It is commonly believed that children are naive
and colour blind . However, research demonstrates
that children not only notice differences in skin
colour and facial features, but they also start
making value judgements about these characteristics
from an early age. Drawing on the data from semi-
structured face to face interviews with three, five
and seven year old participants, this book explores
children s racialisation of difference within a
framework of Bronfenbrenner s ecological
theory. This book makes an important contribution to
our understanding of how children s racist
assumptions are formed. It demonstrates that
children s awareness of racial differences does
not correspond with their own attitudes and
preferences. It argues that from an early age
children are active in making sense of
their social experiences and often struggle in their
attempts to reconcile the multiple racialised
discourses to which they are exposed. The book will
be of interest to anyone who interacts with young
children, especially parents, educators, child care
workers, as well as academics and policy makers
within the field of education and care.
and colour blind . However, research demonstrates
that children not only notice differences in skin
colour and facial features, but they also start
making value judgements about these characteristics
from an early age. Drawing on the data from semi-
structured face to face interviews with three, five
and seven year old participants, this book explores
children s racialisation of difference within a
framework of Bronfenbrenner s ecological
theory. This book makes an important contribution to
our understanding of how children s racist
assumptions are formed. It demonstrates that
children s awareness of racial differences does
not correspond with their own attitudes and
preferences. It argues that from an early age
children are active in making sense of
their social experiences and often struggle in their
attempts to reconcile the multiple racialised
discourses to which they are exposed. The book will
be of interest to anyone who interacts with young
children, especially parents, educators, child care
workers, as well as academics and policy makers
within the field of education and care.