Watching faces, finding words
From around six months babies notice skin tones and faces. This is the age to fill their world with pictures of people who look like them, and like everyone else.
Nothing here yet for this age.
Alphabet flashcards
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Flashcard Gift Set
£55.00
What happens at this age
0 to 6 months
Looks longest at faces and high contrast pictures
6 to 12 months
Begins to notice differences in skin colour
12 to 18 months
Points, babbles and names familiar things
18 to 24 months
Strings two words together and copies what you say
What you might notice
01
Faces fascinate them
Babies study faces for longer than anything else, so the faces they see every day matter.
02
They notice difference
Research shows infants register skin colour from around six months.
03
Repetition is learning
Hearing the same word again and again is how first words form.
Speech and language
01
Name it, point to it
Say the word slowly while pointing to the picture, then to their own body.
02
Leave a pause
Stop before the last word so they can try to fill the gap.
03
Copy their sounds
Echo their babble back. It teaches them that talking is a conversation.
Activities to try at home
01
Mirror and cards
Hold a card next to a mirror and name the body part on both.
02
Peekaboo flashcards
Hide a card under a cloth and reveal it with the word.
03
Fruit and veg match
Match puzzle pieces to real food at snack time.
Conversations to have
Words you can borrow when your child asks about difference.
"Look, her hair is curly like yours."
"Everyone has a nose. What colour is yours?"
"Families come in lots of different colours."
Noticing, and asking why
Between two and four, children start to sort people into groups and can begin to form bias. Their questions are honest and loud. Simple, warm answers now shape how they see others later.
Nothing here yet for this age.
Alphabet flashcards
£16.99
Numbers flashcards
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What happens at this age
Age 3
Asks lots of "why" questions about what they see
Age 3 to 4
Sorts people by colour, hair and clothes
Age 4
Notices who is left out of stories and play
Age 5
Starts to understand fairness and feelings
What you might notice
01
Questions out loud
They will ask about difference in public. That is curiosity, not rudeness.
02
Sorting the world
Grouping by colour or hair is normal at this age, so give them positive words to use.
03
Copying adults
They watch how you react far more than they listen to what you say.
Speech and language
01
Answer the question asked
Keep it short and true. "Her skin is darker because of melanin."
02
Ask what they think
"What do you notice?" helps them put thoughts into words.
03
New words every day
Name hairstyles and head coverings: braids, locs, hijab, turban.
Activities to try at home
01
Memory game
Play Afro Hairstyles and name each style as you turn it over.
02
Build a face
Use the face puzzles to make family members and friends.
03
Story then talk
Read a story, then ask which character they would like to be.
Conversations to have
Words you can borrow when your child asks about difference.
"People wear head coverings for lots of reasons. Shall we find out?"
"Is it kind to leave someone out? What could we do instead?"
"Different is not better or worse. It is just different."
Friendships, fairness and stories
At school children meet new friends, new ideas and sometimes unkind comments. Stories and honest conversations give them the confidence to be proud of who they are and stand up for others.
Nothing here yet for this age.
Numbers flashcards
£16.99
What happens at this age
Age 5
Settles into school and forms first friendships
Age 6
Reads simple stories and spots who is in them
Age 7
Notices when something is unfair and says so
Age 8
Understands that people have different experiences
What you might notice
01
Strong sense of fairness
They notice unfairness quickly, which makes this a great age to talk about racism.
02
Friends matter most
What friends say about hair, skin or food can stay with them.
03
Stories land deeply
Characters who look like them build pride and belonging.
Speech and language
01
Retell the story
Ask them to tell the story back in their own words.
02
Talk about feelings
"How do you think she felt?" builds empathy and vocabulary.
03
Big words, explained
Words like culture, heritage and fair are ready to be learned.
Activities to try at home
01
Puzzle together
Do the jigsaw and talk about the families and places in it.
02
Wall of us
Put up a print and ask what they would add about their own family.
03
Write a new ending
After reading, invent what happens next to the characters.
Conversations to have
Words you can borrow when your child asks about difference.
"If someone says something unkind about your hair, what could you say?"
"Our family celebrates in our own way. How does your friend's family?"
"Racism means treating people unfairly because of their skin. It is never okay."
Identity, history and speaking up
Older children are building a sense of who they are and where they come from. They are ready for real history, deeper conversations and the confidence to speak up.
Nothing here yet for this age.
What happens at this age
Age 8
Asks about family history and where they come from
Age 9
Notices racism in the news and online
Age 10
Forms strong opinions and shares them
Age 11 and up
Shapes their own identity and values
What you might notice
01
Who am I?
They start to think about their heritage and how others see them.
02
Real world questions
They hear about racism in the news and need a safe place to talk.
03
Ready to lead
Many enjoy teaching younger siblings and friends.
Speech and language
01
Discuss, don't lecture
Ask their opinion first and listen before sharing yours.
02
Read and debate
Talk about a book together like a book club.
03
Use real words
Name racism, bias and privilege clearly and kindly.
Activities to try at home
01
Teach a sibling
Let them lead a flashcard session with a younger child.
02
Family tree
Map your family and the places your history comes from.
03
Hero research
Pick a Black inventor, author or leader to learn about together.
Conversations to have
Words you can borrow when your child asks about difference.
"Have you ever seen someone treated unfairly? What happened?"
"What would you like people to know about our culture?"
"Speaking up can be small. Even asking a question helps."
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