Creating Affirming Environment.
One of our greatest responsibilities as early educators is
to be able to identify and create a suitable environment that best represent
our wide range of diverse children and families. My idea of an anti-bias
environment is on that put into cognizance the needs and requirements of
children of children and families under their care.
My family day care will have pictures of different cultures,
and ethnicity so that each child and family will feel at home whenever they are
in the day care, this will make them relaxed and be part of our day care, by so
doing no family will be left out. Our toys, pictures, posters and art works
will show the range of different family structures, economic backgrounds and
various religion.
A wide variety of families representing various races and
ethnicity, performing all types of jobs, making sure that both women and men
are represented in the jobs will be used in our picture collection in order to
erase stereotypical behavior from the children.
People with disabilities will not be left out. We will make
sure that we have posters that shows that both men, women, boys and girls can
be physically challenged too. We will also show that they all have families
just like every other child. Picture of them working and sharing family fun
time will be represented too.
We will like to represent the different skin tone of
different races and ethnicity just like Adriana Castillo did but in our own
unique way. The different skin tone will be our uniquely made big throw pillows
which will help comfort this children at drop of time when they don’t want to
leave their parents. Our reasons for doing this is because children that are so
attached to their parents will be easily be comforted with things that reminds
them of their parents, so I believe this will help.
Hi Patience,
ReplyDeleteI like your ideas in setting up your Family Child Care Center, sometimes it is difficult to ask families about their home life. Therefore, "Ensuring that every family feels welcome and comfortable creates a crucial foundation for mutually respectful relationships" (Derman-Sparks, & Olsen Edwards, 2010, p. 37). I can vividly remember having a positive environment that helped me become confident and an independent individual. I remember my childhood moments when I felt safe at home as well as in school. I could connect to a caring adult and engage in learning. Great ideas! Thank you for sharing!
Nydia
Reference
Derman-Sparks, L, & Olsen Edwards, J (2010). Anti-bias education for Young Children and Ourselves. Washington. D.C National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Hi Patience,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog. I like the concept you present about your Family Child Care Center. It is important that children get a visual image of diversity depicted through pictures as well as materials and toys in their learning setting should reflect that. " In addition to seeing themselves in their learning environment, children also need materials that honor diversity both within and beyond their own identity groups (Derman-Sparks. p.43)."
Reference:
(Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. 2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.