# Promoting Acceptance and Friendship

## “All children have a place in early childhood and elementary classes that celebrate differences while remembering that even in the presence of human differences, all children are more alike than different.”

—From **_[The Making Friends Program](https://products.brookespublishing.com/The-Making-Friends-Program-P884.aspx)_** by Paddy C. Favazza, Michaelene M. Ostrosky, & Chryso Mouzourou

Friendships and other social relationships are vital to the well-being of every young child. As an early childhood professional, you play a key role in supporting authentic friendships among children of diverse cultural backgrounds and helping the diverse children you work with learn to accept and celebrate their differences.

Use the recommended resources on this page to create a welcoming, inclusive learning environment where all children enjoy strong social connections and feel like they belong.

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## Articles and other online resources:

[**8 Ways to Show Young Children that Diversity is a Strength**](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/8-ways-to-show-young-children-that-diversity-is-a-strength/) _(Brookes)_

Learn how framing differences in cultures, languages, and backgrounds as a strength can help young children understand diversity and improve classroom experiences for all children.

[**3 Ways to Help Young Children Respect and Accept Diversity**](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/3-ways-to-help-young-children-respect-and-accept-diversity/) _(Brookes)_

Read this blog post for strategies that can help you encourage friendships and respectful social interaction among all the diverse children in your classroom.

[**11 Ways to Encourage Friendship Skills and Social Play**](https://blog.brookespublishing.com/11-ways-to-encourage-friendship-skills-and-social-play/) _(Brookes)_

From greeting games to scavenger hunts, these simple strategies can foster friendships and social play among all children in your classroom.

[**Teaching Young Children to Understand and Accept Differences**](https://lesley.edu/article/teaching-young-children-to-understand-and-accept-differences) _(Lesley University)_

Explores how anti-bias work in preK classrooms can help children be more empathetic and understanding of diversity among their peers.

### Explore the Toolkit

- [Screening and Assessing Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children](/content/cultural-diversity-toolkit/screening-and-assessing-culturally-and-linguistically-diverse-children/index.html)
- [Supporting Dual Language Learners](/content/cultural-diversity-toolkit/supporting-dual-language-learners/index.html)
- [Understanding and Working with Families](/content/cultural-diversity-toolkit/understanding-and-working-with-families/index.html)
- [Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms and Practices](/content/cultural-diversity-toolkit/creating-culturally-responsive-classrooms-and-practices/index.html)
- **Promoting Acceptance and Friendship**
- [Shareable Quote Graphic Library](/content/cultural-diversity-toolkit/shareable-quote-graphic-library/index.html)

[**4 Tips to Facilitate Friendships in the Inclusive Classroom**](https://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2014/07/22/4-tips-to-facilitate-friendships-in-the-inclusive-classroom/) _(Friendship Circle)_

Brookes author Nicole Eredics highlights 4 important things you can do to facilitate friendships between all children in inclusive classrooms.

[**Why and How to Encourage Cross-Racial Friendships among Children**](https://www.embracerace.org/resources/why-and-how-to-encourage-cross-racial-friendships-among-children) _(Embrace Race)_

Learn from this in-depth Q&A with Professor Amber Williams, who researches the prevalence and importance of cross-race friendships among children.

[**The Importance of Friendship in Preschool**](https://blog.himama.com/friendship-in-preschool/) _(HiMama Blog)_

See why friendships are so important in preschool, and learn how you can facilitate friendships in your own classroom.

[**Teaching Friendship Skills in Preschool**](https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-friendship-skills-preschool) _(Edutopia)_

Promote healthy ideas about friendship and foster a positive preschool culture with these practical tips and ideas.

[**The Power of Friendships in Early Childhood**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMASOQfpeTc) _(Storypark)_

Jane Bertrand from the University of Toronto discusses socio-emotional responsiveness, cognitive responsiveness, and scaffolding.