Helping Kids Celebrate Diversity Through Authentic Portraits
When educators are intentional about teaching kids to see and represent differences, the students鈥攁nd their works of art鈥攂lossom.
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Go to My Saved Content.Why do kids often draw self-portraits that don鈥檛 look like them? Says art teacher Libya Doman, kids internalize messages early on 鈥渢hat thin bodies are to be celebrated... that straight hair is the norm鈥� and that 鈥渨hite is right.鈥�
What can teachers do to help their students, especially BIPOC kids, draw themselves, and others, more authentically? Doman offers several practical strategies for helping kids 鈥渟low down the looking,鈥� so they can see and draw differences. She also stresses the importance of stocking inclusive art supplies.
For additional tips on supporting kids to see in 鈥渕ore color-expansive ways,鈥� download this from , a nonprofit that provides resources for parents who want to raise their children to be more thoughtful and informed about race.
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