Happy Black History Month! With this special time to celebrate Black history and culture, this is the perfect chance to talk with your child about identity and pride. Children develop a sense of self in different ways over time. Everything they learn about themselves hopefully adds to their self-esteem and sense of belonging.
This Zero to Three article offers these perspectives from which we develop and begin to see our self at a young age:
I Am My Physical Self
I Am What I Can Do
I Am What Others Say I Am
I Am My Connections to People, Places, and Things
In the life of a young child, these statements may seem simple. But, they can also be very deep concepts based in race, gender, history, geography, and other factors. Helping children to build a healthy self-image means honoring what makes them unique, connecting them with their cultural heritage, and teaching them to appreciate the individuality of others. If we set a strong foundation of equity in young children, they will grow to view themselves and others with respect.
P.S. If you’re looking for some children’s books for Black History, check out the Reading Rockets Book Finder. And follow us as we celebrate Black Children’s Book Week starting February 26th.
This topic is a key component of the following early learning domain and goal:
State of Alaska Early Learning Guidelines
Educational Domain: Social & Emotional Development
Goal: Children recognize, appreciate, and respect similarities and differences in people
Goal: Children show awareness of their unique self
Goal: Children demonstrate awareness and appreciation of own and others’ cultures
