My overall experience in this course has been eye
opening. I have learned so much about dealing with families from different
cultures and how difficult it can be. The course textbook Anti-Bias
Education for Young Children and Ourselves, was not only a big help in this
course but also has been the most applicable to my work as an early childhood
professional. It has given me new insights into families from different
cultures and how I can include these cultures in my classroom without it
looking like a display just to please families. The book Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down touched
me in a way no other book has. It was hard to read about the child being taken
away from her parents because they were presumed to be unfit when it was a lack
of understanding and communication between the hospital staff and the parents.
This story reinforced the need to make sure that there is a staff member that
speaks the parents that I serve home language and that all information that is
given to families be in their home language so that they can understand it. I
also learned from this book and other course readings that if parents or
primary caregivers cannot read then we must find other ways of ensuring that
they understand the materials that they are given. This could be having someone
that speaks their home language explain to them verbally or have a visual
drawing of instructions detailing each step that is to be taken. Yes these
methods can take more time and cost more money but in the end it is worth it.
This will also show families that they are valued and respected, which will
help them to build trusting relationships with center staff.
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