Welcoming Families From Around the World

Welcoming Families From Around the World

 

I am working in a childcare center and I received word that a child from a family who recently emigrated from Niger, Africa would be enrolling in the center. The family home language is French.

 

 I would prepare myself to be culturally responsive by:

 

*Getting all the information I can obtain about the child and her family before their arrival. (Language, culture, and interest, number of children in family, role of children, gender roles, child’s abilities or disabilities). Review paper work.

*Learn basic words in family home language, also label and post names of item in family home language and English. Have a translator available.

* Incorporating art, music, foods and crafts from the family culture.

* Have a meeting with all staff to collaborate on ways we all can make child and family feel welcome at the center and to discuss any problem they foresee.  

*Be aware of my own attitudes toward cultures differences.

My overall goals are to eliminate all bias, prejudices and discrimination that may be present, make sure the child and her family members feel valued, respected, and welcome in the child’s learning environment. To include all children cultural knowledge as part of the learning environment in which all children may engage in and thrive in during their learning process.   

 

 

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

 I was raised in a very small town in the South. I remember when I was in the 8th grade. A Caucasian family moved into town. The family had a boy my age and his younger sister. The boy was placed in my class at school.  My best friend who was an African American girl (Amy) and the Caucasian boy (Ken) decided to become girlfriend and boyfriend.  In the late 60’s the idea of a Caucasian boy dating an African American girl in the south was not accepted.  This relationship brought forth an uproar within the school among the teachers, principal and some of the student. They both was harassed by teachers, students, cafeteria staff, and custodian of the school.   The teachers of both race gather Amy and Ken together for mandatory meetings. Within the meeting, the teachers began to explain why their relationship was not acceptable at school. I remember the principal meeting with the parents of my friends. This interracial relationship was so discriminated against that my best friend and her family moved out of the county a few weeks later.

 Now that I am aware of internal oppression I can see how this incident could have effected many internally who was involved in the situation. Incidents such as this is degrading and humiliating. They destroy ones self-esteem and self-worth.

As we know prejudices is a learn behavior and children do not automatically display this behavior, in the late 60’s children were introduced to prejudices behavior through adults actions. Today our society is more acceptable to interracial relationships. I am glad things has change enough that people are free to have relationships with whom they choose.   

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

 Every day in our society people are treated a certain way because of their race or gender. Actions can send messages of how people feel about people who they interact with.

 My sister took her car to this mechanic to repair what she thought was here wheel bearing. So she expressed this to the mechanic. The mechanic did not check to make sure that this was the problem he just replace the wheel bearing so on her way home her car was doing the same thing it was doing before come to find out it was not the wheel bearing but it was her breaks. She had to pay for two repairs. I think the mechanic did things this way because she is a female. I do not believe this would had taken place if a male had taken the car.

 

My daughters and I went groceries shopping because we were going to have a family cook-out. We had a grocery cart full of things we needed. When my daughter got to the checkout the cashier asked my daughter if she was paying with EBT my daughter stated “No with cash”.

 

My mother –in-law came to the hospital to see my youngest daughter in the nursery when she was born. To my understanding there were other people there to see other babies. When they brought my daughter to the window someone made the comment “This baby is so cute her daddy must be white, just look at her color and hair. My mother-in-law (a lady who do not hold her tongue) replied.  “This is my son’s baby, my granddaughter and both of her parents are black”.

 

These examples of microaggression made me and my family members feel humiliated, disrespected, and devalued. Reflecting on these incident has brought about my being more aware of my interactions and communication with people. In my professional role I will continue to work with a more diverse population therefore I must be mindful or the messages I communicate verbally and non-verbally.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY AND CULTURE

 The three people I chose to question for this week assignment are a 47 year old African American man, a 55 year old (acquaintance) Caucasian woman , and a 28 year old  female( family member)  African American.

The African American male define culture as” being your beliefs, religion and other things that are in still in you from your  up bring, something’s which are passed down from one generation to another”.

