This article challenges the claims that there is no place in the early childhood classroom for engaging young children in meaningful conversations about gender identity and gender expression.
Recognizing the complexity of interactions between educators and families, this article provides a set of strategies for opening up conversations and offering support when children’s gender identity or expression do not conform to their families’ expectat
Early childhood educators, early learning settings, higher education and professional development systems, and public policy all have important roles in forging a new path for the future.
The recommendations are based on a set of principles that synthesize current early childhood education research through the lenses of equity and NAEYC’s core values.
NAEYC promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.
Work to change any policy that either directly or through unintended negative consequences undermines children’s physical and emotional well-being or weakens the bonds between children and their families.
This position statement is one of five foundational documents NAEYC has developed in collaboration with the early childhood profession. With its specific focus on advancing equity in early childhood education.
Wanting to understand the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that impact men’s decisions to teach in early childhood, we spent two years studying the experiences of male early childhood educators in New York City.
Authored by
Authored by:
Kirsten Cole Jean-Yves Plaisir Mindi Reich-Shapiro Antonio Freitas
