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“Gender is an element of identity that young children are working hard to understand. It is also a topic that early childhood teachers are not always sure how best to address,” writes Jamie Solomon in a NAEYC online article, “Gender Identity and Expression in the Early Childhood Classroom.”

In the foreword to Nick Terrones’ popular book, A Can of Worms: Fearless Conversations With Toddlers, Ann Pelo and Margie Carter write:

“A two-year-old and her teacher, Nick, lie on their bellies eye to eye with a worm. The toddler, Paige, tries to fit the worm into an organizational system—male or female, boy or girl. She asks, “Does the worm have a penis?”

Her question hangs in the air while Nick gulps and collects his thoughts, aware that this question could carry them into intimate considerations. “How much should I say? How little?” he wonders. And he finds his answer in “one of my highest values, which is to honor children’s thinking by ... responding honestly. I decided to stick with Paige and her curiosity, her desire to understand, rather than let my anxieties stifle the conversation.”

Want to learn more about working with infants and toddlers? Here's an opportunity to gain new strategies for connecting infants and toddlers:

Nature Explore is offering a live online workshop, "Supporting Infants and Toddlers," on June 23.

May not be combined with any other offer. Offer expires July 14, 2022, at 11:59 pm PST.

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