrow, 1999). This excerpt points out the importance of understanding the role that the development of identity plays in children’s’ later success. Questions such as: Why is a positive sense of identity important?; How and When Do Children Develop an Identity?; and Is the Process of Forming a Racial or Cultural Identity the Same for All Children? are asked and answered for educators and families to understand. |
Supporting Healthy Identity Development – Children of Color |
English | Spanish |
Supporting Healthy Identity Development (excerpt from A Place to Begin with Parents on Issues of Diversity) by Dora Pulido-Tobiassen and Janet Gonzalez-Mena. This excerpt discusses the racial identity development of children of color, and how providers, families and communities can foster strong and health racial identity development in children of color. |
“What if All the Kids are White?” |
English | Spanish |
“What if All the Kids are White?” provides the early thinking (2002) of Louise Derman-Sparks and Patricia G. Ramsey in relation to their later publication of the same name. “What If All the Kids Are White?”: Multicultural/Anti-Bias Education with Young Children and Families (Teachers College Press, 2006). The article gives a brief history of what whiteness means and how it affects today’s society. Goals and strategies for providing multicultural/anti-bias education to all-White or predominately White educational programs are introduced and discussed. A reference list is provided. |
Arab Stereotypes and American Educators |
English | Spanish |
Arab Stereotypes and American Educators by Marvin Wingfield and Bushra Karaman. This article describes the many instances of negative stereotyping found in American popular media, and explains how American educators many times serve to reinforce such negative images. The authors describe the impact of negative stereotyping on Arab American children and youth, and describe approaches that can be employed by educators to counter negative stereotyping, and infuse Arab history and achievements into curriculum and instruction. |
Diversity in People: What Are You? |
English | Spanish |
Diversity in People: What Are You? No simple answer for bi-racial people. From Penn State University Journal on Diverse Issues, January/February 1999. This article briefly reviews the issues faced by bi-racial children and youth in developing a positive and strong self-identity. Tips are provided for educators or other professionals to support healthy bi-racial development. |
Diversity Issues Are Sneaky |
English | Spanish |
Diversity Issues Are Sneaky by Lisa Lee. A reflection about the ways in which cultural identification and biases are formed in children and how parents of color can work to cultivate a strong positive cultural identity in their children as well as provide them access to all of the opportunities available to those in dominant culture. Also discussed are the challenges of educating White children to grow to recognize and understand their own culture and the privilege that it provides, as well as to work with others for social justice. |
Legacy: For My Children |
English | Spanish |
Legacy: For My Children by Donald Edward Tillery (1989). A poem from a father to his children, reflecting on his hopes, dreams and the realities of racism and the struggle for freedom in America. |
Negotiating Cultural Conflicts |
English | Spanish |
Negotiating Cultural Conflicts: Building a Culturally Relevant, Anti-Bias Approach in Early Childhood Programs by Ellen Wolpert. Presented at the 2000 National Association for the Education of Young Children conference, this set of short situations present cultural conflicts that could occur in an early childhood setting, highlighting the different values and beliefs of caregivers within the setting. Each vignette is followed by guiding questions. A helpful tool for a workshop with teachers from different backgrounds. |
Taking a Culturally Sensitive Approach in Infant/Toddler Programs |
English | Spanish |
Taking a Culturally Sensitive Approach In Infant/Toddler Programs by Janet Gonzalez-Mena (excerpt from Young Children). This article describes four possible outcomes of conflict that arises because of cultural differences amongst families and providers. Living examples of the four outcomes are described. |
Anti-Bias Curriculum: Tools for Empowering Young Children |
English | Spanish |
Anti-Bias Curriculum: Tools for Empowering Young Children by Louise Derman-Sparks and the A.B.C. Task Force. Presents a brief introduction to the principles discussed in the renowned publication of the same name. Gives examples of an anti-bias approach and how it can affect children’s’ thinking and actions. |
Children, Race and Racism: How Race Awareness Develops |
English | Spanish |
Children, Race and Racism: How Race Awareness Develops by Louise Derman-Sparks, Carol Tanaka Higa, and Bill Sparks. This article is based on a two-part study conducted in Southern California during 1978-80. A comprehensive discussion of the ways in which children construct understandings about identity, race, language and cultural identification, throughout periods/stages of child development. |
Overview of the Development of Ethnic, Gender, Disability, and Class Identity and Attitudes in Children and Youth |
English | Spanish |
