Apply Your Knowledge

Looking ahead: To kindergarten and beyond.

What’s ahead for LGBTQ+ children?

As early childhood educators, we often think about kindergarten readiness as a set of competencies that children should possess by the time that they leave preschool and enter the elementary grades. But we can also play a role in ensuring that elementary schools are prepared to fully support and celebrate children with diverse experiences, development, identities, and family structures. In other words, how can we better support children and family members who may be already be feeling marginalized as they approach this critical transition point?

A first step may be to collaborate with elementary school systems and colleagues to share resources. While it is never okay to share sensitive information about a particular family or child, we can collaborate across systems with the goal of helping LGBTQ+ children feel welcomed and supported, regardless of whether they have expressed or declared their identities yet. 

We can also help our elementary school colleagues proactively address the very real concerns that Rainbow families may with regard to bullying and other documented forms of harm. 

Continue to build your knowledge and share resources with Rainbow families and elementary school allies.

Fortunately, resources are much more readily available to support LGBTQ+ children and families in elementary school and beyond. However, as children’s identities come into clearer focus in elementary school, so do the actions of those who seek to exclude, erase or harm them. LGBTQ+ students are bullied at high rates and are often exposed to shockingly frequent slurs and harassment. Their mental health can suffer as a result.

So how can early childhood educators be a positive influence? Continue to build and share your knowledge! The more you know, the better you will be able to serve families as they transition into the K–12 system. Explore the following topics and share your resources with families and elementary school colleagues.

Care and supports for LGBTQ+ children

How can elementary school teachers ensure a safe, supportive and inclusive school environment for LGBTQ+ students? 

Care and supports for trans and gender-nonconforming (GNC) children

Trans and gender-nonconforming children need support from understanding and knowledgeable teachers. Here’s what you can do to help:

Building an Inclusive Curriculum

Elementary schools are often viewed as places where the foundations of inclusivity are built and where children develop an understanding of diversity, identities and allyship. This is an erroneous assumption. The foundations of inclusivity are built in early childhood, and elementary school should be a place where this work is continued rather than started. Share information about the inclusive practices that you have incorporated into your early childhood curriculum so that your elementary school colleagues can continue this important work.

GSAs and Rainbow Clubs

GSAs (Gender and Secuality Alliances) have been adopted by elementary schools, where such organizations are often referred to as Rainbow Clubs. These student-led clubs provide a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ elementary schoolers. Some groups are informal (especially for younger students) while others offer activities, provide peer support, host social events, and even lead efforts to address school issues. 

Rainbow clubs can:
  • Help LGBTQ+ students feel safer and more accepted 
  • Educate other students about LGBTQ+ issues
  • Teach young people how to be strong allies for LGBTQ+ peers
  • Reduce bias, stereotyping, bullying, and harassment
  • Provide access to an accepting adult—a factor that has been shown to reduce the risk of suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ youth by 40%

Share resources on GSAs and Rainbow Clubs with your elementary school colleagues and encourage them to build their knowledge and establish clubs at their schools. 

These resources will help them get started:

Encourage elementary school teachers to access inclusive children’s literature

Just as they do for younger children, inclusive children's books help elementary schoolers see themselves and their families reflected in the stories they read. This can help them feel more confident and accepted, and it can also help them learn about different cultures and perspectives. The empathy and understanding that inclusive literature fosters is critical for all children as they continue their K–12 journeys.

The following resources will help them get started:

As an early childhood educator, you can have a profound and lasting impact on your early learners as they transition to kindergarten. If you don’t seize this opportunity to promote inclusive practices in kindergarten, elementary school and beyond, who will? Make a difference by showing your elementary school colleagues that Early Pride matters!