Standing firm in Power and Pride: celebrating Black History Month at N

Everyday family practices build confidence and belonging

For example, a culturally specific care practice that I share with my two year old is one that is embedded in our bathtime routine. Every day at bathtime, he puts his hand into our shared tub of shea butter and rubs it on his hands to warm it up and melt it before rubbing it on his face and body once he has come out of the bath and been dried. He understands that this is an essential part of his routine, but also that it is something that we, his mommy and daddy do too to keep our skin soft moisturised and as he describes it “shiny”. He finds such a sense of joy in this and because we have been doing this since birth, he is confident in carrying out this routine without prompt because he knows it’s something that happens every day and why it is essential.

Learning identity through connection with extended family

Every weekend, we spend time with our extended family including grandparents, aunties and cousins which is an important time to bond, build relationships outside of the home and hear stories. The vibe in my parents’ house has differences to that of our household but there are also lots of similarities which help my son build connections linked to the smells of foods that are being cooked and a range of photographs which he finds fascinating. Specifically, photos from my childhood, our wedding days, the hospital on his birthday, and images of our late-grandparents.

Read more about the food, culture and connection here.

Passing down culture through celebrations and memories

There is a particular photograph that both me and my parents have a copy of in our respective households which show me at Handsworth Carnival as a child holding a Jamaican flag and my son never tires of hearing the story attached to it when his grandad tells him, in a very animated fashion, about the sound systems that pumped out the heavy bass of reggae that I used to love dancing to. My son finds it hilarious when my dad re-enacts the moments by turning on his favourite Sugar Minott songs and dances with one leg in the air and then rocking forward and back whilst moving his waist and waving his hands up and down. Without fail and my son always jumps up and starts dancing too and always says “What did mommy do? How did mommy dance?” - that’s usually my cue to jump up too. (More on that in next week’s article on moving in power - dance, music and joyful expression!)

How these traditions support all children

These instances provide opportunities for my mom and dad to share stories with him from the past and present which help my son to weave the significant narratives into his own sense of self, identity and culture as a British born child of Caribbean heritage with roots in Jamaica, St Kitts and Antigua.

Understanding diversity across families and cultures

These traditions not only build pride and belonging for Black children, but they offer opportunities for all children to learn about heritage, culture and how these differ across other households. When we encourage children during their earliest years to feel a sense of pride in themselves and bring those traditions into the nursery environment it is reaffirming and joyful.

Read about: Black hair, identity and pride

What can families do at home to promote tradition?

Create a family traditions wall

• Building a ‘family traditions wall’ at home is a lovely way of families sharing photos and objects that mean something poignant to them. The visual tapestry that it creates encourages children to engage in stories and hear passed-down traditions that they may want to continue and be a part of.

Record stories and voice notes to cherish over time

• Using a phone or recording device to capture short stories, videos or voice notes are lovely ways to capture family traditions when speaking to family members. They can be played back and listened to over time, and can be a real comfort to young children.
• Creating a simple picture book with your child is another tangible way of capturing these moments and can be a brilliant resource for sparking conversations relating to self, identity and representation.

Choose books that centre Black characters

• Consciously choosing books that centre Black characters are a wonderful way for families to learn more about Black history and also nurture a love of reading with your child. Here are some titles to get you started: Whose Toes are Those, by Jabari Asim Hey You, by Dapo Adeola Democratic Republic of the Congo, by Mel Nyoko Strong Like Me, by Kelechi Okafor When Aidan Became a Brother, by Kyle Lukoff Naming Ceremony, by Seina Wedlick

Use sensory props to support communication and expression

• Using multi-sensory props such as textiles, instruments, and visual symbols are great tools for children with diverse communication needs. They allow children to fully participate and express themselves.

Create new traditions that celebrate who you are

• Creating a new family tradition that is significant to your unique family is a way of promoting heritage and celebrating belonging. Maybe it can be something that you do daily, weekly, monthly or yearly.

For more content from Liz, visit theblacknurserymanager.com and

@theblacknurserymanager

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