Diversity and inclusion activities for kids

Children notice differences from a very young age: skin color, languages, families, abilities, foods and festivals. How adults talk about those differences shapes how children see themselves and others. Diversity and inclusion activities help children feel proud of who they are, curious about other people and ready to include everyone. This guide explains how to talk about differences and shares simple activities for home and the classroom.

Why diversity and inclusion matter

When children see their own families, cultures and abilities reflected in books, toys and conversations, they feel valued. When they learn about people who are different from them, they become more curious, kind and fair. Inclusion means making sure everyone can take part and feels welcome, whether in a game at recess, a classroom or a birthday party.

How to talk about differences with children

Answer questions simply and honestly

When a child asks "Why does her skin look different?" or "Why does he use a wheelchair?", answer calmly and simply: "People have lots of different skin colors. Her skin is brown and yours is pink." Children's questions come from curiosity, not unkindness.

Focus on similarities and differences

People are different in many ways and the same in many ways too. Everyone has feelings, likes to play and wants friends. Celebrate both.

Avoid stereotypes

Gently correct statements like "girls can't play football" or "boys don't cry". Ask "Is that always true? Can you think of someone who is different?"

Model inclusion

Children watch how adults treat others. Speak respectfully about all people, include others in conversations and show curiosity about other cultures.

Diversity activities for kids

1. All about me pages. Children draw themselves, their family, their favorite food, the languages they speak and their traditions. Share them and notice what is the same and what is different.
2. Family tree. Draw a family tree and talk about where relatives come from.
3. Diverse books. Read picture books with characters from many cultures, family types and abilities.
4. Festivals around the world. Learn about celebrations such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, Hanukkah, Eid, Christmas and Kwanzaa. Draw or color pictures for each one. Our star and pattern pages suit many festival crafts.
5. Cook a recipe from another country. Talk about where it comes from and who eats it.
6. Hello in many languages. Learn to say hello, please and thank you in five languages.
7. Music from around the world. Listen and dance to music from different countries.
8. Games from other cultures. Try games children play in other countries.
9. Skin tone art. Mix paint to match your own skin tone and paint a self-portrait. Notice the beautiful range of colors in the group.
10. Flags and maps. Find countries where family members or classmates have roots.

Inclusion activities for kids

Inclusion is about action: making sure everyone can join in.

1. Invite someone new to play. Practise phrases like "Do you want to play with us?"
2. Buddy system. Pair children up at school so no one is alone.
3. Partner projects. Mix partners often so children work with everyone.
4. Adapt a game. Change the rules of a game so a friend with different needs can play.
5. Kindness challenges. See how to teach kids kindness for ideas.
6. Friendship circle. Sit in a circle and share one thing you like about each person.
7. Role play. Act out what to do if someone is being left out or teased.
8. Class rules together. Create rules such as "everyone can play" and "we use kind words".

Learning about different abilities

Talk about how people use different tools to help them: glasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, sign language and more. Learn a few signs in sign language, read books with characters who have disabilities and focus on what everyone can do together.

Talking about different families

Families come in many shapes: one parent, two moms or two dads, grandparents raising children, adoption, foster families and blended families. Read books that show different families and make sure every child's family is welcome in activities like Mother's Day and Father's Day by inviting cards for "a special person".

Diversity and inclusion in the classroom

Teachers can make classrooms welcoming for everyone:

• Display books, posters and dolls that reflect many cultures and abilities.
• Learn to say children's names correctly.
• Invite families to share traditions, foods or stories.
• Celebrate a range of festivals through the year.
• Use inclusive language, such as "families" instead of "moms and dads".
• Teach children what to do if they see unkindness.

Diversity activities by age

Toddlers and preschoolers

Read diverse picture books, play with dolls of different skin tones, try foods from different cultures, learn hello in different languages and paint self-portraits.

Ages 6 to 8

All about me pages, family trees, festivals around the world, games from other countries and role play about inclusion.

Ages 9 to 12

Learn about history, fairness and people who worked for equal rights. See our Black History Month activities. Discuss news stories in an age-appropriate way and plan a class project about cultures in the community.

When children say something hurtful

Children sometimes repeat things they hear or say something unkind without understanding. Stay calm, explain why it is hurtful, help them think about how the other person felt and practise what to say instead. Treat it as a learning moment, not a crisis.

Small everyday habits

Diversity and inclusion are not one-off lessons. Small habits make the biggest difference: choosing books and toys that show many kinds of people, trying new foods, visiting cultural festivals in your town and inviting a new classmate to play. When children grow up seeing difference as normal and interesting, inclusion becomes second nature.

Frequently asked questions

What are good diversity activities for preschoolers?

Reading diverse picture books, painting self-portraits with mixed skin tones, learning hello in different languages, trying foods from other cultures and playing with dolls that reflect many backgrounds.

How do I explain diversity to a child?

Explain that people are different in many ways, such as skin color, language, family and abilities, and also the same in many ways, and that differences make the world interesting.

What is an inclusion activity for kids?

Any activity that helps everyone join in, such as a buddy system, inviting someone new to play, mixing partners or adapting a game so all children can take part.