We have officially decided to venture into the world of e-learning and homeschooling this year. As I started researching educational websites, programs and resources, I realized that there is VERY little out there that share in the experiences and stories of Black children.
Now before I share the gems that I have found, I have to address the elephant in the room because I know someone will ask. I created this post of learning resources for Black children because mainstream resources seldomly create material to include children that look like mine. There is a lack of Black teachers and creators that show up on these apps, programs, and teaching material. There is a lack of Black characters — especially main characters– that tell positive stories and teach children based on cultural similarities and every day experiences. It’s very important that I share the information that I have found, to pass along to the next Black Family that needs it. Learning resources for Black children supports representation, inclusion, and the understanding that our Black babies matter, too!
Learning Tools and Websites
When quarantine initially hit and the kids’ schools closed down, we were in a panic. While J’s teacher transitioned to e-learning, Nasir’s teacher exited left, leaving us to figure out a learning plan for him ourselves. I came across the YouTube channel for Monica Sutton an Early Childhood educator that creates circle time videos and cute activities for preschoolers.
Sense 2 Cents has created Financial literacy flashcards, board game AND activity books that teach children about money, financial literacy, and financial freedom! I LOVE THIS!!
Puzzle Huddle was created a Black couple that have three young children. They create jigsaw puzzles, pillows, and children’s apparel because they believe that all children should be reflected in a variety of products. As a result, they decided to create puzzles that affirm and inspire diverse children.
Blue Studios is being called the “Netflix of Education!” This site offers K-12 STEM Classes for Kids and STEM hands-on science kits! I can’t wait to get involved with their initiative, this is awesome!
Crafting a Fun Life is a blog for the art loving, hands-on parents. Blogger and Black Mother Karimah shares crafts, art ideas and adventures that you are sure to draw inspiration from.
Rainbow Me Kids focuses on entertainment featuring main characters of color.
Resources and Support for homeschooling
I recently stumbled upon a site called A to Z homeschooling and I think I found a real gem here, ya’ll. I haven’t used any of these resources yet but please believe me– this is happening soon. Please check out this article called Afrocentric Homeschooling in Black Families that includes websites, support groups, and homeschool curriculum for Black families choosing to homeschool.
BrownMamas Blog has an amazing post that shares over 30 websites to check out for Black homeschoolers.
If you’re on the fence about homeschooling like I was (and am still nervous about, to be honest), I recommend checking out this post on The Mom Trotter that speaks to reasons and experiences of homeschooling Black children. This was written in 2018 but don’t count out the information that is still pretty relevant and important.
Books
Tiffany Aliche of The Budgetnista has created a super cute book about Mali Moore, a beautiful Black girl that learns that less is more when she has to choose between more presents or more friends and family at her Birthday party. (This is one of my daughter’s favorite books!)
Here are a few educational TV shows that include Black characters and Black families:
DocMcStuffins (Disney, Jr.)
Motown Magic (Netflix)
Eme and Roy (Hulu and HBO)
StoryBots (Netflix) Hear me out on this one. Technically, the characters are robots so “race” isn’t detectable, but there are Black celebrity guests that appear from time to time (Hey Snoop!) and it’s awesome because the content is still kid friendly and very educational!
Bubble Guppies (Nickelodeon)
Please share this list with a parent, Educator, or loved one that could benefit from it. If you have a favorite to recommend, please leave it for me below, so we can build this list up!