WXXI Education staff collected the following resources to support families and educators of young children as they talk, watch, read, and learn about race and racism. These resources are free and open for all to use – they have been curated from PBS, PBS KIDS, PBS LearningMedia, and other credible education organizations. (updated 1/12/24)
Please note: These resources are for educational use in conjunction with other resources and conversations to provide the most complete context for young learners. These resources are to be watched, read, and explored together with an adult. If you are utilizing these tools in an educational setting, please notify families of use as they in order to use with families’ knowledge and inclusion. If you have any questions about these tools, please contact: CRager@wxxi.org
Please note:
- These resources are free and open for all to use.
- This is not an exhaustive list of resources.
- These educational materials are to be used in conjunction with other resources, conversations, and instruction to provide the most complete context for students.
- These resources are appropriate for middle and high school students, unless otherwise noted.
- As with all educational materials, please preview these resources prior to utilizing with students to check for appropriateness.
Cultural Awareness & Diversity:
- Video: PBS KIDS Talk About Race and Racism
- Article: How to Teach Young Children about Cultural Awareness & Diversity (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Article: Learning to Appreciate Diversity Through Play (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- PBS LearningMedia Collection: World Cultures Collection
- Arthur All About Community: Appreciating & Understanding Diversity
- Booklist: 13 Children’s Books About Race & Diversity (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Guide: Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books (from Social Justice Books)
- Article: 8 Tips for Choosing “Good” Picture Books Featuring Diverse, BIPOC Characters (from EmbraceRace.org)
Families
- Song: Family (from Sesame Street)
- Article: Talking to Kids: Families Come in All Shapes and Sizes (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Activity: Celebrate Family Diversity (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Video: Family Time (from KET’s Everyday Learning Collection on PBS LearningMedia)
- Activity: Family Relationships (from Arthur)
Feelings and Emotions
- Article: Creating an Emotionally Supportive Home Environment (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Video: Offering Comfort in Stressful Times (from Sesame Street in Communities)
- Song: Exploring Big Feelings (from Sesame Street in Communities)
- Videos: Feelings Have Names (from Sesame Street in Communities)
- Videos: Expressing Emotions (from Sesame Street in Communities)
- Videos: Naming Feelings (from Sesame Street in Communities)
- Activity: Drawing Your Feelings (from Sesame Street in Communities)
- Video: Talking About “Big Feelings” (from Sesame Street in Communities)
- Song: Revealing Emotions (from Sesame Street)
Talking About the News & Community Violence & Scary Experiences
- Guide: Talking with Kids About News & Emergencies (WXXI Education)
- Guide: Explaining the News to Our Kids (from Common Sense Media)
- Article: Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Article: How to Talk to Kids about Terrible Things (from NPR)
- Article: Helping Kids Navigate Scary News Stories (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Guide: When Something Scary Happens (from PBS KIDS)
- Guide: Community Violence: Age-by-Age Strategies (from Sesame Street in Communities)
- Guide: 15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence (from Colorin Colorado)
Same & Different
- Video: Same/Different with Abby & Elmo
- Videos + Activities: Alike & Different (from Daniel Tiger’s Life’s Little Lessons PBS LearningMedia Media Gallery)
- Booklist: 6 Books to Read with Your Kids That Celebrate Differences and Diversity (from PBS NewsHour)
- Video: We are All Different (from Meet the Helpers)
Being Inclusive and Empathetic
- Article: How to Teach Your Child to Be An “Includer” (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Article: Play Pretend: How to Include Others (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Booklist: Books That Encourage Kids of All Colors to be Inclusive and Empathetic (From EmbraceRace)
- Article: 7 Ways for Kids to Learn Empathy Through Acting
- Video: How Others Feel (from Sesame Street in Communities)
Each Person is Special
- Song: Count Me In (from Sesame Street)
- Song: What I Am (from Sesame Street)
- Song: You Are Special (from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood)
- Video: O is Special (from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood)
- Song: It’s You I Like (from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood)
- Song: I Am Special (from Sesame Street)
- Song: I Love My Hair & I Love My Hair (with Mando) (from Sesame Street)
- Song: Happy to Be Me (from Sesame Street)
Resilience
- Booklist: Books That Inspire Resilience in Kids of Color (from EmbraceRace)
- Sesame Street in Communities Resilience hub
- Article: How to Raise an Emotionally Resilient Child (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
Standing Up for Yourselves and Others
- Arthur: Civics: Making a Difference
- Booklist: Books That Animate Kids to be Racial Justice Advocates for All Children (from EmbraceRace.org)
- Video: Speaking Out Against Unfairness (from Meet the Helpers)
Race:
- Video: It’s Never too Early to Talk to Your Kids About Race (from The Talk)
- Video: How One Parent Talks to His Biracial Kids About Race (from The Talk)
- Article: Talking Race with Young Children (from NPR)
- Guide: Teaching Young Children About Race (from Social Justice Books)
Racism & Anti-Racism
- Listen: Kojo for Kids: Jason Reynolds Talks Racism and the Protests (from The Kojo Nnamdi Show)
- Listen: Talking Race with Young Children (from NPR)
- Listen: How to Talk to Your Kids About Race, Racism, and Police Violence (from WBUR)
- Guide: How White Parents Can Talk to Their Kids About Race (from NPR)
- Booklist: Books that Support Kids to Think Critically About Racial Inequity (from EmbraceRace)
- Guide: Racism and Violence: Using Your Voice as a Parent to Support Children Aged 2 to 5 (from Zero to Three)
- Guide: Becoming Upended: Teaching and Learning about Race and Racism with Young Children and Their Families (from National Association for the Education of Young Children)
- Booklist: 31 Children’s Books to Support Conversations on Race, Racism, and Resistance (from EmbraceRace)
- Guide: 10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race (from EmbraceRace)
- Guide: Beyond the Golden Rule: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Responding to Prejudice (from Teaching Tolerance)
Black History and Culture
- Celebrating and Learning Beyond Black History Month (from Reading Rockets)
- Booklist: Children’s Books to Celebrate Black Culture (from Reading Rockets)
- Article: How Black Art Can Spark Conversations with Children (from PBS KIDS for Parents)
- Booklist: Children’s Books Featuring Kids of Color Being Themselves. That’s Enough! (from EmbraceRace.org)
Resources for Adults Working with Young Children
- Developing Cultural Awareness | Learning with Littles
- Demonstrating Empathy and Perseverance| Learning with Littles
- Culturally Responsive Teaching with Molly of Denali
- Exploring the Community | Cultivating Good Neighbor Skills
- Building Relationships | Cultivating Good Neighbor Skills