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Hey y’all! Happy February! As we begin to celebrate Black History Month, we stand really at the intersection of passion and practice – which is our focus for this year, Uniting Our Purpose: Passion Meets Practice. This is where our dedication to nurturing young minds meets our responsibility to build an inclusive future. For our littlest learners, the celebration isn’t about memorizing dates or historical events. It’s really about planting the seeds of understanding, respect, and appreciation – and that grows throughout their lives.
When we unite our purpose as early childhood educators what we recognize is that teaching Black History to young children happens through these everyday moments that we do all the time. It’s in the diverse books that we read during circle time, featuring Black heroes both historical and contemporary. It’s in the songs that we sing that celebrate African American culture and heritage. It’s in the art that we create inspired by influential Black artists. And the conversations we have about the beautiful diversity of our classroom families.
Our passion for early education meets practice when we embrace age-appropriate approaches. For our toddlers, this might mean simple activities like exploring different skin tones through art materials and celebrating the physical features that make each of us unique. For our preschoolers and early elementary, it could involve storytelling about Black pioneers like Mae Jemison or George Washington Carver in ways that spark curiosity and wonder.
As leaders in early childhood education, we understand that young children notice differences and they form attitudes and opinions about race and identity as early as age two. By thoughtfully incorporating Black History into our daily curriculum we are not just teaching history, we’re shaping the future. We’re helping children develop empathy, appreciate diversity, and understand that everyone’s story matters. Let our united purpose guide us in making Black History an integral part of our practice – not just in February, but throughout the year.
When we combine our passion for early education with intentional, developmentally appropriate practice we create foundations for understanding that last a lifetime. Thank you for your dedication to nurturing young minds and building a more inclusive future for all children. Take care.
Email me at president@arkansasearlychildhood.org and let’s connect.
Natasha Kile
President of AECA
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