KIKINO - Teaching children the negative effects of bullying at an early age will hopefully be carried with them throughout their life, says Vanessa Roesler, the program supervisor at the Kikino Aboriginal Head Start at the Kikino Métis Settlement.
Pink Shirt Day, which will be recognized across Canada and the Lakeland on February 28, will be part of the Head Start early learning program, says Roesler, explaining that it’s never to early to re-enforce the values of kindness and inclusion. The head start programming, which has been part of Canadian early-learning and cultural initiatives since 1994, is for children aged three to six years of age.
For this year’s Pink Shirt Day, staff at Kikino Aboriginal Head Start will be looking to raise awareness about bullying but also install into young children a sense of kindness.
“At this age we discuss and demonstrate kindness,” Roesler said.
According to Chrissy Durette, a family support worker for Lac La Biche Aboriginal Head Start, plans for their young students for the anti-bully day will also focus on kindness. She says children will be able to get dressed as superheroes to display this type of behaviour whose qualities include being friendly, generous, and considerate to others.
“This year we are encouraging the children to come as their favourite 'Kindness Superhero' or create a unique superhero costume that reflects the power of kindness,” she explained.
Pink Shirt day
The origins of Pink Shirt Day, which is recognized each year around the world as an anti-bullying initiative, date back to 2007, when a Nova Scotia student was bullied for wearing a pink shirt to school. The next day, a group of students attended class wearing similar pink-coloured shirts as a show of solidarity and support for the younger student.
Durette says Pink Shirt Day serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing and preventing bullying, fostering empathy, and understanding, and creating a culture of respect and inclusion in society.
“The significance of the pink shirt symbolizes a stance against bullying and a commitment to creating safe and inclusive environments where everyone feels respected and accepted for who they are,” she explained. “On Pink Shirt Day, individuals, schools, workplaces, and communities wear pink shirts and engage in various activities and initiatives to raise awareness about bullying prevention and promote kindness and empathy.”
