From birth, children begin to learn to love themselves and others. Infants and toddlers start to see differences between people. They notice skin colors, hair colors and textures, eye shapes, and other features of race and ethnic background. Toddlers may reach out to feel each other's hair. Three-year olds figure out how to recognize boys and girls.
Preschoolers are curious, too.
Eye shape and color is of great interest. Unfamiliar languages puzzle them. Preschoolers also notice that people have different physical and mental abilities. Children often make comments that embarrass us. By age 4, children are very much tuned in to our attitudes.