Diversity CD 6164

~Blog: Welcoming Families From Around the World~

CD 6164 Diversity Week 7

~Australia~

Australian Flag

Culturally Responsive:

You are working in an early childhood  social service agency. You receive word that the child of a family who has recently emigrated from a country you know nothing about will join your group soon. You want to prepare yourself to welcome the child and her family. Luckily, you are enrolled in a course about diversity and have learned that in order to support families who have immigrated you need to know more than surface facts about their country of origin.

Australian Family

Five ways in which to prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this Australian family: 

     Recognize, understand, acknowledge and respect each child’s/family individual cultural and    learning styles.

     Learn to help children/family to feel comfortable about living in two worlds. 

 
  Encourage the child/family to express their feelings and use open-ended questions.

 

4      Help the child/family to reflect on their own ideas about various aspects of diversity. 

              Ask information about the child/family and then use what I learned about the child/family in the classroom or at a social event.

Aborigine Children

Family Preparation: 

I hope that these preparations will benefit me, the professional and the family. Every child has a specific learning style, especially coming from another country; I will inquire about different learning styles and adopt a curriculum to fit the child. Asking questions about the lifestyle of the family will assist in open communication. I will ask the family to volunteer in the classroom or at a social event so that we may learn more about their culture and diversity.

Australian Boys

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 (NAEYC).