Diversity and Its Role In The Settling In Process

All Types of Families

Families come in all shapes and sizes, including but not limited to families with parents identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, etc. (LGBTI+), single parent families, families who have or are planning to have a child by way of insemination, surrogacy, or adoption, families who are co-parenting, patchwork families, etc. (Tomlins, 2018) (Hočevar, 2014). Educators and professionals strive to build a community of families that can support each other. It is important that young children in a kindergarten grow up with an appreciation and respect for the diversity of families, identities, culture and ethnicities that surround them. Early childhood education provides the ideal setting for children to learn about different identities and cultures while forming friendships with people from a wide range of backgrounds.