Gender equality is crucial to a fair and just world. Promoting it will empower all children to realise that they should have equal opportunities, and will also encourage our younger generations to be more tolerant of differences and everyone's uniqueness. At aKINDemy we want to help you with conversations around gender equality and empower you and your children to create a more equal world for all genders.

Research shows that the concept of gender in children forms between the ages of three and seven. During this early phase, children form an understanding of gender norms, identities and stereotypes. By this age they also acquire strong gender biases, such as which jobs men and women should fulfil.

Also, by this time girls have often already been negatively affected by gendered interactions and boys’ masculine conduct in schools. Altogether, this has a huge impact on children’s future lives.

Gender norms and stereotypes are not limited to the classroom. They invade young children’s lives in many ways: through media, advertisements, toys and learning materials. They are passed on to them by their parents, their peers or from what they see in their communities and through social norms.

0-2 years 

From the day they are born, we are in awe of the curiosity of our children - the way they see the world, react to its sights and sounds. When it comes to gender equality, we can take the same approach. Whilst we are not delving into the weeds of the topic, we can help plant seeds that will ensure our children grow up with a sense of what equality is and why it's needed.

• Let your children play with whatever toys they like regardless of their gender. All play helps children to develop life skills.
• Allow their imagination and exploration to run free, don't limit them to what's typically made for their own gender.
• Read stories filled with endless possibilities. There is a saying of "can't see, can't be" - we want that to be the opposite - read them stories filled with diversity of characters and roles, so they know that anything is possible, and don't be afraid to acknowledge and call out books when they portray gender stereotypes

Last but not least, try to be a role model to your child. Show examples of gender equality in the home. If you have a partner, try to share jobs out equally. Everyone can help with things like cooking, cleaning, gardening, or washing the car.

3-5 years 

We know that kids of this age have the most incredible imaginations, but they are also very impressionable. Here are some top tips for you to help shape those creatively little brains into ones that value the diversity of all people:

• Try to be a role model to your child. Show examples of gender equality in the home. If you have a partner, try to share jobs out equally. Everyone can help with things like cooking, cleaning, gardening, or washing the car.
• Use story-time to explore the gender equality within books - check out some of the great books included that help us break those gender norms as to what a boy or girl should be
• Remember that all human beings have feelings and need to express these feelings - make sure that boys know it's okay to cry, and that girls know it's okay to be strong. Emotions know no bounds!
• Let your children play with whatever toys they like regardless of their sex. All play helps children to develop life skills.
• Allow them to ask why, but also ask them why they think those things - for example, if your little girl says "eww no that's for boys", dig a little deeper into why they think that and then show them some examples that will help change their minds - as we said before role models are powerful things!

6-9 years 

Understanding gender equality is quite a tough concept for our little ones as they often don't see why it may exist. You can use these conversation starters, alongside the activity, to help start talking with your children about gender equality, what it is and why we need it.

• Firstly, encourage them during play - don't limit their imagination. If they want to be a boy ballerina or a girl mechanic, then encourage those ideals.
• Throughout the activity shared in this box, ask why they have drawn the person like that - have some role models or famous people on hand who have challenged typical gender stereotypes.
• Be a role model to your child. Show examples of gender equality in the home. If you have a partner, try to share jobs out equally. Everyone can help with things like cooking, cleaning, gardening, or washing the car.
• Why not ask them about what they love about their friends, gauge what descriptive words they are using and help guide them in their perceptions of their friends of each gender.

Their little brains are very malleable, so set a good example of gender equality in all you do, and they will follow suit. Don't forget, encourage them to pursue anything they put their minds to!