One way to help children embrace diversity, according to new research: Expose them to different cultures early in life. Previous studies showed that when kids between the ages of 3 and 5 are given the opportunity to imitate two adults—one who speaks their native language and another who speaks a foreign one—they’re more likely to imitate those who are like themselves.
Researchers from the University of Chicago recently tested this with 18-month-olds, however, and found that those who came from more ethnically diverse neighborhoods were more likely to imitate the adult who spoke a different language. “The findings suggest that exposure to different kinds of people at a young age could influence kids’ willingness to interact and learn from others who are different from themselves,” says Lauren Howard, a Ph.D. candidate in psychology and the study’s lead author.
