Session 2: Race in the Early Years

Introduction

The Early Years (birth to 5 years old) represent one of the most critical periods for racial identity development. In this session, you’ll explore studies which indicate that children as young as six months can distinguish between different racial features, and by age two, they begin forming preferences and making social connections to these differences. Understanding how racial awareness evolves during these formative years is essential for educators, parents, carers and practitioners who want to nurture positive identity development and create truly inclusive environments.

During the Early Years, children are actively constructing their understanding of themselves and others. Without thoughtful guidance, they may internalise harmful stereotypes or develop anxieties about racial differences. However, with appropriate support, these same years offer tremendous opportunities to foster pride in diverse identities and build foundations for lifelong anti-racist thinking.

This session examines both historical and contemporary research on racial identity development, including the groundbreaking Clark and Clark doll studies from the 1940s and their modern replications. You will be reminded of the importance of countering the myth of ‘colourblind’ ideology through colour-evasiveness, the mistaken belief that ignoring race protects children, and learn why explicit, age-appropriate conversations about race are both necessary and beneficial from the earliest stages of development.

Through evidence-based strategies, real-world case studies, and practical tools, you will gain confidence in supporting young children’s healthy racial identity development across diverse family structures and Early Years settings.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

• describe racial identity development from birth to 5 years using key research findings
• develop strategies for age-appropriate conversations about race and diversity
• counter colour-evasiveness and address biases in Early Years practice
• apply knowledge through analysis of real-world case studies.