By Shelby Brooks
Breaking gender stereotypes will be the focus of story time at Casey Cardinia Libraries (CCLC) during the 16 Days of Activism.
The Kindness And Equality Storytime sessions will gently exploring kindness and equality, while challenging traditional ideas of being a boy or a girl.
Tim Cuthell, Bunjil Place Library children’s librarian, said CCLC had been involved in the 16 Days of Activism for a few years after seeing a need to help education in young people.
“Storytime is a really good opportunity to start having serious conversations at a young age,“ Tim said.
“We felt the need was there to begin teaching kids about respect.
“It’s also about making sure that they’re aware how their actions could be powerful.“
Tim said libraries can educate children about more than just books and reading.
“As the library is one of the first external educator to families, we feel a strong obligation to touch on a topic like this to address it early,“ Tim said.
“As a child you don’t necessarily come with inherent prejudices and as they get older they learn these things- where do they learn them from? That can be from educators, parents, carers or school.“
Tim said books were chosen for storytime to reflect boys and girls enjoying activities not standard to their gender.
For example, Super Me is about a young boy who enjoys dressing in a tutu.
“For a long time I think we’ve been stuck in our ways a little bit,“ Tim said.
“There’s nothing with Mem Fox or There’s a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake, but it’s also really important to be aware people celebrate differently around the world and people have different experiences at home, particularly in the diversity of the City of Casey and Cardinia.“
The library is also establishing book kits for kindergarten and early childhood educators can borrow for their own classrooms.
The Promoting Kindness and Equality intentional storytime kits include a curated collection of books promoting gender equality, kindness and respect for differences, play based complimentary resources (allowing children to explore diversity through play and can be use alongside storytelling) and presenter/caregiver notes (for loanable kits) that provide key messages on the importance of gender equality in stopping/preventing and ending family and gender-based violence, a list of contacts for people needing support/advice, and basic key messages that could be provided to children to help them understand the importance of the key themes above.
In the past, the library has provided resources on a range of topics like death, Indigenous literacy, local history and recycling.
“They will be able to use it as a launchpad to have those conversations,“ Tim said.
CCLC chief executive Beth Luppino said she was proud the libraries were once again part of the state-wide 16 Days of Activism initiative.
“We are promoting a message of respect through programs for all age groups,“ she said.
“Casey Cardinia Libraires has long been a supporter of projects preventing violence against women, and will continue to raise community awareness and involvement in our events and programs through 16 Days of Activism.”
Head to cclc.vic.gov.au/16-days-activism to learn more.
