I highly recommend Mem Fox’s book Whoever You Are (for children ages 4-8) and Walt Whitman’s volume of the Poetry for Young People Series (ages 9 – 12) to spark conversations around diversity.

Once we read one of these, or other books on diversity, children in The Respect Program create diversity sculptures. I provide children standard colors in model magic clay as well as four different colors of clay for skin tones. It is amazing to see what the children create.  Here is a favorite if mine from a past program. I love how the child combined the red and white colors in the two figures outstretched arms.

What are other ways to start discussions on diversity, equity and inclusion with the children in your life?