“Belonging is a strong need of all humans. Schools need to be proactive in creating a community of “includers” and a culture in which all students feel a sense of belonging.” This is the central message in a tool developed as part of the Inclusive Schools Communities Project led by JFA Purple Orange in Australia. This resource presents suggestions for school communities on how parents and educators can teach students to be “includers”.

The tool begins with a discussion of what inclusion is and then provides practical strategies related to the following:

• Talking about unintentional exclusion 

• Encouraging empathy

• Teaching on how to look out for others

• Fostering friendly invitations

• Providing opportunities for connections

• Encouraging kindness

• Clarifying the difference between cliques and friendship

A list of resources and blogs for parents and educators has also been included.

To read this resource, click here.