A new directive from Israel's Education Ministry calls on preschool teachers to stop referring to "Mom and Dad" in preschool activities.
The staff at the pro-LGBT Hoshen Organization, which offers training to preschool staff on the subjects of gender and sexual identity, has suggested Israeli preschool teachers speak about "parents" instead of "Mom and Dad."
"It's worth remembering that there are many preschool children who come from non-traditional families. They may have two fathers, two mothers, two sets of parents, or LGBT parents who live separately and each has his or her own relationship," Hoshen explained. "Don't assume that every marital relationship is heterosexual. Instead, ask the parents how you should refer to them (Mom and Mom, Mom and Mama, Dad and Papa, etc.).
"For the weekly Shabbat celebration, don't have choose a girl to light the candles and a boy to do Kiddush (make a blessing over the grape juice). Talk about 'accepting Shabbat' instead of role playing 'Shabbat Mom' and 'Shabbat Dad.'"
The vast majority of preschool children love being "Shabbat Mom" who lights the candles or "Shabbat Dad" who recites the kiddush prayer a few times a year, and wait impatiently for their turn to come. This weekly role-play is not exclusive to religious preschools.
Hoshen also suggests positively reinforcing children who appear to reject their biological gender. READ MORE
