Nursery World - Fair play

Children can learn negative attitudes towards difference at a very early age. Sue Learner investigates ways of challenging some common prejudices and stereotypes Between the ages of three and five, children living in this country have already learnt that it is 'better' to be white in Britain than black. And, by the age of five, many boys and girls think women can do only certain jobs and believe women are less valued in society than men.

Between the ages of three and five, children living in this country have already learnt that it is 'better' to be white in Britain than black. And, by the age of five, many boys and girls think women can do only certain jobs and believe women are less valued in society than men.

It is these sorts of findings, by Professor David Milner of the University of Westminster in his book on Children and Race, and those shown on the BBC One series 'Child of Our Time', that have driven the National Children's Bureau (NCB) into trying to stamp out these stereotypes.

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