Parenting & Family
Fun Ways to Teach Your Kids About Diversity & Inclusion
We are all different, special and most importantly, worthy. It’s imperative that we do our part to teach our children to be compassionate and empathetic towards others. Seeing race, disabilities, gender, sexuality, culture and the like is important, and understanding that none of those factors should affect how we view and treat others is crucial. It’s never too early to teach your kids about diversity and inclusion, and here are some tools and resources to help.
Books
A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagara
An ABC book for parents who want to immerse their kids into activism, environmentalism, civil rights, LGBTQ rights and everything activists fight for.
Noah Chases the Wind by Michelle Worthington and Joseph Cowman
Noah is different. He’s inquisitive and perceives the world in ways others don’t always understand, and now he’s on a journey to unearth what autism means for him.
We’re Different, We’re the Same by Bobbi Kates and Joe Mathieu
From the crew at Sesame Street, teach your child to celebrate the racial rainbow, which makes the world more interesting and wonderful.
How Mamas Love Their Babies by Juniper Fitzgerald and Elise Peterson
Working mothers come in all forms and professions. This book challenges the idea that only moms of specific jobs can result in good parenting.
Why Johnny Doesn’t Flap: NT Is OK! by Clay Morton and Alex Merry
Johnny is on the autistic spectrum as a neurotypical boy, and that’s okay. He shows that “normal” is just a matter of perspective.
Lovely by Jess Hong
Whether you have curly or straight hair, smooth or wrinkly, quiet or loud, we are all lovely.
Speak Up by Miranda Paul and Ebony Glenn
This picture book celebrates diversity and encourages kids to speak up, unite and take action when something isn’t right.
Introducing Teddy: A Gentle Story About Gender and Friendship by Jessica Walton and Dougal MacPherson
Thomas is Errol’s teddy bear, and one day he reveals to Errol that he wishes his name was Tilly, not Thomas. Errol doesn’t care, though. What matters is that they are friends.
Little Traveler’s Library: Four Adventures in Eight Languages by Abigail Samoun and Sarah Watts
Learn basic phrases in eight languages. Each set includes How Hippo Says Hello, How Gator Says Good-Bye, How Tiger Says Thank You and How Penguin Says Please.
Enough! 20 Protestors Who Changed America by Emily Easton and Ziyue Chen
Read about some of the most influential protestors from Colin Kaepernick to transgender teen Jazz Jennings. Change takes courage, and now you can explain it with a picture book.
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Unhei is worried her new classmates won’t be able to pronounce her name, so she decides to choose a new name from a jar. Someone discovers her real name and the jar suddenly disappears.
The Sandwich Swap by Kelly Dipucchio and Tricia Tusa
Lily and Salma are inseparable, but Lily eats peanut butter and Salma eats hummus. A food fight starts, but can the girls put aside their differences for their friendship?
Think Big, Little One by Vashti Harrison
Inspire your little ones with the stories of eighteen women creators from writers to scientists.
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman
At this school, everyone is welcome with open arms. Students wearing hijabs play happily alongside their friends in baseball caps, and they learn from each other’s traditions.
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