Early Pride Matters

Step 1: Gather materials.

• A book about people who transcend gender stereotypes or children who express their genders in unique ways (You'll find some good options in our Suggested Books section below.)
• People figures or dolls dressed in a variety of ways

Step 2: Introduce activity.

• Initiate this activity by sharing a book about adults or children who transcend gender stereotypes.
• Encourage the children to ask questions and share their own ideas about gender. These ideas may stem from the book share or from their own experiences.
• Refer to the non-stereotypical characters in the book as you validate gender diversity.
• Ask the children if they have a gender word for themselves.

Step 3: Engage children in activity.

• As the children play with the people figures or dolls, look for opportunities to reinforce developmentally appropriate ideas about gender with statements such as:
  • "Some people are boys, some are girls, and some are just people (or perhaps in-between)."
  • "Boys and girls can have any sort of hairstyle and wear whatever clothes make them happy."
  • "When we are unsure about someone's gender, we can ask them their words or pronouns."
• Ask the children about the genders of their dolls or figures. Encourage them to talk about how they determine the gender of each doll or figure. The children may base their ideas about gender on size, hair length, clothing, or the color of the figure.
• As the children engage in this type of play over time, encourage them to consider other dimensions of gender to inform their answers.

Adaptations by age

Infants and toddlers

• Visit our Build Your Knowledge section and click on the Gender Identity and Diversity button to learn about the different ways that infants and toddlers are exposed to the gendered world and access the information you need to reflect on and address gender stereotypes.

Two-year-olds

• Lay the foundation for gender inclusivity by introducing board books and picture books that feature diverse expressions of gender.
• Visit our Apply Your Knowledge section to learn how to set up an inclusive environment, answer common questions about gender, and incorporate inclusive teaching practices into your programming.

Preschoolers

• Share picture books and stories about gender-diverse and trans children.
• Initiate discussions to help preschoolers develop a deeper understanding of gender diversity.