Chapter 10: Gender and LGBTQ+ Inclusive Practice in Early Childhood

February 16, 2023

Chapter authors

Shaddai Tembo
Fifi Benham

Chapter overview

This chapter examines the role of gender and LGBTQ+ inclusive practice to understand how we, as educators, might raise children un-limited from the gendered and heteronormative beliefs which negatively impact their identities. This chapter is written in three parts. Initially, we provide an overview of the field across the past century and consider how gender and LGBTQ+ inclusion is received today within both public and scholarly arenas. Secondly, we turn to practice and consider strategies for inclusion based on our own experiences with young children. Finally, we look forward to an agenda for the future, considering what kind of change might be needed to maintain, and heighten, a focus on gender and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Chapter objectives

To explore contemporary research and policy regarding gender and LGBTQ+ inclusive practice in early childhood
To provide a historical overview of issues surrounding gender and LGBTQ+ inclusion
To consider how issues of inclusion are presently received in public and scholarly arenas
To examine strategies for gender and LGBTQ+ inclusive practice for young children
To propose an agenda for the future towards wider and embedded gender and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Supplementary material

Online resources

Let Toys Be Toys is a campaign asking the toy and publishing industries to stop limiting children’s interests by promoting some toys and books as only suitable for girls, and others only for boys. they have a number of useful early years resources.
The No Outsiders programme promotes an ethos of inclusion and tolerance, and aims to prepare children for life in modern Britain.
Mermaids UK have plenty of useful resources for supporting gender-diverse children and young people
Stonewall’s Getting Started guide provides provide practical ideas, prompts and reflections to support you to be inclusive of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in your setting
This article explains the concept of heteronormativity and how it affects young children

Back to overview of chapter resources

Chapter 1: The centrality of play in early childhood

Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Nancy Stewart Kierna Corr Julia Henderson Chapter overview Play is a fundamental in childhood, and enshrined as

Chapter 2: Early years curriculum: past, present and future – trajectories

Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Verity Campbell- Barr Sasha Tregenza May Chapter overview In this chapter, we explore and analyse developments in

Chapter 3: Understanding young children’s learning through observation and assessment

Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Sue Allingham Nicola Brinning Chapter overview This chapter is built around the policy contexts of Wales and

Chapter 4: Developing a culture of sustainability in ECE

Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Alison Featherbe Louise Lloyd-Evans Helen Moylett Chapter overview In the early years, where our habits of mind

Chapter 5: Developing early years outdoor experiences

Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Elizabeth Henderson Emma Gordon Helen McKinnon Jacqueline Bremner Maggie MacDonald Chapter overview Taking a Scottish perspective, this

Chapter 6: Working with families to support young children’s learning

Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Cathy Nutbrown Becky Cook Chapter overview Early childhood education settings are increasingly, developing work with parents to

Chapter 7: Transitions in ECE

Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Aline-Wendy Dunlop Lisa Barnes Myra McRobbie Chapter overview In this chapter we have chosen a transitions lens

Chapter 8: Inclusive education for young children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

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Chapter 9: Race, anti-discrimination, and work to combat the effects of discrimination on practitioners and children

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Chapter 11: Combatting the effects of poverty on the outcomes of young children and their families: the role of Children’s Centres

Back to overview of chapter resources Chapter authors Kathy Sylva Lesley Curtis Chapter overview This chapter explores the role of Children’s Centres (CCs) in serving