Who gets to feel seen in our classrooms? Culturally inclusive practice through books
The Voice of Early ChildhoodShow Notes
How do books shape children's sense of identity, belonging and understanding of others? In this podcast episode and article, we explore the importance of representation in children's literature and why inclusive storytelling matters in early childhood education. Reflecting on personal experiences, this conversation considers how books can help children feel seen, valued and included. We also discuss the role of sensory storytelling, immersive learning and culturally inclusive resources in supporting empathy, accessibility and belonging for all children. How can educators ensure every child sees themselves reflected in the stories around them?
Read the article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/who-gets-to-feel-seen-in-our-classrooms-culturally-inclusive-practice-through-books/
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Listen to more: If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: · Stories that connect us: How books foster belonging in the early years – Laura Henry-Allain MBE https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/stories-that-connect-us-how-books-foster-belonging-in-the-early-years-2/ · Supporting children's language through shared stories and sustained dialogue – Fufy Demissie https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/supporting-childrens-language-through-shared-stories-and-sustained-dialogue/ · Extremely early literacy – Dan Berman https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/extremely-early-literacy/
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Episode break down: 00:00 – Introducing Sukhy Kaur and culturally inclusive children's books 02:21 – Representation, visibility and belonging 03:53 – Creating sensory stories that are accessible to all children 07:55 – Normalising diversity through children's literature 10:03 – Encouraging children to ask questions about difference 11:23 – Understanding children's curiosity about difference 13:01 – Sukhy's personal journey and Sikh identity 14:37 – Experiencing bullying for wearing a turban 16:07 – Becoming a teacher to make a difference 16:39 – Developing the first book during COVID 17:19 – The story behind Is That Paras's Turban? 18:15 – Bringing books to life through workshops and puppet shows 19:50 – Supporting children and educators through immersive workshops 20:40 – Extending learning through resources and lesson plans 21:39 – Moving from teaching into authorship 22:47 – The year-long process of producing a sensory book 23:45 – Seeing the books in libraries and hearing from families 24:48 – Forthcoming books about festivals and cultural foods 25:25 – Advice for aspiring authors 26:53 – The challenges of marketing children's books 27:42 – Sharing culturally inclusive practice at educational events 28:36 – Using props and storytelling to support different ways of learning 29:17 – Sukhy's workshop at the TVOEC Conference 2027 30:05 – "Every child should be able to open a book and feel that they exist within the story"
For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com
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