For young children, the world is shaped by people — not by movements or dates.
The woman who ties their shoes.
The one who reads the story.
The one who fixes things, listens, cooks, builds, teaches, leads, or comforts.
International Women’s Day can be a moment to slow down and notice the women who shape children’s lives — past and present, near and far.
Not to explain inequality.
Not to debate history.
But to widen the picture of who women are and what they can be.
Starting From What Children Already Know
Before introducing famous names, begin with the familiar.
Invite children to think about:
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women in their families
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women in their community
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women they see every day
You might say:
“Today is a day when people all over the world say thank you to women.”
That’s enough to begin.
Stories Instead of Biographies
Young children connect through stories, not timelines.
Choose stories that show women:
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caring
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creating
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solving problems
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being brave in quiet ways
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helping others
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following their curiosity
The focus isn’t what they achieved, but who they were and how they moved through the world.
After a story, you don’t need questions.
Sometimes a pause is the response.
Gentle, Play-Based Ways to Mark the Day
Women as Everyday Heroes
Invite children to draw or talk about a woman they admire.
No labels.
No explanations.
Just: “Tell me about her.”
A Wall of Women
Create a simple display with:
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drawings
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photos (families can contribute)
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symbols or objects
This becomes a visual reminder that women are many things, not one story.
Dramatic Play Invitations
Offer open-ended materials and let children:
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care for dolls
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build
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explore roles freely
No “girls do this / boys do that.”
Just possibility.
Language That Expands, Not Teaches
Let words emerge naturally:
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strong
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kind
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curious
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brave
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patient
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creative
These aren’t “women’s words” — they’re human ones.
Holding the Bigger Ideas Gently
Young children don’t need to understand inequality to understand fairness.
They already know:
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what it feels like to be included
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what it feels like to be heard
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what it feels like to be valued
International Women’s Day can quietly reinforce the idea that everyone’s story matters — and that women’s stories belong fully in the world.
The Adult’s Role
Our role isn’t to deliver messages.
It’s to:
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choose stories thoughtfully
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offer inclusive language
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model respect
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widen possibilities without explaining them
Children learn what we value by what we make visible.
A Day That Plants Seeds
International Women’s Day doesn’t need posters or speeches.
It can be:
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a story read with intention
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a conversation that lingers
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a drawing that says more than words
Small moments.
Lasting seeds.
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