Overview
What is the MIFC Respecting Difference?
The Media Initiative for Children (MIFC) was developed by Early Years - the organisation for you children (formerly known as NIPPA) in Northern Ireland and Pii the Peace Initiatives Institution in the USA. It combines cartoon media messages around diversity with an early years programme. Together they aim to promote positive attitudes to physical, social and cultural differences amongst young children, practitioners and parents. The messages also address bullying behaviours.
The cartoons are set in a play park and feature characters young children can easily identify with. The messages in the cartoons are reinforced in the early years setting through the use of resources and interactive activities that prompt children to talk about their feelings and attitudes to the issues explored in the cartoons.
The resources and activities help children to receive information in appropriate ways and within a context where they can ask questions. They encourage the strong robust competent child and help children feel valued as people given the lack of control they have over their lives until they are older.
The cartoon media messages are shown on national television three times a year (once each school term). The aim of this is to raise awareness across several generations.
media initiative for children
