When Deborah Aja became a mum for the fist time she wanted to celebrate early life milestones with her child like the first walk or the first 6 months. However, all the cards she found had pictures of white babies; Deborah felt the cards were targeted towards babies with blond hair and blue eyes. but she is of Nigerian descent so she felt those cards just were not representative of her baby boy.
Deborah says rather than focusing on that sad feeling because the cards were not there, why not do something about it. She set up "Colour Celebrations" because she says, "Children come in all colours, shapes and sizes so lets celebrate and honour what makes us beautifully different."
Colour Celebrations now sell cards all over the world, Mum Tash says, "What I really loved about the cards was that they represented my child. It has become really really clear to me how much my children need to see themselves in books, on TV, in things they play with... I want my children to feel proud of where they come from, who they are and their backgrounds."
Deborah says her aim is to help children support and celebrate colour, culture and heritage in a bold and proud way.
- what are milestones for babies, why do parents want to celebrate and remember them?
- why do you think all of the milestones cards tend to show babies with blond hair and blue eyes?
- how did that make Deborah feel about her child who does not have blond hair and blue eyes?
- what is representation?
- why is representation important?
- "It has become really really clear to me how much my children need to see themselves in books, on TV, in things they play with." why is that important?
- ""Children come in all colours, shapes and sizes so lets celebrate and honour what makes us beautifully different." do you think we should talk with young children about difference? Why?
- if we don't use images and toys showing difference, what do children grow up feeling?
- what can we learn from Deborah?
- why is this about No Outsiders?
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