Stand Up!

I chose this activity because I think it is crucial to teach children to first recognize bias and assertiveness, then speak up and respond in a strong way that speaks their truth. Parents and teachers must emphasize at an early age the hurt that bullying, rejection, and other forms of discrimination causes children and adults as well. This activity teaches children to stand up for themselves and others and discusses proper responses outlining telling them how you feel and why you don’t like it when they tease or call you names. Finally, it offers children the practice to recognize bullying and discrimination then practice what to do and say when standing up to teasing.

This activity is appropriate for children ages 3 to 8 because at this time young children are naturally curious about the people and world around them. At this age, children are susceptible to believing stereotypes and show their aggression through insults and name-calling (York, pg. 21). Stereotypes are defined as “oversimplified generalizations about a particular group, which usually carries derogatory implications (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, Key Terms xiii). Children base their thinking off of how things look, as “young children’s thinking is very limited, distorted, and inconsistent, which makes them susceptible to believing stereotypes” (York, pg. 17). This activity is a perfect example of one of the core goals for culturally relevant/anti-bias education showing children effective ways to reduce prejudice. This activity should be introduced during the preschool age because it is during this time that children may discriminate and choose one person over another without rational thinking, causing them to dislike people and things that are different.

This is an appropriate activity for children as it addresses the anti-bias curriculum themes including: everyone is equal, everyone deserves respect, everyone has feelings, people are similar, and people are different.

This activity relates to several concepts for an anti-bias curriculum. This activity to stand up against bias and bullying promotes respect towards others. This activity also increases children’s ability to interact, talk, and play with people who are different from them. Furthermore, this stand up activity promotes group problem solving, as well as helps children to be group members and cooperate with others. This activity supports Anti-Bias Goal 4, which is to stand up for oneself and others in the face of bias. The objectives for the activity and Goal 4 are very similar, as both practice standing up for oneself and others, generating solutions to problems, and practice conflict-resolution skills and group problem solving.

This activity for children is a discussion and practice on recognizing mistreatment then taking action to do or say something about the mistreatment. The only material needed is a puppet to demonstrate to the children the bullying and what we could do and say. Use a puppet to role-play the experience of being called names, teased, or rejected. Ask the children open-ended questions such as, “How do you think the puppet feels when they make fun of him?” or “What can the puppet do to stand up against the bias and bullying?” Finally ask the children what they would do if they were in that situation being teased and bullied. Consider and discuss the children’s answers. Some possible answers they may give might be “Tell him how you feel” or “Tell him you don’t like it when he says stereotypes about me”. Explain to children when standing up for themselves or others, they need to do so in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone, while standing proud, looking at the other person in the eyes, and speaking their truth in a strong voice. A child’s “truth” is what they know, what they feel, and what they need. Model with the puppet what his actions should be when standing up to someone. Reenact the bullying incident and have the puppet stand tall, look at the other one, and speak their truth in a strong voice. Help children brainstorm other effective ways to stand up to name-calling, teasing, and rejection. Have children practice the situation themselves by partnering up and taking turns being the bully and the person who stands up to the bully. A great book to help teachers discover new ideas and ways to teach children how to act when witnessing bullying is “Stand Up For Yourself and Your Friends: Dealing with Bullies and Bossiness, and Finding a Better Way” by Patti Kelley and Martini Criswell. For a follow up activity, a wonderful and fun book to read to children on resisting bullying and being proud of oneself is “Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are”. This story follows a young girl, Lucy, who is different and is bullied by another boy in her class. Lucy is a great example on staying true to oneself, doing the right thing, and being proud of herself and the decisions she has made. It is a wonderful book that teaches children that bullying and being mean to others is “not cool” and it is important to stand up for what you believe.

This is an activity that all young children will enjoy; however, beginning this concept and lesson at an early age will help children better understand and recognize what discrimination and bullying is, and also ways prevent and stop others from doing so. It is an activity that is geared towards helping children develop assertiveness in the face of name-calling, teasing, rejection, and other ways of discriminating against others. The follow-up activity on children partnering up demonstrating to each other what they have learned, gives children the real-time experience of standing up for themselves and others when being bullied and discriminated against.

References:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children

York, Stacey. (2003). Roots & Wings Affirming Culture in Early Childhood Programs. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press

Book Analysis: Whoever You Are

Whoever You Are by Mem Fox, Illustrated by Leslie Staub, Published in 1997

Whoever You Are is a wonderful children's book about the similarities that join us together, despite the differences in people around the world. This book shares that though people's skin, homes, schools, and language may be very different, their hearts are just the same. It highlights the similarities that we all share; such as, love, joy, laughter, pain, and sadness, and shows that we are all a part of this world, wherever we are.

Mem Fox is an Australian writer of children's books and 

dedicates this story to "you, whoever you are" (Fox, 1997).

Fox uses very simple language that is geared towards 

young children, demonstrating the peace, equality, and 

unity we hope to make evident to all children. The author 

explains that every child is different, but mentions the 

similarities that children have all over the world. Leslie 

Staub's illustrations perfectly depicts the message the 

author was conveying throughout the book. Her pictures 

tell the story just as well as the text, and does an 

exceptional job on depicting children of all races and places

throughout the world. Staub uses a type of folk-art painting 

to portray the children in the story to look like little dolls.

One may argue that some of the illustrations portray stereotyping; such as some of the Asian girls wearing rice or straw hats or the African American children playing with a monkey. However, this book is not stereotyping different cultures, but rather showing how different we are not only by our appearance, but in how we learn, interact, and celebrate with one another. Fox directly states in the beginning of her book that though others' skin, homes, and land may look different, they love, laugh, and feel the same as you do. There are children of all races shown in this story with how they learn and live within their own culture being depicted.

Whoever You Are is a positive and appropriate book for young children that Publishers Weekly considers to "provide a compelling exploration of the differences between children that make them unique as well as the common humanity that unites them" (publishersweekly.com). I would most definitely consider this book to be well suited for a classroom environment. It is a wonderful story for young children to teach them about the traditions that different cultures have, as well as the similarities that we all share. This would also be a great book for parents to read to their young children at home, demonstrating the acceptance for others as an entire family.

References:

• 10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children's Books for Racism and Sexism. Adapted from the original brochure, which was published by the Council on Interracial Books for Children by the California State Department of Education. Sacramento, 1998.
• Fox, M. Whoever You Are. 1997.
• Whoever You Are. (n.d.). In Publishers Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com:8080/978-0-15-200787-4
• Whoever You Are. (n.d.). In Sweet On Books. Retrieved from http://www.sweetonbooks.com/all-titles/261-whoever-you-are.html

About Me

Hi my name is Christina and I a created this blog for my HDEV 25 class at Sierra College. I currently teach preschool at an in-home daycare and preschool, which I am grateful for everyday. I have a wonderful family, friends, and boyfriend and can't what the future holds!