Overview of the Development of Ethnic, Gender, Disability, and Class Identity and Attitudes in Children and Youth. A brief description of the stages of development that children and youth move through in developing attitudes about race, class and other differences. |
Respecting Body Size |
English | Spanish |
Respecting Body Size by Trisha Whitney. An article that discusses size discrimination, which are biases against large children and people. Gives recommendations and strategies for including, valuing and promoting self-esteem and acceptance of large children in preschool programs. |
Supporting Healthy Identity Development – White Children |
English | Spanish |
Supporting Healthy Identity Development (excerpt from A Place to Begin with Parents on Issues of Diversity) by Dora Pulido-Tobiassen and Janet Gonzalez-Mena (California Tomorrow, 1999). This excerpt discusses the racial identity development of White children, and how providers, families and communities can foster strong and health racial identity development in White children. |
Multicultural/Anti-bias Education in All-White Programs |
English | Spanish |
Multicultural/Anti-Bias Education in All-White/Predominantly White Programs by Louise Derman-Sparks and Patricia Ramsey. A brief statement about the importance of working from an anti-bias approach with White children, talks about White identity development and the needs White children have in developing racial identity. |
Finding a Voice |
English |
Finding a Voice by Linda Irene Jiménez. A story of a woman’s development of her identity as a Mexican-American finding her voice in the midst of much struggle during the 1950’s and 1960’s. A powerful story of family, pride, culture, and the strong influence that school and society can have on children and youth as the develop their identity. |
The Challenges of Being Biracial |
English | Spanish |
The Challenges of Being Biracial by Colleen E. Almojuela (excerpt from A Climate of Harmony and Hostility: Identity Development for Indipinas (2000)). A powerful refelction of the life and development of a Pilipino and Indigenous (Indipina) woman who grew to be a leader in her community and others. |
Changing Awareness |
English |
Changing Awarenessby Barbara Yasui. A reflection of a Japanese American woman’s journey through a bi-cultural experience, and the struggle to integrate her own positive childhood experiences with the child development theories she learned in higher education institutions as a teacher of young children. |
My Fork in the Road: Where Do I Go From Here? |
English | Spanish |
My Fork in the Road: Where Do I Go From Here? by Daisy A. Talob-Lapinid. A brief reflection from a participant in the California AECY Leadership in Diversity Project. The writer speaks about the journey towards understanding and freedom. |
Personal Story |
English | Spanish |
Personal Story by Theressa Lenear. A reflection of experience of a woman with African and Native ancestry, a powerful description of the journey of her life in Alaska. |
The Power of Silence |
English | Spanish |
The Power of Silence by Marion Hironaka Cowee. A brief story highlighting one student’s courage to use her power to be silent in the midst of a classroom where social justice was not a part of the discussion. |
Discrimination Takes Many Forms |
English | Spanish |
Discrimination Takes Many Forms by LuAnne Veham. The writer reflects back on her childhood, where her family was discriminated against because of her father’s occupation. She remembers being ashamed of her father’s job, and looking back after her father has passed away, she reflects on his hard work and dedication to his family. |
Doing Anti-Bias Work With Whites: Sharing Our Ideas & Experiences |
English | Spanish |
Doing Anti-Bias Work With Whites: Sharing Our Ideas & Experiences. This document list questions and answers that were asked of trainers in addressing the issue “How do we do effective anti-bias and anti-racism work with white people?” |
Sharing Our Journey…Following the Call to Anti-Bias Identity |
English | Spanish |
Sharing Our Journey…Following the Call to Anti-Bias, Anti-Racism Identity by Mary Pat Martin. The author discusses bias incidents and the effect that they have on observers. As agents of anti-bias change, she recommends actions that can be taken to ensure that racist, bias remarks do not go unadreesed, but are supported with opposing messages. |
Anti-bias Education Articles
Article sections and sub-sections
Anti-bias Curriculum
Identity Development
Language Development
Parent Resources
Anti-Bias Curriculum
Classroom Environment
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Cultural & Racial Diversity
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Working with Parents
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Working with Educators
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Identity Development
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Language Development
First-Language Acquisition
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Bilingual Development
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Parent Resources
Diversity
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Language Development
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Choosing a Child Care Program
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Posted: July 10, 2014