Happy Pride Month: Early Learning Activities to Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the Classroom and at Home
Updated: May 28
Happy Pride Month! We don’t just wait for June to roll around to talk about Pride and to celebrate and advocate on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, but we love to give these topics some extra attention and love during Pride Month! Check out 25+ early learning activities to help you celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the classroom and at home during June and all year long!
1. Happy Pride Month Posting
Posting activities develop fine motor, hand eye coordination, sustained concentration, a sense of agency, and spatial awareness. We already had these beautiful mini flags, and I used a screwdriver to poke holes in a great piece of cardboard I had laying around. My original plan was to paint it and secure it to a container, but we needed an activity quick, so we made it work!
Using our beautiful mini Pride flags encouraged vocabulary development with my youngest around colors and shapes, and opened up conversations with my older child around the meaning of the flags, the beauty and dignity in every person, and the reason we celebrate Pride Month.
2. Pink, Blue, and You!
“Pink, Blue, and You” by Elise Gravel
What a PERFECT book for helping children understand themselves and others, as we all navigate raising tiny humans to become their full and completely loved selves! It’s simple enough for even preschool children to understand, but packed with great content and thoughtful questions that make the text great for older children, too!
If you are raising your children to be fully themselves and want them to affirm celebrate all people, you need this book!! If your children are asking you questions about gender identity, preferred pronouns, family structures, or recognizing the limitations of gender stereotypes, then you need this book!! If you are looking for a way to talk to your children about these topics and want to support your chats with some background knowledge, then you need this book!! It is a great conversation-starter and guide for how to lead with love and be who you are, while imagining what is possible if we do the same for all people.
3. Rainbow: A First Book of Pride
"Rainbow: A First Book of Pride" by Michael Genhart and Anne Passchier
Just because June is over doesn’t mean we stop celebrating Pride! This book is a fantastic introduction to the meaning behind each color in the original Pride flag! With beautiful and inclusive illustrations, it is a fantastic children’s text that helps us all celebrate a world in which who we are and who we love is always embraced and affirmed! Happy Pride Month!
Looking to ensure that your early learning space is inclusive and affirming for all children? Grab your FREE Inclusive Toolkit from Love and Excellence!
4. "Julián Is A Mermaid" Small World Play
This is one of our long-standing favorite picture books. We’ve read this book tons of times, but I always like to hear my son's thoughts each time. When we finished it this time, I said “What do you think of that?” And he said, simply, “I think it’s cool.”
I’ve been brainstorming ways to share more about the conversations we have when we read some of our favorite books… it’s really not complicated most times, and I think as we see more censorship spreading, under the false claim that these ideas are confusing or too complicated for kids, it’s important that we highlight how beneficial these beautiful books are for all of our children. If that would be helpful, reach out to me so I gain some more ideas about what direction you’d be interested to see it go!
5. Rainbow Alphabet Matching
Early morning letter matching is a great way to start your day!! We love to use any two sets of letters, lay out one, and work together to match the second set!
This activity is jam packed with play-based learning benefits and is easily adaptable for every child’s needs! Work with fewer letters to make it simpler, or work with letter sounds for a bigger challenge! Guide and support less or more to meet your child where they are and avoid frustration!
Pride Rainbow Flag Colors and Meanings
Alphabet recognition
Matching and visual cues
Letter names and sounds
Early orthographic processing
Sense of pride in a task
Fine motor development
6. Rainbow Road
Use the colors of the Pride Flag to create a variety of gross motor pathways with added meaning behind them!
Indoor Gross Motor Play
Color Recognition
Balance and Movement
Add Toys (cars, trains, balls, etc.)
Place Tape Strategically (increase cooperation during routines and transitions by adding some fun movement!)
Discuss Pride Flag and Color Meanings
7. DIY Rainbow Color and Number Sort
All you amazing DIY mamas (and dads!!) were getting my inspiration and confidence flowing, so I decided to create this sorting activity from an empty pretzel container, different color tape, and popsicle sticks! I added numbers to them so that if I want to switch from color matching to number matching I can make that happen easily! We took our game outside and enjoyed counting and color matching together in the beautiful weather! This pairs perfectly with the book, "Pride 1, 2, 3" by Michael Joosten. (See the next resource on the list)!
Benefits:
Fine Motor: open and close container, slide popsicle sticks into correct slot
Turn Taking: my turn/your turn if you do this with your child
Color Matching and Vocabulary
Counting and 1:1 Correspondence
Number Recognition & Cardinality
As always, adapt your child’s play to meet their needs!
Work with larger numbers, smaller numbers, or change the quantity of sticks available
Add shapes for an extra layer of matching
Increase the size of the holes to assist with success
Increase the challenge by offering number matching that is not color coded, or by working in addition or subtraction
Change the colors to introduce new vocabulary
8. "Pride 1, 2, 3" by Michael Joosten & Wednesday Holmes
This book is such a joyful, vibrant, and fun counting book for little ones! The illustrations are bright, beautiful, and will definitely make you smile. With rhymes and simple text, this book opened up great conversations with my 5-year-old, and held the attention of my 1-year-old! Plus, it’s a perfect pairing for early math activities.
