If I was opening my own Family Child Care Home, I would want my setting to be in a location that was in a low-class or poverty environment. I would want my setting to be in a poverty location because I want to make an impact on the families and children in the surrounding environments. I would make sure to include different staff of different ethnic and religious backgrounds. Doing this would allow for all of the children to feel welcome. Not only would it allow for the children to feel welcome, but it would allow the families to feel welcome.
Another element that I would make sure to include is different toys or manipulatives. Doing this would allow the children a variety of toys to play/learn from. The children could have toys that they played with, that was only from their culture/religion. Incorporating these toys would allow the children and families to want to come to the Family Child Care Home.
The last element that I would like to include would be field trips or activities that required the families to get involved and go into the community. Doing this would allow the Family Child Care Home to branch out to others in the community and for those involved to realize that they want to be a part of this organization.
I will make sure that every child and family feels welcomed each and every day. I would do this by getting out in the community as much as possible and making sure that the families were involved. I would also teach about the different cultures. Doing this would make the families feel welcome and comfortable.
I agree, when you have different ethnic and cultural backgrounds working for you in your child care, many families will feel welcomed. Did you know that many children from low-income families are at risk for failure? Because if the family is not involved, the children will be lacking much motivation. I love to walk into a classroom and see colorful pictures, posters, and also the furniture.
ReplyDeleteChelsea, you mention a lot of important aspects of a quality anti-bias environment. Field trips are a great way to incorporate community ties, but having experience working with low income families I have also found them to become a hurdle that comes between the family and the child care. All parents want their child to participate to the fullest that they can, but sometimes poverty can get in the way. What would you do to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to participate? And, how would you find our what hurdles families may have with full participation in your program?
ReplyDelete