NYC Kids Project

NYC Kids Project NYCKP uses theatre and puppetry to teach children of all abilities about inclusion & respect for all.

We are an award-winning, non-profit, educational organization specializing in teaching empathy and compassion for the NYC community. Talented and highly trained theatre artists present programs for your school, community group, museum, library, fair or festival throughout the year.

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!If ...
08/05/2026

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!

If you've heard the term "Decolonization" before, you're probably already on the path to doing some of that work in your own life. But if this word is new to you, it's an important part of building a more inclusive world for yourself and for those in your circle whose identities are different from your own. Colonization, of course, is when one group or culture forcibly takes over occupied land, displacing the residents, removing their resources, and erasing their culture. Decolonization, then, is the process of painstakingly undoing this work - reclaiming culture and resources and building community.
White Europeans who arrived in the New World colonized this land, so the United States is a country built on what is called "settler colonialism." If we are to truly build a more inclusive world, decolonization is an essential part of reckoning with our history. Acknowledging harm, examining how colonialism is built into our society, then working together with our community to find new ways to move forward is what NYC Kids Project is all about.
If you'd like to learn more, this list compiled by students at George Washington Uinversity includes articles about Decolonization for further reading: https://diversity.gwu.edu/resources-decolonization

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!For...
07/29/2026

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!

For our final Inclusive Language Basics post during Disability Pride Month, we're tackling a really common phrase that we definitely want to see go out of use! Like we mentioned last week, you may sometimes find yourself needing to describe a person with a disability to someone else on their behalf, and neutral language is always best for this. To describe someone who uses a wheelchair to get around, you may have heard or used the phrase "wheelchair-bound." Just like our example last week, using the word "bound" assigns a negative connotation to wheelchair use that just doesn't align with reality. Wheelchair users are not "bound" to their chairs, wheelchairs are freedom! They allow people to move freely through their worlds in a way they could not without the use of a mobility aid. And many folks who use wheelchairs are actually ambulatory wheelchair users, which means they may be able to stand or walk unaided for short distances or in certain circumstances, but wheelchairs are still necessary for daily activities. Next time, try Wheelchair User for a more inclusive alternative.

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!Som...
07/22/2026

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!

Sometimes, we need to be able to explain a person's disability to someone else on their behalf, and if you're already here on our page, we know you want to be able to do that as respectfully as possible. The phrase "suffers from" may come to mind, as in "so-and-so suffers from ALS," etc. But Disabled folks do not necessarily suffer as a result of their disabilities, nor is it appropriate to paint someone else's experiences as negative without their consent. Our best advice is to describe the disability or chronic illness neutrally, the same way you would describe someone's hair color. You wouldn't say someone "suffers from" having brown hair. Disabilities can and do impact the way in which a person interacts with their world, but for most, it is simply a fact of life, the same way having any physical trait does. Some members of the disability community may be okay with using "lives with" as an alternative, but we recommend simply "has," which is the most neutral option.

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary! Th...
07/15/2026

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary! This week's phrase is part of a short series dedicated to highlighting some common idioms in American English with not-so-pleasant histories. We'll talk about where these idioms come from and share fun alternatives you can use instead.

The phrase "blind as a bat" can have multiple meanings in casual use; most commonly, it can be used to ridicule a person with low vision. For obvious reasons, this is not something we condone. Rather than making a person's disability the butt of a joke, next time, just describe them (for example, "this person has low vision") and avoid using idioms or euphamisms, which can come off as condescending or make people feel uncomfortable.

However, "blind as a bat" is also an idiom meaning that someone is unable (or unwilling) to recognize something that should be obvious to anyone who is paying attention! Besides the fact that a blind person (or bat) is never just not paying attention, this is based in a misconception, as bats are not, in fact, blind. Fruit bats, in particular, are known for their excellent vision, and all bats use echolocation (a method of using sound to measure the distance between the source and the object the sound reflects off of) to supplement their vision in the dark. Using this phrase can imply that blindness is somehow silly or willfully ignorant. Next time, try Clueless or Naive, or even something fun like D***y (we love a Disney reference!)

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!The...
07/08/2026

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!

There are so many -isms out there, and one you probably participate in without even knowing is Ableism. According to the American Psychological Association, Ableism is "prejudice and discrimination aimed at disabled people, often with a patronizing desire to 'cure' their disability and make them 'normal'...Ableism, either subtly or directly, portrays individuals who are being defined by their disabilities as inherently inferior to nondisabled people."

There are, of course, obvious ways to identify Ableism; speaking negatively about a person because of their disability, discrimination against disabled people in hiring or housing, or implying that disability is a form of divine punishment are unfortunate but common examples. However, the subtle ways nondisabled people interact with disabled people are still Ableist, even if they're harder to identify. Feeling or appearing anxious around people with disabilities (speaking more quickly, avoiding eye contact, awkward social interactions), making assumptions about what a person can and can't do, displaying toxic positivity, and asking questions about a person's body without their consent are all ways that nondisabled people, even those who believe themselves to be accepting of others, can demonstrate Ableism without realizing it. Tackling Ableism takes work and self-reflection, and it's okay to make mistakes! Try being open to unlearning these behaviors without embarassment - your inclusive vocabulary will thank you!

