What Is Embracing Family Diversity?

In a school that embraces family diversity, families of all kinds feel welcome as soon as they enter the school. Children of all racial and ethnic backgrounds and with all kinds of family structures see families like theirs reflected in the books in their classrooms, in the images on bulletin boards and in the curriculum. Students feel comfortable talking about their families whether they have two dads, a grandmother as a primary caregiver or a parent living in another country.

Family diversity should be a consideration in every facet of the school community. From the first forms that parents or guardians fill out before a child enters a school, to the ongoing communication with families, schools signal their acknowledgement and welcome to many kinds of families. In this inclusive environment, diverse families are normalized and children aren’t singled out or harassed, excluded or bullied because their family is “different.”