Looking for time-saving high-quality printables with a rainbow or PRIDE theme? Check out this Rainbow printable pack from Love and Excellence to help plan engaging lessons in Math, Literacy, and Social Emotional Learning!
9. Rainbow Tummy Time Movement Motivation
Keeping in mind that I firmly believe that most babies do not need “activities” or to be actively “taught” anything… IF you want to spice up tummy time (and maybe even make it last slightly longer!) with a little one who is starting to show interest in both movement and who is reaching for objects, surround them with some colorful and safe baby toys! Let them be motivated to turn in circles on their belly, reach for toys, army crawl, roll over, etc.! (Remember, of course, that babies will always explore with their mouths, so don’t let them get a hold of anything you don’t want in their mouths)!
Hand-Eye Coordination
Neck/Shoulder Muscle Strength
Cause and Effect
Locating Objects
Bonding & Affirmation
Core Muscle Strength
Grabbing, Holding, Releasing
10. Rainbow Caps & Containers
Rainbow-dyed pasta is a perfect way to introduce the colors of the Pride Flag, spark conversations about the meaning of each colors, and create a simple sensory setup that leads to meaningful play and learning.
Color Recognition
Fine Motor
Counting
Sensory Play
Match Caps & Containers
Size & Comparisons
Investigate Capacity
Imaginative Play
Sorting By Color
Discuss Favorite/Least Favorite
11. “Julián At The Wedding” by Jessica Love
“Julián At The Wedding” by Jessica Love is another children’s book of absolute perfection! Follow Julián and Marisol on a sweet, tender, and whimsical journey as they take part in a wedding. As with her first book, Jessica Love has given us an artistic masterpiece in a story woven together through gorgeous illustrations and only the most essential words. This is a MUST HAVE!!
12. A Church For All
“A Church For All” by Gayle E. Pitman and Laure Fournier
As a practicing Catholic, I think it is important to say that if any of us are using our faith to reject, shame, and restrict our siblings from being fully themselves, then we are missing the mark of true faith: unapologetic and uncompromising LOVE.
There are not caveats or loopholes when it comes to love. Love is a verb, an action, and a radical act in the face of the misguided temptation to exclude, judge, harm, or hate. We are lost without love. What a treasure is a book that affirms and values every person for their unique beauty, both in word and in illustration, as part of their chosen church. A church for all.
ALL ARE WELCOME. ALL ARE PERFECTLY MADE. ALL ARE LOVED. Any other message is blasphemy.
Thank you to the author and illustrator for this most perfect of children’s texts. They have given us a tangible vision (and one accessible to children, no less!) of what we all, but particularly Christians, must work to create.
13. Love Makes A Family
Love Makes A Family by Sophie Beer
All families are connected by love. All of our kids need to see their family structures represented in literature and media, and all of our kids need to know how to embrace and show respect to others whose family structures are different than their own. If you haven’t checked out this fantastic book for early learners, definitely get it on your list!!
14. Pride Month Banner Art
It is so precious to see what children create whenever they are given a blank piece of paper. The wheels are always turning in their heads, and offering them the chance to create their own Pride Month artwork to hang in your house or take to a parade is a great way to involve little ones in celebrating everyone's unique and beautiful identity.
15. DIY Book Jacket Puzzles
One of the best ideas I ever came across was to use book jackets to create puzzles!! So genius! I put the book jackets onto cardboard and used packing tape to make them secure and durable.
I used some of our favorite Pride-themed book covers and voilà! Super simple DIY play setup + inclusive and affirming message + book-based play!! Can’t beat that! And of course, we will use these books and puzzles in our home all year long, not just in June!
16. "Kapaemahu"
"Kapaemahu" by Hinaleimoana Won-Kalu, Dean Hamer, & Joe Wilson; illustrated by Daniel Sousa
Sometimes, you hold a book and you know you are holding a treasure. I saw this book on my favorite display shelf at our wonderful library, and felt like it was calling out to me. I didn’t even have time to preview it before taking it home, but all I can say is I truly felt an undeniable energy from this text that told me it was going to be a powerful read. I was not disappointed.
A bilingual story, written in both Olelo Niihau and English, the book (and short film that came first) are based on a traditional Hawaiian story, and reclaim the healing power and enduring presence of those with both male and female spirits, or mahu.
The wisdom of cultures suppressed by colonization may have been buried over time, but I am so grateful to live in a time when the seeds of such knowledge are blooming once again for us all. I think I could read this book a hundred times and find something new to love each time. It is truly a soul-touching text. A treasure to be cherished.
Thank you to the public libraries that are continuing to provide our children with high quality, diverse, inclusive, and representative literature.
17. ”My Rainbow” DIY Puzzle Play
We stepped up our DIY book jacket puzzles and added in some rainbow rice and pouch tops as a sensory base!
My preschooler really loved this setup and repeatedly asked me to read the book to him while he put the puzzle pieces together, hid them in the rice, dug them out, and then put the puzzle together again! The pouch tops were an alternate sensory base that I used for my toddler while he was still mouthing everything because they were less of a choking hazard.
