The Benefits of Diversity
Oftentimes, parents do not realize the importance and benefit of providing opportunities for their children to interact with children who are culturally or physically different from them. When selecting child care, it is important to remember that children will develop their own sense of self-identity and feelings about others during these early years. It is at this time they will begin to realize that they are like other people in some ways and different in others.

A culturally diverse program may include:

• A multi-lingual staff
• Integration of children with special needs
• Celebration of holidays representing all cultures
• Encouragement for children to respect each other's differences
• Use of positive images relating to physical or cultural differences

Between the ages of 2 and 5, children become aware of race, gender, ethnicity, and disabilities. They also become sensitive to the positive and negative images presented by the people that they are in contact with. As a result, these young children can develop prejudices or misconceptions if the parents or teachers (primarily) do not intervene. Therefore, it is critically important that we, as adults, recognize and deal with any prejudices of our own. When bias exists due to gender, race, disability or social classes, it could very well create serious obstacles to a child's healthy development.

Differences may appear in many forms, such as:

• Relationships: Family, Age and Gender
• Values and Norms: Privacy, Respect, Group versus individual
• Dress and Appearance: Clothing, Hair, Grooming
• Beliefs and Attitudes: Religion, Position of genders, Social order/authority
• Food and Eating Habits: Food restrictions/taboos, Utensils, Table manners
• Work Habits and Practices: Work ethics, Rewards and promotions, Type of work
• Communication and Language: Dialect, Gestures and tones
• Physical: Appearance, Impairments, Limitations

Children who have physical disabilities can be severely harmed when their access is limited to the educational experiences necessary for well-rounded development. Children without disabilities can also be harmed when they are prevented from knowing and comfortably interacting with different types of people.

Parents can do several things to help their children overcome bias in their everyday lives, for example:

• Recognize that we live in a biased society in which children are consistently exposed to messages that may reinforce negative attitudes.
• Create a positive environment at home and school about cultural diversity
• Provide books, toys, dolls and TV programs that reflect diverse images.
• Show your child that you truly value diversity by having culturally diverse associations
• Initiate activities and discussions that build positive self-identity.
• Become informed of other cultures
• Provide opportunities for your child to interact with other children who are culturally and/or physically different from them.

Remember, developing a healthy identity and understanding of others who are different from you is a life long process.