FAMILY PLAY BOOK

This kit supports you in buildingconnections with your child and

provides them with an opportunityto engage in imaginative and

creative play that avoids gender stereotypes

What's in this book?

B U B B L E S

P L A Y D O U G H

F R U I T K E B A B S

B E R R Y B I T E S

I C Y P O L E S

Q U I C H E

S U S H I

P I Z Z A

P A N C A K E S

G E N D E R S T E R E O T Y P E S

Y O U R W O R D S M A T T E R

B O O K S A N D R E S O U R C E S

S C A V E N G E R H U N T

F L O W E R V A S E

B E A N B A G F U N

P A I N T I N G

P A P E R P L A N E S

C A R D S

S O R T I N G A N D M A T C H I N G

A L L A B O U T M E

H O U S E H O L D F U N

A N I M A L S T R E T C H I N G

R I B B O N W A N D S

P U P P E T S

2

3

4

1 4

1 5

1 5

1 6

1 7

1 8

1 9

2 0

2 1

2 2

2 3

2 4

2 5

7 - 8

9

1 0

1 1

1 2

1 3

5

6

p g .

p g .p g .

p g .

p g .

p g .

1

Gender stereotypes can have an impact on the activities that children engage in aswell as their growth and development. Research shows that adults oftenencourage children to play in a certain way because of their gender. Boys aredirected to toys that encourage spatial awareness and problem-solving skillswhereas girls are directed to arts and crafts that develop fine motor skills, or toplaying with dolls which enhances empathy and compassion. This division leads tomissed developmental opportunities for all children which can stem into adulthood.

gender stereotypes

For more activities,resources and

information, head toLevel Playground

www.levelplayground.org.au

From an early age, children areexposed to rigid expectations of whatthey should play with, the intereststhey should have and the way thatthey should behave, all based on theirgender.

What are they?

How do they impact children?

How to avoid them It is important to support healthygrowth and development for your childbased on their interests and passions,rather than what society expects ofthem. Provide them with a range ofdifferent play experiences and look foropportunities to talk with your childrenabout gender stereotypes. Usingbooks, play, media and movies is agreat way to start this conversation!

2

your words matter

That's not a boys/girls activity

That is not lady like

Great choice! I'm sure you will have lots of fun

Please be polite and use your manners

Dolls are for everyone. They teach childrenabout responsibilities, empathy and compassion

You can't do that / You can't be that becauseyou're a girl/boy

You can do that / You can be whatever youwant to be

We don't talk like that

Can you please use a softer voice?

Please use kind words

Be quiet

Your dress is pretty today

Stop crying. Boys don't cry

What you are wearing makes you look happy

Dolls are for girls only

The words and language we use with our children carry important messages aboutgender, power and respectful relationships. These messages can limit how childrenengage with each other as well as limit their interests, abilities and their sense of self. Try swapping the phrases in the first column to the second column and set an exampleto others when you hear this language being used.

It is okay to cry. Is everything ok?

Instead of this... ..try this

A simple response whenyou hear comments like...''That’s a girls/boys colour,''That's a girls/boys toy''

'Colours are for everyone' 'Toys are for everyone'

3

4

Head to LevelPlayground for arange of different

book lists, songs andnursery rhymes that

promote genderequality

Books

Songs & rhymesNursery rhymes and songs are a great way to challenge genderstereotypes in a simplistic way. You may not realise, but songsand Nursery rhymes carry important messages about genderand can often be fuelled with harmful stereotypes. Nevertheless,you can use this as a way to start conversations with your littleones about gender and gender roles. E.g. Could Miss Muffetwho is eating her curds and whey instead, scare the spideraway?

books, songs and rhymesBooks play an important role in shaping a child’s outlook on life. They also provide anopportunity to break down and challenge traditional gender roles. Below are a sample of enjoyable books to read with your children, themed around genderequality and celebrating diversity.

One simple tip is tochange up the pronoun

or name of eachcharacter

(e.g. he becomes she orLeo the lion becomes

Lucy the lion).

BUBBLES

Pour 1/3 cup of detergent into thebowl/cupAdd 2 cups of waterAdd corn syrup Gently stir your mixture (continue to stirand remove foam from mixture)To make colourful bubbles add a little bitof food colouring Go outside and enjoy!

1.

2.3.4.

5.

6.

what to do

2 cups of water

1/3 cup of detergent

1/4 cup corn syrup

Bowl

(can replace with 2 tsp of sugar)

what you need

If you don’t have abubble blower try using:

Drinking strawsPipe cleanersPlastic cups (with ahole in the bottom)Plastic funnel

5

playdough

Combine plain flour and saltAdd water, food colouring and oilMix until ingredients combineKnead wellStore in a container in the fridge

1.2.3.4.5.

2 cups of plain flour1 tablespoon oil1 cup of salt2 drops of food colouring1 cup of water

what you need

what to do

If mixture is too

wet, add a little bitmore plain flour.

If too dry- add morewater and knead

some more

Encourage your child to use arange of colours. Explain thatcolours are for everyone.

6

painting

rock pa inting

Tape paper down creating a borderaround each sideSqueeze 20 drops of different colouredpaint on the paperThe artist's job is to cover the entirepaper with colour without letting twocolours mix e.g. blue can't touch red,red can't touch yellowWhen all the white is covered on yourpaper peel the tape off

1.

2.

3.

4.

jo in the dot challenge

PaperMasking tapePaint bushes

Coloured paintsPaint brushes (you can also usesponges)A tray to hold the paints (plastic plate,container lid, empty egg carton)Jar of waterSomething to paint on (paper, rocks,eggs, sticks, leaves)

what you need

There are so many ways to enjoy painting at home together. When painting, try andencourage your child to use a variety of colours, especially those they don't often use.

1. Find some smooth rocks and givethem a quick rinse and dry them2. Now it's time to get painting3. Be as creative as you like... Try different patterns, monsters, oreven paint yourself!

what you need

7

painting

Place two coloured paints (e.g. blue and yellow) in opposite corners of your ziplock bag Repeat this with two more zip lock bags with different colours (red & yellow) and(red & blue)Sticky tape the bag shut for extra strengthGently press and move the paints to the centre of the bag to blendWatch the colours blend together as you gently use your fingers to combine thecoloursWhat new colours do you see?

1.

2.

3.4.5.

6.

+

=+

=

+ =

Red, blue, yellow paintZiplock bagsSticky tape

what to do

what you need

There are many ways to experiment with primary colours (red, blue and yellow). Try these ideas below:

coloured bag

For a problemsolving activity setup a paint equation

like this 8