Australia is home to many various cultures and peoples. With so many beautiful histories, traditions and backgrounds, it’s important to teach our children how to be open-minded and to appreciate and include people from all walks of life! Every child is born open-minded and accepting of everybody. Here’s how you can encourage your children to be more inclusive and celebrate diversity!

1. Helping Kids Celebrate Diversity Through Inclusivity
Australia is home to many various cultures and peoples. With so many beautiful histories, traditions and
backgrounds, it’s important to teach our children how to be open-minded and to appreciate and include people
from all walks of life!
Every child is born open-minded and accepting of everybody. Here’s how you can encourage your children to be
more inclusive and celebrate diversity!

2. 1. Speak positively of others
Children learn best from example. At Little Zak’s Academy, we make it a point to create a warm environment that
is accepting of everyone, no matter the age, race, job or religion.
Speak only positive of the people around you: your spouse, your neighbours, your friends and even the garbage
collectors! Remember to be the model for how your children should act.
2. Practice empathy
The best way for children to understand the others’ feelings is by putting themselves in another’s shoes. If you
feel like your child has the tendency to leave people out, take the time to discus it with him/her. Ask your child to
sit out play time for a few minutes then ask “how did it feel for you to not be included? How you do think others
feel when they don’t get asked to play?”
3. Refuse labels
Labels are the strongest way to create a divide between people. Not only do people feel marginalised when called
by a label but it can also influence kids to be less inclusive of people “unlike” them. Do away with terms like “the
boy who can’t walk” or “the dark girl” as they only point out differences. At our child care centre in Sydney
Olympic Park, for example, we ditch any kind of label and call each other by our given first names at all times!
4. Expand your circle

3. Build a diverse circle for you and your child. Check to see whether you are limiting your child’s circle of concern to
including only people from the same background as you or if you give your child access to people from different
backgrounds. Make it a point to interact with everyone in your neighbourhood and your community!
5. Introduce cultures
The best way to celebrate diversity is by introducing your child to different cultures! At our child care centre in
Ultimo, we regularly introduce traditions and histories of different cultures to our kids so that they grow up with
a deep appreciation of different peoples!

4. Little Zak’s Academy is committed to creating an environment where people from different ages, nationalities,
cultures and religions is always welcome! Join us as we strive to become a more inclusive community and be one
with us this Social Inclusion Week happening from the 25th of November to the 3rd of December.
Disclaimer: This blog article originally appeared at Little Zak’s Academy Blog -
http://www.littlezaks.com.au/helping-kids-celebrate-diversity-inclusivity/