Mixing Playdough

Themes: I’m Me and I’m Special, Alike and Different, Colors, Five Senses, Light and Dark, Bodies, Changes

Objectives: Explore similarities and differences.

Materials:

·         mixing bowls  

·         measuring cups

·         measuring spoons

·         large spoon for stirring

·         2 cups flour

·         1 cup salt

·         2 Tablespoons alum

·         1 ½ cups warm water

·         1 Tablespoon oil

·         paste food coloring

Description: With the children, prepare five batches of playdough, one in each of the following colors: black, brown, red, yellow and white.

Recipe: Mix one to three tablespoons of food coloring with the liquid ingredients. Add mixture to the dry ingredients and stir. Knead until smooth. Store in an airtight container.

Procedure: Tell the children there are five different colors of playdough and they can make different colors by mixing two or three colors together. For example, combining red playdough with white playdough will make pink playdough. Ask the children to look at the color of their skin. Encourage them to mix different colors of playdough so that their ball of playdough matches their skin color. As the children experiment with combining the playdough, talk with them about the concepts of new colors, shades of color, and lighter and darker.

Variations:

1.      Make a recipe chart that shows the children how to mix colors.

2.      Put each child’s ball of skin-colored playdough in a plastic bag and allow them to take it home.

3.      During group time, see if the child can order the balls of playdough from light to dark.

4.      Leave the five colors of playdough out on the art shelf for two weeks so that the children can continue to experiment with mixing colors to match their skin color.

Anti-Bias Activity Goals (handout):

1.      Provide children with a positive experience exploring similarities and differences.

2.      Recognize, appreciate and respect the uniqueness, beauty, value and contribution of each child.

3.      Increase children’s ability to interact, talk and play with people who are different from them.

4.      Help children to be group members.

5.      Foster positive self-esteem and a positive self-concept in children.

“Mixing Playdough” meets the above goals by allowing children to understand similarities and differences. They will see that their playdough looks different from everyone else’s playdough. They will be able to talk to the teacher and the other children about these differences, and maybe some similarities. They will work in groups, allowing them to talk amongst themselves about the color of their playdough.

This activity is appropriate for 2-4 year olds because they “define themselves and others by physical characteristics such as skin color, hair color, and anatomy” (York 16) and “want to know about themselves and others” (York 17).

I chose this activity mainly because I love playdough. There is just so much you can do with it. I liked this activity because it would be interesting to make the different colors. The children can see the different combinations and what colors mix together to make their skin tone. It is also good for explaining what it means to be biracial because you are mixing two different colors to make a new color.

Related Books:

It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr: This book is filled with bright images and simple statements that celebrate diversity with messages about self-acceptance and understanding. “It’s okay to be you.”

Shades of People by Shelley Rotner: Introduces children to the many skin tones that exist in our world with this photo book of children.

 

I believe that Mixing Playdough is a great activity for children. I think it will really help children understand what it means to be biracial and that nobody is “white.” Much like the activity shown in Starting Small, the children will see that colors need to be mixed together to create “white” skin. It is more pink or peach than white. I think it will be fun for the children to compare what colors they had to use to create their skin color.

Book Analysis: My Princess Boy

My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis, illustrated by Suzanne DeSimone, published in 2010.

My Princess Boy is about acceptance. The Princess Boy loves to dress up and pink is his favorite color. He dances like a ballerina and plays with his brother. His dad dances with him. He had play dates with boys and girls. He climbs trees in his dress. People stare at the Princess Boy, and sometimes they laugh. This hurts his feelings.

The Princess Boy is about the author's son, Dyson Kilodavis.
Many people do not like this book, nor think it is appropriate for children because it goes against societal norms. It is controversial because the Princess Boy likes to wear dresses and dance like a ballerina.

Though there has been positive feedback about the book and the Kilodavis family, "I actually love this book...This is an age appropriate way to communicate the message of acceptance. I fully support you supporting your son." - Dr. Phil (myprincessboy.com). Kilodavis also presents the question in her book, "If you see a Princess Boy...Will you laugh at him? Will you call him a name? Will you play with him? Will you like him for who he is?" (Kilodavis, 2010). The book is all about acceptance and tolerance for those who are different from ourselves. Cheryl Kilodavis says, "I wrote the story to give children and adults a tool to talk about unconditional friendship...Compassion takes effort. It takes focus. It takes commitment. We need practice. And more practice. And practice again." (myprincessboy.com)

Analysis

I think it is safe to say that there are no stereotypes in this book. If anything, the Princess Boy is breaking them. The girls are in dresses and pants, as well as the boys. There are also no examples of tokenism, there are children of many races depicted, not just white people. Nobody looks exactly alike.

We must also consider the effects of a child's self image when reading books. This book shows the Princess Boy doing different things, and being with different people in his life. He isn't stuck only being able to do girl things, or boy things. It shows the Princess Boy being able to do whatever he wants, and proudly saying, "I am a Princess Boy!"

The author of this book is also the mother of the Princess Boy, so she can't be entirely objective. Though I think she does a very good job in representing many cultures (she is bi-racial, African American and Caucasian) when the children come over for the birthday party.

I would recommend this book to anyone working with children. Or anyone in general for that matter. I can't find anything inappropriate about it. I think it is a great book that shows that not everyone fits the same mold. It is breaking all of the rules and changing them to fit the different kinds of people in our society.

References:

10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children's Books for Sexism and Racism. Adapted from the original brochure which was published by the Council on Interracial Books for Children by the California State Department of Education. Sacramento, 1998.
Kilodavis, C. My Princess Boy. 2010.

Kilodavis, C. myprincessboy.com. Retrieved March 22, 2013.