At the same time, however, it is not enough to assume that we have fulfilled our duty by placing a child into a program. Programs need to be of high quality. They need to have high standards for young children, because all children can learn given proper instruction. Programs also need to recognize that our state and our communities are incredibly diverse, and prepare young children to function effectively in a diverse society. Classrooms and centers need to be inclusive, to acknowledge the unique value that young children and their families bring to the table, and to recognize that a young child's family and culture need to be affirmed, not derided or ignored, in the curriculum.
Children also recognize differences between people very early.
At age two, they can point out who is a man and who is a woman. At age three or four, they notice differences in skin color and acquire a superficial concept of race and ethnicity. Young children also love to label and categorize things. And they are inundated with images and stereotypes from television, movies, videos, games, and other media. Young children may say hurtful, inappropriate things, but children are not born hating.