Kansas State University Instructor Says Early Exposure to Diversity Good

Kansas State University Instructor Says Early Exposure to Diversity Good for Children

MANHATTAN, Kansas, Dec. 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Even children as young as preschool-age can begin to learn the value of diversity, according to a Kansas State University instructor.

Children typically notice differences in those around them, such as physical characteristics, at about age 2, said LuAnn Hoover, instructor of family studies and human services. That age is also the critical time when toddlers begin to form attitudes based on significant others, including parents and teachers.

"Attitudes are caught not taught," Hoover said. "Nonverbal actions are picked up on. Kids don't attend to what adults say but to what they do. It's the saying, 'Actions speak louder than words.'"

Hoover said the best thing parents can do when teaching their children about diversity is to check their own attitudes and beliefs, as children pick up on adults' nonverbal actions.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20051205/pl_usnw/kansas_state_university_instructor_says_early_exposure_to_diversity_good_for_children208_xml

I grew up on a university campus, living in houses that had been converted to apartments. My earliest memories are of the Chinese students who lived upstairs. I learned about Ramadan from the Egyptians in Apartment 2 when I was 6, and learned to appreciate people from Kenya and Nigeria when they came and took apartments.

my mother was a part time jazz drummer, and our neighbors were an interracial couple, Japanese wife, American husband. Several of Mom's musican friends were African American.

My godparents were Jewish, my mom Baptist.

I think it did make a difference in my outlook.
For one thing, I learned to appreciate cornbread, misu, and a good bagle at an early age.

small towns no diverse population exists to be exposed to.

When I was growing up there the only people who were a little different were the Catholics.

There is a huge Hispanic community all over the state now.

I thought about making a comment regarding same except I recently visited the small town I grew up in and to this day not a single black or hispanic family has taken up residence there.

I grew up Catholic in NE Kansas.

I thought the one black family in town was "different."