Introducing the Allies and Friends Early Education Toolkit

 Allies and Friends is an educational series designed to normalise cultural diversity and the concept of allyship in early childhood education, designed for early childhood educators and teachers working with children aged four to six years of age in preschool, long-day care, and Family Day Care settings. 

 

The series uses play-based learning to highlight children’s voices, inviting viewers to explore new concepts with them and reflect on their own place in a diverse world.

 

The videos are intended for children to watch alongside their educators, while the episode notes provide further context on the themes of cultural allyship explored in each video. The notes include follow-up, intentional teaching strategies that educators can implement after viewing the videos.

 

In the series, a group of children come together to form friendships and collaborate on projects guided by Jenae Tien Jenkins and other educators, while they engage in cross-cultural communication and develop critical thinking skills. 

 

The concept of Allyship in the context of this resource promotes the understanding that everyone deserves kindness, respect, and inclusion—values that lie at the heart of early childhood social and emotional learning. 

 

The Allies and Friends Toolkit encourages children to embrace cultural diversity and fairness, supporting the understanding that all individuals deserve dignity and respect. Early childhood specialists involved in the development of this resource believe this is the ideal time to introduce these concepts, building on the core values of friendship, such as:

 

• Appreciating differences
• Being a good listener
• Cooperating and working together
• Showing kindness
• Including others

 

Key concepts

 

The toolkit helps young children learn how to activate cultural allyship and encourages discussions around five key concepts:

 

• Allyship
• Diversity
• Love (relating to self, others, and skin tones)
• Communication
• Community

 

By learning about the experiences of others and recognising the importance of diversity, children can develop empathy and compassion for those around them.

 

“Our goal is for each episode to provide provocations for children to share their experiences and perspectives, learn from the unique insights of their peers, and for educators to consider practical ways to empower young children with a strong sense of belonging, while informing bigger picture social impact and change,” Jenkins explained. 

 

Links with the EYLF

 

The Allies and Friend Toolkit is grounded in the Outcomes, Principles, and Practices of Belonging, Being, and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia, broadly aligning with the following Outcomes:

 

OUTCOME 1: CHILDREN HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF IDENTITY

 

• 1.4: Children learn to interact with care, empathy, and respect in relation to others.

 

OUTCOME 2: CHILDREN ARE CONNECTED WITH AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR WORLD

 

• 2.1: Children develop a sense of belonging to groups and communities, understanding their reciprocal rights and responsibilities as active, informed citizens.
• 2.2: Children respond to diversity with respect.
• 2.3: Children develop an awareness of fairness.

 

Allies and Friends is grounded in the belief that allyship is a powerful force for good that can transform communities and bring people closer together.

 

The toolkit encourages educators to empower children in their care to engage in community storytelling, cross-cultural communication, and inclusive play with both new and old friends. By doing so, educators will promote empathy, understanding, and compassion.

 

Credits

 

The Allies and Friends Early Education Toolkit is created by ABC Kids Early Education in collaborative partnership with ‘Expand Your Library‘.

 

• Concept designer, Presenter and Author, Jenae Tien Jenkins.
• Producers, Jenae Tien Jenkins and Alarna Zinn
• ABC Kids Producer, Laura Stone, ABC Kids Early Education.
• ABC Kids Originals Commissioning Editor, Nicole Cheek
• Early Childhood Education Consultant and Sub-editor, Sarah-Louise Gandolfo.
• Website and publishing, Nigel De Luis and Sasha Folker.
• Video production, DOJO Media Co.

 

“The Allies and Friends Early Childhood Education Toolkit is a unique breath of fresh air for the Australian early childhood sector,” Gandolfo said. 

 

“Being an incredibly diverse nation, it’s vital that early childhood professionals across the sector spectrum feel confident to engage in supportive conversations with children and their families about all aspects of cultural diversity.”

 

“This Toolkit provides a practical, cultural lens for thinking of, planning for, and reflecting on children’s learning, development and wellbeing, and offers a new perspective for thinking about belonging, being and becoming in a way that is meaningful for every child and their family.”

 

“Through accessible resources, interactive videos, and playful examples of inquiry, this Toolkit provides a fun new way for early childhood professionals to consider their role in amplifying diversity, fostering kindness, and growing together.” 

 

Go to the Allies and Friends homepage to learn more.