Ask parents to send in pictures of the children's families. The easiest way to introduce multiculturalism in your preschool classroom is to begin with your own students. Chances are you have several different cultures, religions and backgrounds represented in your classroom. Ask children to share pictures of their families with their classmates, and hang these up in your classroom where children can see and study them.
Purchase toys and materials that reflect the cultures in your classroom. If your classroom is made up of mostly Hispanic children, do not purchase only Caucasian dolls. Dolls, posters of children, dollhouse families and other materials can be purchased from teacher supply catalogs in a number of different colors and cultures. If there is a cultural group that is not represented in your classroom, consider purchasing a doll of that culture, too.
Celebrate non-traditional holidays and festivals. Of course, it is not possible to celebrate all holidays in your classroom, but decide with the help of parents which celebrations are important to children and plan a special activity for these. Learn as much about the culture as possible by interviewing the family and inviting them to help you plan the celebration.
Invite special guests to your school or classroom. Extended family members of the children in your care are often a treasure trove of resources for you. If an Asian student's grandmother is visiting from Korea, invite her to come to your classroom. Ask her if she would be willing to share a special snack or craft with the students. Tapping in to your children's cultures and heritages will help you plan a diverse multicultural curriculum for your preschool students.