PROMOTING DIVERSITY
When a family childcare setting represents diversity in a positive way, then acceptance and tolerance will develop. Family childcare often includes children from families of different religions, genders, physical abilities, cultures, family and structures. Young child will often notice differences, but they cannot comprehend the adult world and the values that adults might place on differences. Because children in childcare are generally exposed to diversity at an early age; their understanding, respect, and tolerance toward others is generally an unbiased one.
As a family childcare provider, it is important for you to examine your own beliefs and feelings about other cultures. Think about any negative feelings you may have about the way you were treated as a child. This could influence how you deal with certain diverse children in your care. Learn about the cultures of the children and families you service and build a respect for their differences. Your family childcare program should reflect a positive respect for each family.
WAYS TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY IN YOUR PROGRAM:
• Use stories, music, food, and art that depict diversity. These are beginning steps for children learning to respect backgrounds other than their own
• Child respond with fascinations and excitement when a parent comes to a childcare environment and shares a family tradition with them
• Create activities that will bring awareness and sensitivity to children. Especially if your program is in a less diverse area and there is not a lot of diversity in your program.
• Plan your curriculum around cultural days or weeks that will celebrate the amazing differences in each child’s background.
• Teach the children songs from different cultures.
• Play music from different cultures and let the children dance or draw pictures to the music.
• Learn a few words form different languages, for example: hello, goodbye, thank you, please.
• Cook foods from different countries or ask families for favorite recipes
• Play games and do activities that highlight how we are all different. Point out differences such as height, hair color, skin color, and food preferences.
Activity: Have all the children who like pizza stand on one side of the room and all the children who like chicken nuggets stand on the other side. Do this with many categories. (animals, TV shows, games, seasons, and colors). This is a good demonstration to show the children how they may be different to children but in another category, they are the same.
You can create an environment that celebrates the children’s differences and uniqueness. When encouraging diversity, you will be building the children’s self-esteem and awareness of who they are. A culturally rich curriculum helps the children feel good about themselves and where they fit in the world.