Folk wisdom tells us young children don't notice differences or have any biases, yet research is telling us otherwise. What are age appropriate ways to teach young children about identity, difference, and microaggressions (ouch moments)?

1. French American International School
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
Seattle Girls’ School
Talking to Young Children
About Difference and Ouch Moments
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2. About Seattle Girls’ School
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3. Agenda
 Working With Young Children
 Frameworks and Interventions
 Questions and Answers
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4. Developmentally Appropriate
Diversity Work
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5. Early Awareness of Difference
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Age Signs
6 months Can discern racial feature differences
3 years Awareness of own and others’ gender.
Beginning awareness of gender roles
5 years Desire to categorize – self, others
Curiosity about meaning of differences
Aware of biases
7 years Can regulate biases versus behaviors
Starting to parrot adult messages
3rd grade Are aware of societal stereotypes
cross group play can increase
5th grade Have internalized stereotypical messages
cross group play can decrease

6. When They’re Little
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Theme: Trying to Understand the World
 Curiosity based questions about difference
 Find out what they’re actually asking
 Find out why they’re asking
 Answer their questions straightforwardly
 Model and coach humility, delight, and
curiosity about difference
 Be mindful of children’s media – it’s not
always good for kids

7. Ouch Moments Frameworks
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 Anytime, Grown Up, Never OK
 Bugs and Wishes
 Different - Good, Bad, and Different
 Oops, Ouch, Snaps!
 THINK Before You Speak
– Is it True?
– Is it Helpful?
– Is it Inspiring?
– Is it Necessary
– Is it Kind?

8. Curricular Approaches
 Exposure Base
 Allowing Questions
 Gentle Guidance
 Modeling Comfort With Discussions
 Expanding Definition of What’s Possible
 Fairness, Kindness, and Rightness
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

9. Examples
 The Black Santa Story
 The Jackie Robinson Story
 What Makes a Family?
 Xs and Os
 Alternate Fairy Tales
 Dress-Up Corner
 Guest Speakers That Defy Stereotypes
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10. Parents: Partners or Foes?
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11. What Parents Fear and
What We Can Do About It
 “I didn’t know about this stuff…”
 “I don’t have any language around this…”
 “I want to protect their innocence…”
 “Are you teaching my kids values?”
 “I don’t want my kid to feel spotlighted…”
 Heads Up Communication
 Resources and Language
 Clear Reiteration of Mission and Values
 Research and Your Expertise
 Explicit Communication of Parents’ Roles
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12. Stretching the Inclusive Boundaries
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13. Presenter Information
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
6th Faculty and
Professional Outreach
Seattle Girls’ School
2706 S Jackson Street
Seattle WA 98144
(206) 805-6562
rlee@seattlegirlsschool.org
http://tiny.cc/rosettalee
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)