 He define diversity as the differences between people from the same background or from different ones”.

My acquaintance define culture as” your way of life, and a person perspective of who they are and who other are as well. Diversity is the difference that a group of people may have.

The 28 year old family member define culture as" being the event , foods, and holidays a person  celebrates that represent their culture".

Diversity as being an "variety of differences".

 When I asked these people about their definition they all had to think for a few moment and seem to struggle with expressing their definition.  This assignment reinforced my belief that culture and diversity are very vital parts of understanding the children and families we serve in the educational profession. People are aware of the surface culture someone may have but not aware of the deep culture that identifies who we are as well.

My Family Culture

                                               

My Family Culture

If my family and I were told we had to leave our country and move to another country that had a different culture this would be very hard for us leaving other family members and friends. It would be very difficult to choose three small items to take along when there are so many item that have sentimental value and apart of who we are and now you have to leave all this behind. However I would take the family bible because I know we would need the strength of God to take us through this situation and we would also need encouragement which we would get from the word of God as well. The bible also have recorded in it the birthday, marriages, and death of family member. The second item would be a photo album which has pictures of my great grandparents, pictures of my grandchildren and other family members. The third item would be the folder in which we keep important papers. After getting to the new country and being told we could only have one item that one item would be the family bible which we would use to continue to teach the word of God to the strengthen my family. The bible also have important dates in it. We would have to carry a lot of our family memories would in our hearts.

Everyday many families have to make these difficult decision, many leaving their country and family members behind I know this is very emotional and frustrating for them coming to a new country whose culture is different leaving all the familiars items and places and even some people behind.    

When I Think of Research..........

Over the last several weeks this course has helped me to gain many insights into early childhood research. I have gain much respect for the many researcher who research issues that is so vital to the betterment of life. I have learned how research is develop. It starts with a topic, than a subtopic than to a specific question. Through this course I have gain understanding of the different designs of research, knowledge of the ethical values and principles researchers must maintain in order to demonstrate professional standards, and method to collect and gather information.

I had to read the assignments many time to get an understanding of the information begin shared and many times I was not sure I understood the information correctly. I would like to thank all my colleagues for their support, comments and encouraging words throughout this course.

Research is a part of our everyday life. Before this class I never considered what research consist of and the dedication of the people who does it every day. I appreciated the efforts and success of all researchers of the past, the present, and the future thanks to their hard work and commitment to their research lives are effected in varies ways.  .

Thanks to all my colleagues for their support, comments and encouraging words throughout this course. Thank you so much and God bless you all.

Research Around the World

 

 

 Research Around the World

 

I chose to explore the Early Childhood Australia website.  This site provides information for providing high quality services for all young children and their families. Early Childhood Australia has done research on many issues that we are focusing on here in the United States as well. There are links to Australasian Journal of Early Childhood (AJEC) which is identified as being the world longest running major journal within the Early Childhood field which has articles on Literacy and Technology in the early years of education and Diversifying early years professional learning: one size no longer fits all.  The “Every Child Magazine” shared articles on the subjects Technology and Interactive Media as tools in early childhood Programs, Valuing Play: The Early Years learning Framework in Schools, and Discovering Cultural connection  to name a few very interesting articles. There is also a link to a section entitle Research in Practice Series (RIPS) that provides practical , easy to read resources that offers effective new approaches for challenges issues in the care and education of young children.  As you can see this site focus many of the same issues that we face every day being in the early childhood field. Issues of high quality care for all children, good health, engaging families, and respecting diversity.

 I really like The Everyday Learning Series that is published quarterly that provides information for parents and other caregivers for young children. It shared vital information to assist throughout each stage of child development. As I explored the website I notice there were information on issues that dealt with the development of the whole child.

I view Early Childhood Australia website as a wealth of information that can assist anyone who works with children who would like to foster all children’s development in positive ways.

 

Reference

 

Early Childhood Australia: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/