Let’s think….. What did you do today that made someone else feel good?

What did you do today to make someone feel bad?

CH. 2Children and Prejudice Differences children notice

Louise Derman-Sparks (1980) author of Anti-Bias Curriculum reported that children 2-5 commented and asked questions on the following: People with disabilities-wheelchairs, glasses, physical impairments, & special

facilities Gender differences-male and female anatomy & perceptions of what boys and

girls can do. Physical differences-skin color, facial features, and differences in hair color,

texture, and style. Cultural differences-different languages, foreign accents, diets, and celebrations Family lifestyles-who lives with and takes care of the child, what families do

together, where they live, what pets they have, what rules discipline they follow.

Child Development The field of Child Development formally began in the mid-1920s when such wealthy American families as the Carnegies donated large amounts of money to establish child development departments and child study stations in colleges and universities throughout the country.

We interact with and influence the world and others, and in turn, the world and its people affect us.

These ongoing life experiences mesh with our age-related development which results in an ever growing sense of self and understanding of the world.

This developmental process can be seen in the progression of children’s awareness of and attitude toward human differences.

Awareness and understanding of racial and cultural differences and the development of prejudice is influenced by growth and changes in each physical, intellectual, social, and emotional development area.

https://youtu.be/GPVNJgfDwpw

Child DevelopmentMedias approach to helping our children develop: for example with women https://youtu.be/zRlpIkH3b5I

In each stage of development there is an awareness of attitudes toward race and culture:

Infants-newborn babies notice color contrasts and love to look at human faces. Around 4 months, they can tell difference between people who are familiar and people who are strangers, and they respond to and initiate more interaction with people and objects. Trust is developed in this period. They learn which feelings are acceptable and which feelings to hide or deny based on ho their parents and caregivers respond to them. Babies need adults and caregivers who will respond to their needs in a loving and timely fashion.

Stage of development Toddlers-sometime between 15-18 months, the drive toward self-awareness

reaches a high point when children can identify themselves as unique individuals. They can really take in all of the messages received about themselves and form a self-concept and self-esteem. They pick up on how people feel and will use this information to guide their behavior. Children begin to act out simple adult behavior they have observed. Toddlers are most likely to imitate their parents. This come from wanting to please the adults in their lives. They act out the home life.

Twos-Older toddlers using words as “mine” and “me”. To describe themselves. As their sense of self grows stronger, they go through a period of wanting to be independent and in control of themselves. They need to act on and prove their independence, and children who are not allowed to do things for themselves risk feeling shame. Children who are shamed or develop a shame based personality may need to put down others in order to convince themselves that they are worthy and acceptable.

Threes and Fours-preschoolers can name, identify, and match people according to their physical characteristics. Studies that have been conducted have displayed that children of color are aware of their skin color while “European American/white” children believe that the world is like them. Young children’s thinking is very limited, distorted, and inconsistent, which makes them susceptible to believing stereotypes. They base their thinking on how things look rather than on logical reasoning. They are also very limited in their understanding of time.

Stage of development Fives and Sixes-They continue to be interested in physical

differences and can easily describe themselves in terms of their own physical features. They are more group-oriented and can begin to understand cultural identity. They can begin to identify stereotypes as they struggle to discriminate between real and pretend. They increased language ability as their main way of showing aggression.

Sevens to Nines-Fully realize that their culture comes from their family, they add the concept of group membership to their own identity and use it to distinguish themselves from others. They can learn about people and events that have shaped the world. Schoolagers understand the feelings of shame and pride. They are able to talk about and describe these feelings. They develop a true sense of empathy for others, being much more able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. It is critical that we provide children with accurate information so their understanding does not stay like preschoolers. Such as stereotypes.

Research about Children’s Awareness of Human Differences Stages of Racial Awareness and Prejudice

https://youtu.be/FSdKy2q6pEY Infants-self-awareness Toddlers-identity self as an individual Twos-identify people with the words me, mine, and you Threes and Fours-better at noticing differences among people Fives and Sixes-understand cultural identity and enjoy exploring cultural

heritage of classmates Sevens to Nines-gender and racial constancy Nines and Twelves-interested in, and aware of, world events

What is Prejudice? Prejudice is simply pre-judging individuals based on attitudes and beliefs about an

entire of group. Prejudice is judging people first without getting to know them. Prejudice is an attitude, a belief, or a state of mind Its irrational It is difficult to reduce or change them. Anyone can be prejudiced-it transcends all racial and ethnic groups, gender, class, and

ability.

The Root of Prejudices-Stereotypes Stereotypes is another word for an overgeneralization or overly simplistic thought. Stereotypes are often based on misinformation, myths, and lies. Stereotypes trigger the distorted thinking known as prejudice, cause us to pre-judge a

person or an entire group of people without really knowing them, and must be addressed in our attempts to prevent and reduce prejudice because they are rooted in the subconscious.

Stereotypes can influence our behavior without our awareness. Young children are fed stereotypes through the media: the majority of their experience

with people who are different from themselves come from movies, videos, television, books, and toys.

https://youtu.be/nFbvBJULVnc

What is Prejudice? Discrimination

Stereotypes--- Prejudice. Prejudice--- Feelings

https://youtu.be/XnFUDx3wC-Y

https://youtu.be/A1zLzWtULig

https://youtu.be/PMJI1Dw83Hc

Prejudice + Feelings=Discriminatory Behavior

Passive discrimination: Ignoring, Avoidance, Distancing, & Silence

Aggressive Discrimination: Name-Calling, Teasing, taunting, rejecting, excluding, threatening, physical aggression (hitting, beating, lynching) and destroying property.

Cont. Prejudice How prejudice progresses

Noticing Differences Awareness Identification Attitude Preference Prejudice

Identifying and Classifying Attributes Developing attitudes and preference Becoming prejudiced

https://youtu.be/MxmiGxCaoJM

How to reduce and prevent prejudice in children P. 30

Recognize children are not born prejudiced

Prejudice is based on stereotypes, irrational thinking, limited experience, and modeling.

Recognize that prejudice can be prevented and reduced

Eliminate stereotypic materials and images from your environment. Carefully screen books and videos before using them with children

Use words of caring and tolerance daily “please, thank you, let’s cooperate,”

Encourage children to express their feelings

Expose children to human diversity. Help them recognize and celebrate human physical differences

Explore diversity in nature to teach that life comes in many forms and each life is dependent on others

Model comfortable, respectful, empathetic interactions with people who are different from you

Promote positive values. Use your favorite sayings to help children think “You can't judge a book by its cover, to have a friend, be a friend.”

How to reduce and prevent prejudice in children Use pretend play and storytelling to encourage children to take on

new perspectives

Discuss stereotypical messages on television, videos, books, toys, billboards, greeting cards, and holiday decorations.

Help children recognize intolerant and unfair behavior such as name calling, gossiping, and rejection

Encourage empathy for others. Ask children “What did you do today that made someone else feel good” What did you do today to make someone feel bad?”