Article Summary
In Children and Ethnicity, Dr. Paul Connolly examines the concept of ethnicity, its understanding and role, and its impact on forming a child’s attitudes and identity. The article explains that ethnicity is generally defined as a shared sense of identity and history among people who consider themselves different from others. Diversity factors identified in the resource involve skin color, nationality, religion, language, and shared traditions. In addition, the source discusses two common misconceptions about ethnicity, namely that it is mostly about race and color and applies only to minority groups. Thus, the article significantly focuses on the issues related to the definition of ethnicity, which can lead to negative consequences for children’s development.
Moreover, the source refers to the factors influencing attitudes toward others. The article emphasizes that children learn about their ethnic identity from their immediate family, events, and influences in the local community (Connolly). The peer group is also essential in determining children’s attitudes and behaviors toward ethnic diversity. In this aspect, the source utilizes the example of the school as an environment where the child communicates with peers representing various ethnic groups (Connolly). The article’s final section presents necessary measures for parents to prevent the adverse effects of children’s perceptions of others. In general, the source emphasizes the significance of parents and caregivers in helping children develop positive attitudes toward ethnic diversity and that ethnicity should not be used to create divisions between people.
Article Discussion
From this article, I primarily learned about the importance of the perception of various groups in child development. In this regard, the source addresses the problem of misinterpretation of ethnicity and its associated difficulties. Another significant aspect is providing information regarding the formation of children’s perceptions of different identities. Furthermore, the article offers recommendations for overcoming the adverse effects associated with attitudes toward members of other groups. In this case, the source suggests three measures crucial to preventing potential communication issues that relate primarily to the parent’s and children’s awareness of ethnicity (Connolly). Therefore, this resource covers vital information concerning the impact of attitudes to other people on children’s development.
This article relates to the information in the Human Growth and Development course as it directly refers to the development of children. For example, it emphasizes the influence of nurture on development, and ethnicity is a social construct that impacts human interaction. In addition, the article focuses on the importance of family and community in forming children’s development. Children learn about ethnicity from their families and local communities, two major environmental determinants in child development. In general, the article highlights the importance of developing positive attitudes toward diverse identities in children and the role of parents and communities in facilitating this process.
Work Cited
Connolly, Paul. “Children and ethnicity.” Open Learning. 2019. Web.