Understanding the Impact of Prejudice and Discrimination on Children and Young People

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Understanding the impact of prejudice and discrimination on children and young people By promoting equality and diversity we engage to treat the children equally; but we have to not forget to take their individuality into account. Therefore we can follow an anti-discriminatory practice by: treating children individually, treating children equally, taking account of children's capacity and abilities, adapting the lessons so all the children can benefit from it, involving all the children in activities, encouraging those who need encouragement, ensuring positive resources, offering the needed support for children with special needs, etc. So the children will understand that they are valuable and respected whatever their background or disability. In this way they will build up their confidence and self-esteem. A discriminatory attitude may have a negative impact on children's education and emotional development. A child who is discriminated against by the teacher can feel unimportant and worthless. The responsibility of teachers and TAs is even bigger as they have to be an example for the children. If the children observe that the teacher or T.A. makes differences between pupils they can follow this attitude and so the children that are discriminated may lose their confidence in their self and in others as well, and may develop inferiority complexes. It is a big responsibility for teachers and TAs to help children understand that each of them is special and unique but in the same time they are equal and they have to show respect to each other for their uniqueness. So it is important to promote an anti-discriminatory practice in working with children as this may affect their character. For the staff which is directly involved in teaching it is important to be conscious that their words are important however the example they give may sometimes be stronger than words.
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