One of the magical aspects of early childhood is that everything is new and open to discovery and exploration. Human development is the dynamic interaction of biology and experience. Given the plasticity of the early developing brain, it is the context and daily experiences that help to shape and inform the brain’s architecture. Children are not pre-wired with their beliefs, values, or morals. These are developed over time, including children’s knowledge of and understanding of others and of differences.
We often assume children recognize differences from the start—the difference between red and blue, big and small, round and square. In fact, children are not born understanding differences. They are, however, born with the propensity to develop an understanding of differences.