The benefits of inclusive illustrations in the classroom
Schools and learning environments are a microcosm of society as a whole, and in the classroom teachers are privileged to stand with and shape young learners as they learn skills that will last them a lifetime. However like wider society, in some schools discrimination is still prevalent — and the effects of this upon learners at this young age is grave. It’s important that educators are empowered to teach inclusion in the classroom.
We are all different
It only takes a look around to see that we are all different. We all have varying body sizes, abilities, skin colour and so much more! Students from any background may experience prejudice, and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students as well as students with physical or learning disabilities may have an additional sense of ‘otherness’ in their learning because of a lack of representation in the curriculum. All students should feel represented in their learning environment, and in order to provide this security schools must first acknowledge discrimination — both in the classroom and out there in the ‘real world’.
Like society, classrooms are becoming more inclusive than ever, and a cross-section of most school year groups will feature a diverse range of learners. At Twinkl, we develop and create engaging teaching resources that children use to learn and many of these feature illustrations of children. It makes sense that these teaching resources should represent all children who learn from them — so that’s what we’ve been working to achieve!
Children are always learning, soaking up what they see around them. To only see stories of children that look virtually homogenous when they themselves look different to these perceived ‘norms’ can cause a child to think that they don’t look ‘right’, or they don’t ‘fit in’. This can, in turn, have a devastating impact on their self-image, confidence and wellbeing.
In 2017, a study showed that only around 4% of published children’s books in the UK featured BAME characters. This is a shocking statistic and since then publishers have been encouraged to make sure children’s books feature BAME characters, accurately representing our diverse society which children are growing up in.
Through our inclusive illustrations, Twinkl aims to be culturally mindful and combat derogatory stereotypes in our work. We have been developing a new style of illustration that features characters with a range of skin colours, body shapes and sizes, hairstyles and headwear. Our classic ‘Twinkl eyes’ style, where all character eyes would be closed in a smile, has been replaced by characters with open eyes that can convey more expression, and display a range of eye colours. Many characters display prosthetic limbs, hearing aids and medical equipment like wheelchairs.
These illustrations act like mirrors, reflecting the child’s own lives and experiences. It is validating for children to be able to relate to images where they can identify with the characters, for example a character that has skin colour that resembles theirs, uses a wheelchair or wears glasses like they do. When children identify with a character it helps them to connect on another level, and when they feel included and accepted, learning is deepened.
It is important however, that as well as mirrors, these illustrations that do not ‘look like them’ can act as windows, so that children can see and learn about the lives of others, particularly about different cultures and abilities. This is just as important, allowing for a more well-rounded view of the diverse, colourful world in which we live.
The development of our diverse classroom resources has been a gradual process, and one we’re always seeking to develop. Our teaching resources are used all over the world, currently supporting teachers and children in over 195 countries. We are keenly aware of the importance of getting right the cultural differences that exist across the globe within our illustrations, and aim to always represent a range of genders and ethnic diversity.
We currently have over 5 million Twinkl members worldwide, and we are lucky in that we receive regular, detailed feedback from our users about how our products can work better in schools and in home education. It was recommended that we feature a wider range of disabilities in our illustrations, as schools welcome pupils with disabilities of all kinds and it is hugely beneficial for these students to see themselves represented. Our most recent focus is on developing and updating our resources to include representations of all visual disabilities. You can view our e-book, ‘We Are All Different’ here.
As adults, we rightly expect our individuality to be acknowledged and celebrated — and children should be offered this same respect. The classroom is the ideal place to start.
