Finally, mutual respect and tolerance: where we learn to treat others as we want to be treated. How to be part of a community, manage our feelings and behaviour, and form relationships with others.
Naturally we should have an ethos of inclusivity and tolerance in our settings, where views, faiths, cultures and races are valued and where we encourage children to engage with their wider community.
It is our job to help children to appreciate and respect their own culture and the culture of others.
We can help them explore similarities and differences between themselves and others; among families, faiths, communities, cultures and traditions; and to share and discuss practices, celebrations and experiences. Wherever possible, it’s good to share special moments with our children’s families whether that involves welcoming them into our own settings or accepting invitations to their own celebrations.
Every time we see children becoming close friends and we encourage their parents to arrange play dates beyond the setting, we are giving parents and children opportunities to learn the importance of tolerant behaviours such as sharing and respecting others’ opinions.
After all, if children see and hear the adults they love respecting other cultures, religions and values, then this will have a significant, positive impact upon their own behaviour and overall development. But being good role models isn’t quite enough. Remember the old Confucian proverb: “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”
This means that for children to truly learn the importance of tolerance, they need to be given lots of opportunities to practice tolerance and to challenge stereotypes. For example, through sharing stories that reflect and value the diversity of children’s experiences and providing resources and activities that challenge gender, cultural and racial stereotyping. If what we bring into school is diverse, then so will be the children’s experiences of the world and the people around them.