Bonus tip: You may have noticed that in this post we've used the term "nondisabled" instead of "able-bodied." This more inclusive term acknowledges that not all disabilities are physical disabilites, and distinguishes between someone who does not have any disabilities (nondisabled) and someone who is disabled but does not have any physical disabilities (able-bodied disabled).

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!Thi...
07/03/2026

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!
This month is Disability Pride Month, so as a special treat, we're doing a special edition of Inclusive Language Basics to kick off Disability Pride.

If you've ever called someone "differently-abled," thinking you're being helpful, this one is for you! This term came about in the early 90s, after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) helped disabled folks achieve greater visibility and accessibility in their communities. It's a euphemism, used to limit discomfort for people without disabilities, and most people with disabilities don't identify with the term. Every person is differently abled, but only some people are disabled. For disabled folks, their disabilities do limit their capacity to interact with their environments in certain ways. Shifting the narrative to the ways in which that person is still "abled, just different" implies that disability is something negative or dirty, when it simply describes the way a person interacts with their environment.

Terms like this also unnecessarily center "ability" as the default or goal. Not only do most people with disabilities simply not aspire to be "abled," disability is the more universal experience. Every person, no matter their circumstances, will experience disability at some point in their life. So get comfy with the term! Next time, try just saying Disabled, and think about other ways you can de-center the "able-bodied" experience. (Hint: you may just get an example next week!)

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!It'...
06/30/2026

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!

It's our final post of Pride Month, but that doesn't mean we'll stop posting about LGBTQIA+ vocabulary! Come back throughout the year for Inclusive Language Basics that cover lots of q***r vocab and more.

Today, let's talk about "Same-sex marriage." In 2015, thanks to the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, people of the same gender were legally granted the right to marry in all 50 states. At that time, 37 states and DC had already affirmed the right to marriage, and this court case prevented the 13 states that had not done so from proceeding with their bans. Massachusetts, in 2004, was the first to affirm this right, and New York followed in July 2011, the sixth state to do so. It's easy to feel like same-sex marriage is here to stay, but the q***r community is still fighting to retain their hard-won rights while the current administration tries to chip away at them. A great and very simple way to be an ally is to remove the "same-sex" qualifier when talking about marriage between people of the same gender. Same-sex marriage is marriage, and removing terms that mark q***r relationships as "other" go a long way toward affirming that q***r lives and q***r relationships are a natural and inherent part of our culture.

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!Old...
06/24/2026

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!

Older generations will probably have a tough time with this one - and we understand! Sometimes, marginalized groups make an effort to "reclaim" words that have historically been used as slurs, and "Q***r" is one of those terms. Around the early 90s, advocacy groups began to use the word in response to the stigma around the AIDS crisis, and to form a collective identity for those existing outisde the margins of heteronormative society. "Q***r theory" emerged as a way of looking at history, society, and literature from a q***r lens. Today, many young folks grow up unaware of the word's negative history. There are many identities contained in the "+" of LGBTQIA+, and the conversation around who is included in the acronym and who is relegated to the "+" is complex. Many members of the LGBTQIA+ community prefer to use the word "q***r" as an umbrella term, rather than a long list of acronyms, as a more inclusive option. However, reclamation of words like "q***r" will always be controversial and some people will never feel okay with using them - and that's their right. As with all identity terms, deciding which words ring true for you is deeply personal. Before using words like "Q***r" to describe someone, it's always best to ask their preferred terms, and to honor their preferences accordingly.

***r ***rHistory ***rCommunity

Mindful breathing techniques are one of the basic tools we can use to deal with stress, and can be helpful even in situa...
06/20/2026

Mindful breathing techniques are one of the basic tools we can use to deal with stress, and can be helpful even in situations of extreme stress, like panic attacks. 4-7-8 breathing offers a simple, rythmic pattern that puts the brain at ease and is easy to follow. Though this technique is very effective for many people, there may be other styles of deep breathing that work better for you! Box breathing, alternate nostril breathing, and belly breathing are all great examples, so if one isn't working the way you'd like it to, try a few others until find one that's right for you.

Looking for more ways to help your young folks develop their social-emotional skills at home? Scroll through our profile for more SEL Tips and bring the skills kids learn in our programs outside of the classroom. Empathy, kindness, and community-building are best enjoyed when we share them with everyone!

06/20/2026

It’s always a joy to visit the ShowBox at Battery Park! The Battery Park Conservancy has been having us as part of their summer programming for three years now, and every summer we look forward to being back.

Our recent shows even had a special guest! 🦃🦃

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