exploring gender development
  • Aligns with Ohio SUTQ content standards in:
    • Social-Emotional Development
    • Approaches Toward Learning
    • Cognitive Development and General Knowledge
  • 3 hours
  • OA-L2

Participants will understand their role as Early Childhood Professionals in helping families and children during stages of gender development and identity. Participants will review theories of gender development, the stages of gender development, and how to provide support to children as their identity emerges. Participants will understand that this is a time for children’s exploration, and children have many questions about who is a boy and who is a girl, which is developmentally appropriate. Participants will receive information to share with families, which will help them through this stage of development.

Objectives

Participants will understand that even though there are many theories of how we develop gender, the common belief among the theories, is that early childhood (0-5 yrs) is a time to explore all opportunities and gain experiences and knowledge.
  • Core Knowledge Document: Ohio’s Early Childhood Core Knowledge and Competencies
  • Area: Child Growth and Development
  • Subgroup: Developmental Process
  • Competency: 2.4 Applies knowledge of age and individually appropriate norms to establish appropriate expectations for children.
Participants will become aware that young children are diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria (GD) usually in middle childhood (ages 6-12). In early childhood (ages 0-5) development, it is developmentally appropriate to explore gender identities, ask questions, and wonder “why” boys are boys, and girls are girls. Early childhood choices do not necessarily predict future sexual identity or gender identity.
  • Core Knowledge Document: Ohio’s Early Childhood Core Knowledge and Competencies
  • Area: Child Growth and Development
  • Subgroup: Developmental Process
  • Competency: 2.4 Applies knowledge of age and individually appropriate norms to establish appropriate expectations for children.
Participants will review and discuss stages of gender development from 0-6 years of age. Participants will apply this knowledge of child development to establish appropriate expectations at each stage. During group discussion, participants will share their experiences and observations of how children at certain stages of development express their gender identity.
  • Core Knowledge Document: Ohio’s Early Childhood Core Knowledge and Competencies
  • Area: Child Growth and Development
  • Subgroup: Developmental Process
  • Competency: 2.4 Applies knowledge of age and individually appropriate norms to establish appropriate expectations for children.
Participants will understand their role as the “representative of reality” in a preschool classroom. Instructor will provide phrases and model ways to answer children’s questions and worries about non-compliant behaviors they observe in their classroom.  Participants will learn how to provide an environment that provides exploration of gender roles, fosters children’s self-esteem, and affirms children’s’ actions during this stage of development.
  • Core Knowledge Document: Ohio’s Early Childhood Core Knowledge and Competencies
  • Area: Child Growth and Development
  • Subgroup: Developmental Process
  • Competency: 2.4 Applies knowledge of age and individually appropriate norms to establish appropriate expectations for children.
Participants will gain an understanding of why families need guidance in recognizing appropriate developmental expectations in the young child. Instructor will provide participants with phrases and ways to model appropriate interaction when children have questions about others’ non-conforming behaviors. Participants will get resources (book titles) to share with families. Participants will share community resources that can help families when they have more questions or concerns.
  • Core Knowledge Document: Ohio’s Early Childhood Core Knowledge and Competencies
  • Area: Family and Community Relations
  • Subgroup: Valuing Families
  • Competency: 3.2 Ensures families are equal partners in the decision-making process and that the program values families in a non-judgmental way.
Participants will understand their role as an Early Childhood Professional when working with families and children. Participants will learn how to answer questions from families and children about others’ non-compliant behaviors, in a non-judgmental way, keeping personal beliefs and feelings to themselves. Participants will feel comfortable in their role to helping children explore different gender roles and gain a “love of learning”.
  • Core Knowledge Document: Ohio’s Early Childhood Core Knowledge and Competencies
  • Area: Professionalism
  • Subgroup: Professionalism in Practice
  • Competency: 3.1 Routinely reflects and evaluates the experiences and interactions that are planned to ensure they help children reach their potential including their interaction with families regarding children’s goals for learning and development.
Participants will problem solve and share what they have learned by reviewing a scenario and answering questions, using the phrases, words, and professional behaviors provided during the training.
  • Core Knowledge Document: Ohio’s Early Childhood Core Knowledge and Competencies
  • Area: Professionalism
  • Subgroup: Professionalism in Practice
  • Competency: 1.2 Views one’s self as a professional and demonstrates professional work habits including confidentiality, respect for all people, dependability, personal appearance, time management, independence and teamwork. Communicates effectively using appropriate oral and written language skills.
This program is approved by the State of Ohio and is aligned with Ohio’s Step Up to Quality (SUTQ) standards.
Continuing Education Units are available for this program through approval of the Ohio Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board. Hanna Perkins is a CSWMFT-approved continuing education provider; No. RSC019904

To schedule this course for your organization, contact our Community Collaborations and Professional Development office.