Norwood’s Margaret Ives Community Children’s Centre plans International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia with fairybread and dress ups

The child care centre has told parents its message is now more important than ever, but not everyone is convinced.

An eastern suburbs childcare centre is encouraging children to come dressed in rainbow colours and celebrate with fairy bread to mark this week’s International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia.

Parents of children at Norwood’s Margaret Ives Community Children’s Centre were informed of the plans for Friday earlier this week.

But it has not been warmly received by all in the community, with one parent telling The Advertiser they felt they had not been given a choice over participation in Friday’s activities, which they felt were innappropriate for daycare and pre-school aged children.

A childcare teacher with her class. Picture: iStock

In a letter, Margaret Ives said it would be celebrating their “ongoing commitment to inclusion, equality, and diversity” through IDAHOBIT for the third consecutive year.

It invites children to wear “as much colour as possible – rainbows encouraged” and promises to conclude the day by making fairy bread.

“We are incredibly passionate about fostering a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, seen, and celebrated for who they truly are,” the letter read.

“At Margaret Ives, we work intentionally to challenge gender stereotypes and ensure authentic representation of the many ways people live, love, and form families.

“Our goal is to honour the richness of our diverse cohort and broader community.

“We guide children to understand and value that families can take many forms – whether nuclear, single parents same-sex parents, foster or surrogate parents, blended families and beyond.”

It said the Norwood centre highlighted the importance of introducing these concepts during a child’s formative years.

“Now more than ever, embracing rainbow inclusion in early childhood is essential,” they said.

“These early years shape children’s social and emotional development, and introducing them to diversity during this time helps foster empathy, reduce prejudice, and promote lifelong values of respect and inclusion.”

The three rooms at the centre – divided into age groups from newborns to preschoolers – will be participating in reading different books on the topic.

But one parent – who spoke on the condition of anonymity – said they felt like the childcare centre did not give families a choice in attending the diversity celebrations.

“Parents are not happy as the option of when and how to introduce the topic of sex, sexuality and gender issues is being taken away from (them),” they said.

“These are serious and private topics that the parents feel need to be discussed when the family and child is ready – not dictated by a child care centre.

“They have not been given a choice in the matter.”

They said parents were hesitant to bring it up with management out of concern they would be labelled homophobic and of possible repercussions for the children or families.

They said parents who did not want their child to participate in the diversity activities were expected to pay full fees while keeping children at home. which was not a viable option for some parents.

Margaret Ives Community Children’s Centre has been contacted for comment.