Because every child belongs -
MoreDiversity in KITAS

Books shape our thoughts and actions and create images in our minds. This is how representation later shapes reality.

However, there is often little real representation in children’s books and stereotypical gender roles, prejudices or inequalities are reinforced.

Boys are pirates and play soccer, girls like horses and pretty dresses. Families are mostly white, children with a different skin color or diversity criteria are rare to non-existent.

Books and toys in daycare centers and German households are generally shaped by stereotypes and thus replicate the same patterns and inequalities in our society.

Our aim is to ensure that all children have access to an education that offers equal opportunities and that they can develop their strengths without discrimination or stereotyping.

The course for worldviews, stereotypes and role models is already set at an early age. Through the inclusive and realistic representation of our diverse society in books, children should be made aware from an early age that there are different ways of life, bodies and skin colors.

Every child should be able to find themselves in books and identify with characters in order to strengthen their individuality and learn that they are valuable and wanted.

Together with duvia, we are developing a project blueprint that can be used free of charge by other providers and daycare centers in the future.

In the pilot concept, we are supporting Tebalou’s diversity boxes with books for children aged 3-6 years and an extensive book list curated by experts and following an intersectional approach.

An accompanying iterative workshop concept is being developed with a team of experts and the first daycare centers. This will enable educators to select suitable reading and play materials themselves in the future and to engage in a learning process together with children and parents and to accompany the reading and discussion.