Respond to differences in their environment, for example, showing excitement or interest.
Learn that special people are a source of sustenance, comfort and support.
How young babies show their pleasure or interest in different situations.
Talk to babies about the different people and places they know.
Tell a young baby what you think they like about another person, for example, "Here is your brother, Matty. You like him because he tickles you, don't you?".
Provide a variety of cosy places with open views for babies to see people and things beyond the baby room.
Invite parents to share food and customs from their own cultures, including British cultures.
8-20 Months
Learn that their voice and actions have effects on others.
Babies' responses when they know you have 'heard' them, and the personal signs, words or gestures they use to communicate.
Respond to what babies show you they are interested in and want to do, by providing a variety of activities, stories and games.
Plan opportunities for talking together in quiet places both indoors and outdoors.
Work with staff, parents and children to promote an anti-discriminatory and anti-bias approach to care and education.
16-26 Months
Learn that they have similarities and differences that connect them to, and distinguish them from, others.
Young children's interest in similarities and differences, for example, their footwear, or patterns on their clothes and in physical appearance including hair texture and skin colour.
Help children to learn each other's names, for example, through songs and rhymes.
Be positive about differences and support children's acceptance of difference. Be aware that negative attitudes towards difference are learned from examples the children witness.
Display pictures of groups of young children, showing what they look like, and the things they like to do, eat, or play with. Provide positive images of all children including those with diverse physical characteristics, including disabilities.
Support children's understanding of difference and of empathy by using props such as Persona dolls to tell stories about diverse experiences, ensuring that negative stereotyping is avoided.
22-36 Months
Show a strong sense of self as a member of different communities, such as their family or setting.
Show affection and concern for special people.
Children's references to groups, people and places in the different communities of which they are members.
Talk to children about their friends, their families, and why they are important.
Share photographs of children's families, friends, pets or favourite people.
30-50 Months
Make connections between different parts of their life experience.
Instances of children drawing upon their experiences beyond the setting, for example recognising that the lunchtime helper is somebody who lives near to them.
Encourage children to develop positive relationships with community members, such as firefighters who visit the setting.
A visit from the Community Support Officer - A Community Support Officer visits a local nursery, and talks with the children in the outdoor play area about his uniform and walkie talkie. [transcript]
You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video. You do need to have the flash plugin.
Provide activities and opportunities for children to share experiences and knowledge from different parts of their lives with each other.
40-60+ Months
Have an awareness of, and an interest in, cultural and religious differences.
Have a positive self-image, and show that they are comfortable with themselves.
Enjoy joining in with family customs and routines.
Understand that people have different needs, views, cultures and beliefs, that need to be treated with respect.
Understand that they can expect others to treat their needs, views, cultures and beliefs with respect.
Children's interest in and respect for different ways of life.
Children's recognition and appreciation of their place in the world and extended family, and among friends and neighbours.
Strengthen the positive impressions children have of their own cultures and faiths, and those of others, by sharing and celebrating a range of practices and special events.
Encourage children to talk with each other about similarities and differences in their experiences, and the reasons for these, supported by props for telling stories, reflecting experiences of children who are both like them and different from them.
Develop strategies to combat negative bias and, where necessary, support children and adults to unlearn discriminatory attitudes.
Give children opportunities to be curious, enthusiastic, engaged and tranquil, so developing a sense of inner-self and peace.
Ensure that all children are given support to participate in discussions and to be listened to.
Provide additional resources including interpreter support for children learning English as an additional language.
