Let’s face it; most of the fairytales that we read were whitewashed. In fact, the West did portray lesser-known communities in a stereotypical manner that conditioned millions to perceive them in a negative light.
But there’s no doubt that this is changing and how! From feminist graphic novels to multicultural picture books that educate tiny tots to love and care for everyone equally, there is a diverse range of children’s literature available that have the potential to change the world as we know it.
Children aren’t born with preconceived notions about the people around them. They don’t automatically learn to hate or love someone. What happens is that they learn these behaviors and absorb these thought processes from their parents, their teachers, and the media that they are exposed to on a daily basis. As their role models, we have our work cut out to help them understand the practices of other communities and to be empathetic to everyone regardless of whom they are.
But this is more difficult than this sounds! A study by researchers from the University of Chicago found that children should be exposed to people coming from diverse backgrounds and communities at a very young age to prevent the growth of biases. So how do you make them understand the living practices and cultural beliefs of different communities so early on? How do you help them to respect diversity while accepting others as one of their own?
Apart from actually meeting people from different cultures, you can make the process easier by purchasing children’s books about diversity.
This is how you will bring the entire world to your home! Not only will your children find characters that they relate to, but the positive impressions that these books will leave will help your child to become a kinder, more compassionate human being. And the world definitely needs more of them now!
But there’s no doubt that this is changing and how! From feminist graphic novels to multicultural picture books that educate tiny tots to love and care for everyone equally, there is a diverse range of children’s literature available that have the potential to change the world as we know it.
Children aren’t born with preconceived notions about the people around them. They don’t automatically learn to hate or love someone. What happens is that they learn these behaviors and absorb these thought processes from their parents, their teachers, and the media that they are exposed to on a daily basis. As their role models, we have our work cut out to help them understand the practices of other communities and to be empathetic to everyone regardless of whom they are.
But this is more difficult than this sounds! A study by researchers from the University of Chicago found that children should be exposed to people coming from diverse backgrounds and communities at a very young age to prevent the growth of biases. So how do you make them understand the living practices and cultural beliefs of different communities so early on? How do you help them to respect diversity while accepting others as one of their own?
Apart from actually meeting people from different cultures, you can make the process easier by purchasing children’s books about diversity.
This is how you will bring the entire world to your home! Not only will your children find characters that they relate to, but the positive impressions that these books will leave will help your child to become a kinder, more compassionate human being. And the world definitely needs more of them now!
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