Age and Ethnicity

When do children develop an ethnic identity? During adolescence, according to conventional wisdom, as kids mature and adjust to their place in the world around them. But research by Professor of Education Cynthia Garcia Coll and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Human Development Amy Marks ’07 PhD suggests that ethnic identity actually begins forming as early as first grade. The study, published in the September International Journal of Behavioral Development , also showed that these kids had a largely positive perception of their ethnicity. And according to Marks, “The better children feel about their own ethnic identities, the more they want to play with others, regardless of ethnicity.”