The holidays are particularly special for young children, filled with twinkling lights, festive songs, and exciting traditions. However, as educators, we are responsible for ensuring that this season is inclusive in our learning environments and reflects our world’s beautiful diversity. At Rayz Kidz, we believe in creating learning environments where every child feels seen, heard, and valued – not just during the holidays but every day. That’s why we’re excited to talk about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) today in reference to early childhood learning environments.

Why DEIB Matters in Early Childhood

Scientific research shows that children as young as three months old notice racial differences. By age three, they can begin to express biases. This isn’t about kids being “bad.” It’s all about their developing brains doing their very best to make sense of the world around them with the growing cache of information they have.

Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in early education involves giving young children rich, joyful, and detailed insights that help them appreciate the incredible beauty of their diverse world. This initiative aims to broaden their understanding and foster an appreciation for the vast array of differences in all people.

• Positive Impacts of Equity: “When children experience equity and inclusion, they demonstrate stronger social-emotional skills, higher self-esteem, and a greater capacity for empathy. They’re also more likely to succeed academically and build positive relationships with people from different backgrounds.” (National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2019)
• Negative Impacts of Discrimination: Conversely, children who experience discrimination or bias can suffer from lower self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression. These experiences can have long-lasting effects on their development and well-being. (Derman-Sparks et al., 2010)

Creating a DEIB-Aligned Classroom This Holiday Season

Here are some practical ways to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in your early childhood classroom this holiday season:

Acknowledge and Celebrate a Variety of Holidays 

Go beyond the traditional Christmas tree and explore holidays celebrated by different cultures and religions in your classroom.

• Diwali (Hindu Festival of Lights): Decorate your classroom with diyas (clay lamps), create rangoli patterns, and read stories about Rama and Sita.
• Hanukkah (Jewish Festival of Lights): Learn about the story of Hanukkah, play dreidel games, and make latkes (potato pancakes) together.
• Kwanzaa (African American cultural celebration): Discuss the seven principles of Kwanzaa, light the kinara (candle holder), and make crafts with traditional African symbols.
• Día de los Muertos (Mexican tradition): Learn about ofrendas, created to honor deceased loved ones. These loving altars are decorated with photos, candles, marigolds, and other sentimental objects.
• Lunar New Year (Celebrated in many East and Southeast Asian countries): Learn about the zodiac animal for the year, create red envelopes and practice lion dances.

Represent Diversity in Your Classroom Materials

• Books: Ensure your classroom library includes books with diverse characters, authors, and storylines.
• Toys and Dolls: Provide dolls with different skin tones, hair textures, and abilities.
• Music: Play music from different cultures and genres.

Encourage Open Dialogue and Curiosity

 Create a safe space for children to ask questions about different cultures and traditions. Encourage respectful conversations and help children understand that embracing diversity allows them access to humankind’s expansive tapestry of beautifully unique cultures, customs, and lived experiences.

Incorporate Diverse Perspectives into Your Curriculum

• Art: Explore different art forms from around the world, such as Aboriginal dot painting, Japanese origami, or African mask making.
• Math: Use activities that reflect diverse cultures, like learning to count in different languages or exploring geometric patterns found in traditional textiles.
• Science: Study the contributions of scientists from different backgrounds, such as Mae C. Jemison (the first African American woman in space) or Tu Youyou (a Chinese scientist who discovered a treatment for malaria).

The Rayz Kidz Play-Based Curriculum: Your Partner in DEIB

The Rayz Kidz Play-Based Curriculum for Mixed Ages is designed to be used as an emergent curriculum, meaning it’s flexible and adaptable to the interests of your children. This makes it the perfect tool for incorporating diverse holidays and cultural celebrations into your classroom.

• Adaptable for Inclusivity: Our curriculum’s adaptable nature empowers teachers to seamlessly weave a worldview of inclusivity into any lesson or situation. For example, if children are interested in building structures, explore architectural styles from around the world, like yurts (Mongolia), pagodas (East Asia), or igloos (Arctic regions).
• Child-Led Learning: Follow your children’s lead and use their curiosity about different holidays as a springboard for learning.
• Customization: Our curriculum allows you to fully customize your activities and lessons to engage each child’s unique interests.
• 500+ Activities: We offer over 500 educational play-based activities that can be adapted to support children’s early childhood development and promote DEIB.

Let’s Make Every Day Inclusive

Let’s go beyond the tinsel this holiday season and create learning environments where every child feels a sense of belonging. The importance of promoting equity, inclusion, and belonging in early education cannot be overstated. With an adaptable curriculum like Rayz Kidz, it is not only vital but fully accomplishable. We can empower our children to become compassionate, understanding, and engaged global citizens by embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion and nurturing a sense of belonging.

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Interested in learning more about the research-based Rayz Kidz Play-Based Curriculum for Mixed Ages? Click here for more details about this four-book, twelve-unit set, available in English & Spanish!

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References

• Clapp, E. P., Solis, S. L., & Ford, D. H. (2017). Curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity in the preschool classroom. Child Development Perspectives, 11(4), 242-248.
• Derman-Sparks, L., Edwards, J. O., & Goins, C. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
• Edwards, C., Gandini, L., & Forman, G. (Eds.). (2010). The hundred languages of children: The Reggio Emilia approach—advanced reflections. Ablex Publishing.
• Hertzog, N. B. (2013). Negotiating meaning and making sense in project work: Social processes in a Reggio Emilia inspired classroom. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 28(2), 259-270.
• Jones, E. (2008). “Play is the vehicle”: Emergent curriculum in the preschool classroom. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36(1), 57-62.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2019). Advancing equity in early childhood education.