Story Time for Equity & Social Justice

3813 Euclid Avenue,Cleveland OH 44115

28 May, 2022

Description

This new series opens up a dialogue about racial equity & social justice with young children through stories & play. Led by expert Dr. Hill. Designed for ages 3 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Class admission includes access to the class ONLY. It does not include admission to the Museum's exhibits. PLEASE NOTE: Face masks covering the nose and mouth are required for all guests ages 3 and up during all classes. In partnership with Dr. Heather Hill of Parenting For Equity and Social Justice, CMC is excited to launch a new class series Story Times for Equity and Social Justice. Each 30-minute class will include an interactive read-aloud where a picture book will be used to mediate developmentally-appropriate discussion about issues of equity and social justice with young children. Classes will also include a cooperative activity or opportunity for creative play. Caregivers will receive a handout with an extension activity that can be used to sustain conversations about issues of equity begun during the session. This program will support children in engaging with picture books in ways that build community among the participants, engender positive associations between differences in skin color and concepts of beauty, intelligence, and kindness, and strengthen language and literacy development in young children. Why is this important? Recent research shows that children as young as infancy are already aware of differences in skin color, and children as young as 2 are already beginning to form and internalize beliefs about what those differences mean, and how and why they exist. Beginning a dialogue early and often can help create a strong foundation of understanding and prevent negative biases from forming.