~ Your response to those who believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families
All children are observant and curious about things and when they see a classmate who has two mom's or two dad's their going to have questions. This is when I think it would be appropriate for a teacher to read the children about this issues because children need to learn that all families are different and that they are families out there who has two mom's or two dad's and that is ok. But, I believe it is the parents responsibility to go into more detail about same-sex families if needed.
If you have ever used or heard homophobic terms such as "fag", "gay", "homo," and so forth as an insult by a child toward another describe what occurred. How might these types of comments influence all children?
I have heard a child call another child "gay" and I stopped him right there and asked him why he said that and his response was, 'I don't know." I told him there were no need for name calling because it is mean and hurtful towards others and besides how would he like like to be called a word like that. These types of comments can cause children to have low self esteem, poor image about themselves, and feel like an outcast. This can have long term effects on children and their development.
