To make these adorable Handprint Native Americans, 1st get all of the paints & paintbrushes ready in a paint tray (or whatever you prefer using). I started by painting the palm area of his left hand a tan color leaving a strip at the top of the palm unpainted. Next, I painted the strip brown; this makes the headband. Then, I painted each finger a different color; these are the feathers. Finally, press the handprint down. My toddler loves to count to 10 before we lift his hand up! I repeated these same steps with my son's right hand. When the paint had finished drying, I turned one into a Native American girl & one into a Native American boy using permanent marker (you could also paint it).
12 comments:
Oh my gosh, those are adorable!!!
So cute! Tweeting it now! =)
Cute, Cute Cute !!!!!
So cute!
oh I just love these!!!!
this probably isn't going to get approved, but although this is a cute idea, it's pretty gosh darned racist. using "indians" to describe native americans is definitely not a thing anymore and it kind of smacks of colonialism. not a hugely awesome thing to teach kids today. sticking to hand print turkeys is probably a better way to go.
I had no idea that the word "Indian" was considered racist.... definitely good to know! I will change it to say Native Americans.
I love this idea! I would like to post this on my blog and link to you.
littlemisskindergarten.blogspot.com
Actually, what's probably more racist than saying "Indian" ("American Indian" or "[Region] Indian" is considered more acceptable than just "Indian,", "Native American" is also okay; better still would be to refer to specific tribes) is the fact that this is the same caricature of "Indian" that's been seen for years and years that muddles up distinct native cultures.
For example, very few tribes wore feathers like this. Fewer still allowed women to wear feathers on their heads at all; from the headband you have, they might be Abenaki, or Lenape. But if they are Abenaki or Lenape, they wouldn't be wearing this kind of facepaint, which looks more suited to plains indians. If they were Lenape, they would wear facepaint, though instead of stripes, the girl might have a red dot on each cheek and at the part of her hairline, while the boy would have his whole face painted. The girl's hair would more likely be back in a single braid or bun as opposed to pigtails, and if the boy is old enough he might be wearing a roach (which looks like what we call a mohawk).
I realize this is all a little complicated to explain to a toddler, and that the reason for doing this craft is because it's quaint and cute, and it hearkens to a classic image we all have in our heads and associate with childhood. Unfortunately, it is also a false image that ends up perpetuating lots of bad and racist ideas (Indians are all the same, they're not around anymore, etc). Doing this with your kids now will create that kind of naive nostalgia that many of us have which makes it so hard to see why this is a big deal. I'm with Anonymous on the hand turkey.
These are really not a respectful idea, they smack of racism. Natives are not a homogenous group, there are thousands of bands, none of which look like this. See Native Appropriations blog to learn about the harm things like this cause.
Oh my goodness how does anybody look at this as racist? The term "Indian" maybe not PC but the concept in general? Goodness it's a handprint at ThanksGiving time...not a lesson on bigotry! C'mon people lighten up!
Thanks for the insight everyone! Let's just remember to keep the comments light as this is a blog geared towards kids. I am thankful for the awareness and have changed the title, but like the commenter above me.... it is the concept in general.
If anyone who disapproves of the items our little boy & girl are wearing.... I would love for you to send a photo as inspiration so that we may do these again in the future ... and please incude any insights, early childhood lessons, and thoughts in general (kid-friendly of course or towards what would be a better lesson plan for teachers to use in the classromms/homeschool[please note that this blog is used by a primary teacher audience of toddlers-kindergarten].
Thanks so much everyone. I welcome all suggestions!
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