For all the ignorant, fear-based, and simply hateful rhetoric about children’s books that center transgender children and LGBTQIA characters in general, I just want to say that when you actually read these books with young children, you will see that none of this is remotely complicated to them.
Through diverse & inclusive play, learning, and life experiences we are teaching our children to embrace and celebrate all people in a way that uplifts the unique beauty of each life, not in a way that erases or ignores it. I can’t think of anything less complicated than that.
18. We Are The Rainbow! Sensory Play
This setup has it all! Fine motor skills (threading/lacing), sensory play (rainbow pasta), imaginative play (Trolls characters), and inclusive literature to celebrate Pride all year long!!
19. Pride Ribbon Posting
Have a snack cup? Have some ribbon or fabric?
Pushing and pulling a ribbon through a snack cup top, and placing them into another container is a fun and engaging fine motor activity that takes less than two minutes to set up! These Pride ribbons made this a perfect opportunity to talk about the Pride Flag and level up the meaningful nature of our play!
20. Being You Ball Balance
Inclusive play ideas are always essential. Pairing simple activities for babies and toddlers with beautiful books is my favorite way to make sure we are celebrating and uplifting every unique voice in our home each day! We always love to read our First Conversation books, and “Being You” is an absolute must-have! Now, and always, is a great time to make sure that all of our children are seen, affirmed, and loved.
Hand-Eye Coordination
Book-Based Play
Inclusive Messaging
Color Recognition
Shape Recognition
High-Engagement Fine Motor
Looking for resources to help affirm and value every child in your care? Check out 30+ vibrantly illustrated positive affirmation cards in this Daily Positive Affirmations resource from Love and Excellence!
21. Rainbow Macaroni Color Sort
Wishing you a Happy Pride Month! We want to spread the message of love and acceptance with one of our favorite DIY sensory play setups! This color sorting, sensory, & fine motor activity offers the perfect opportunity to talk about the meaning of the colors of the Pride Flag while kids are at work!
Benefits:
Sensory
Fine Motor
Color Vocabulary
Categorization
Meaningful and Inclusive Play
You can adapt this activity by changing the size of the holes in the rainbow, changing the type of pasta, or offering different tools with which to pick up the pasta for added hand muscle work!
22. Rainbow Colors
Looking for an inclusive text that teaches about colors? "Rainbow Colors," by Juliana Perdomo, is perfect!! This book has it all- racial, gender, & ability diversity, beautiful illustrations, great vocabulary, and... it rhymes! Perfect for bedtime stories, a fun read aloud, or classroom instruction!
23. Rainbow Pop-It
I love mess-free sensory play for babies. This is perfect for Pride Month! It's engaging, requires only one supply, and naturally incorporates rainbow colors int your child's play during June and all year long!
24. Rainbow Tracks
This DIY rainbow road for toy cars is perfect for Pride Month and engages car-loving kiddos in tons of learning opportunities!
Car and Truck Play
Vocabulary Development
Letter, Shapes, and Numbers
Pre-Writing (tracing a curve with a toy car!!)
Color Recognition
Adapt this activity to focus on only one skill, or increase the challenge to work with addition, subtraction, or building words!
25. Dress-Up For All
“Jacob’s New Dress” by Sarah and Ian Hoffman & Chris Case
I cannot love this book enough!! It is age-appropriate, realistic, straightforward, brave, and compassionate in its approach to a message that should NOT be controversial: CLOTHES HAVE NO GENDER!!
I love every part of this text, but the line that stuck with me the most as I read this with my 4yo was when we were gently reminded that it wasn’t long ago that girls could not wear pants.
My son and I discussed it as simply as this: everyone should wear what they want to wear and what feels comfortable for them.
Reading this book, and books with similar messages, is so essential because even if my son never wants to wear a dress, I most certainly don’t want him to emulate the character in this book who mocks Jacob for making that choice. Now we have the language and a basis for what it looks like to be yourself and to stand by others as they are themselves, and even for being compassionate towards those who don’t understand.
26. Popsicle Posting
Have a cardboard box? Puncture some holes in it, color around the holes, and then offer craft sticks and a cup for posting! Color all or part of the craft sticks too if you don’t have multi-colored ones. Set a cup next to the box for transferring the sticks, and let them explore!
If your little one is not yet matching colors, this still gives them an invitation to use color-related and matching-related vocabulary, like color names and the concepts of same and different. Of course we also will naturally emphasize language related to the concepts of push, pull, in and out. Plus, colors are fun and engaging for little ones!
Level it up by attaching it to the wall and making it a vertical activity for shoulder strength if and a little extra proprioceptive resistance work (bending and standing)!
I hope you enjoyed these Pride Month activities for early learners- perfect for June and all year long! Please let me know if you try any of them. Seriously- I love when you reach out!
Happy Pride Month!
Don't forget to grab your FREE Inclusive Toolkit to help streamline and inspire your intentional inclusive practices!
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