Different is Beautiful: Growing Kind Hearts in Preschool
Olympia, WA | Evergreen Explorers Preschool | Inclusive Early Education | Diversity in Preschool
At Evergreen Explorers Preschool in Hawks Prairie, Olympia, WA, we believe one of the most important lessons young children can learn is this: people are beautifully different — and that's something to celebrate, not fear. From family makeup and cultural backgrounds to physical abilities and neurodiversity, our preschool classroom is a safe space where every child is valued for exactly who they are.
And research shows: exposing children to people of different abilities, cultures, and family structures from an early age not only boosts empathy but also improves academic and social outcomes long-term.
🧠 The Research: What the Experts Say
According to a report from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), children who regularly engage with diverse peers and are guided through inclusive conversations show greater empathy, stronger communication skills, and fewer behavioral challenges over time.
The American Psychological Association (APA) also emphasizes that inclusive early childhood programs improve:
Cognitive flexibility
Perspective-taking
Cooperation and emotional self-regulation
And in inclusive settings where children with disabilities learn alongside typically developing peers, all children benefit — both academically and socially.
🧒 What Inclusion Looks Like at Evergreen Explorers
At our Olympia preschool, inclusion isn’t a separate lesson — it’s embedded into everything we do:
Books, dolls, and materials reflect a wide range of skin tones, abilities, family types, and cultures.
We talk openly (and age-appropriately) about how people use wheelchairs, communicate differently, or come from different kinds of homes — not as something strange, but as something normal and beautiful.
We teach social-emotional skills like empathy, kindness, and asking respectful questions.
Children collaborate in mixed-age groups, where they learn from each other and build patience, understanding, and confidence.
When kids see difference not as a barrier but as part of the world they belong to, they grow into open-hearted, respectful people who embrace others rather than fear what’s unfamiliar.
💬 How You Can Support This at Home
Inclusion doesn’t stop at the preschool door. Here are a few ways to reinforce inclusive values at home:
Read diverse books: Look for stories with characters of different races, abilities, languages, and family structures.
Use inclusive language: Model respect for all people — “Some kids walk, some use wheelchairs,” or “Some families have two moms, and some have one parent.”
Answer questions openly: Kids are naturally curious — support that curiosity with honest, simple, and respectful answers.
Practice empathy: Talk about feelings, perspectives, and kindness in daily life. Ask, “How do you think your friend felt when that happened?”
🌱 Building a Better World Starts in Preschool
The world is wonderfully diverse — and when children learn to embrace that early, they grow up more prepared to thrive in it and contribute to it. At Evergreen Explorers, we don’t just teach ABCs — we help grow little humans who are thoughtful, kind, and accepting.
📍 Located in Hawks Prairie, Olympia, WA, we proudly serve families in Olympia, Lacey, and surrounding communities with a warm, inclusive preschool experience.
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