Creating Affirming Environments

When I open my doors as a Family Child Care Home, I want my facility to demonstrate a diverse, warm, caring, clean and safe environment. I want all cultures, non-traditional and traditional families, genders and ages to feel at home and if their child was in their own home with a private tutor. I believe that all facilities should have a environment in which the children and families can feel like they are at home away from home. I want parents to feel confident when leaving their child and I want the child to feel secure in my facility. The first thing that I would do before my official open date is to conduct a interview of all of my intended students and families. This way I would be able to start a respectful relationship by learning more about the child, family structure, concerns and interest. My facility will have the alphabet and numbers in all languages; I will have toys that are a learning experience that helps the child develop their identity. I want to have toys that connect all cultures and genders. I want to have pictures of all of my students and their families posted on a board to let them know how they are valued. I will have constructive play that allows a child to be a child, creative, role play and play out their fantasy (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010). 

In my facility I want to be able to celebrate each cultures holiday, so that every family’s tradition is brought into the classroom and respected. I would provide resources for family that are seeking assistance in any way, I would send welcome and thank you letters, have a space reserved for families and I so that we can discuss their child’s future, progress and concerns. I would have a opened minded enrollment application that do not ask specific gender types and mother and father name. Everyday at pick-up, I would inform the parents on how the child’s day was and how they are progressing. I would work together with parents to seek the best interest of the child, have a program and curriculum handbook that is in more than one language, so that parents will know everything about the facility, curriculum and goals.  

The media and the text inspired me by demonstrating the importance of demonstrating acceptance for all children and families (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010). The aspects I found in the media segment that inspired me to create my environment was the atmosphere and facilities structure. The environment demonstrates diversity, equality, communication between parent and owner, pictures of families and a area set aside for naps, reading, play, a place for a child to relax and calm down and parental meetings. The media segment inspired me because it was set to feel and look like home. The facility seem so comforting and warm (Laureate Education, Inc. 2010). In the readings, the aspects I found are the lessons that all children are unique and that children, educator and parents can learn from each other through collaboration, listening, being attentive, supportive, understand and respectful to each other. I also learned that by implementing a curriculum and environment that is diverse, anti-bias, safe, supportive and comfortable, it will allow families and children to feel more comfortable about being accepted, appreciated and respected for who they are (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010).

 

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Laureate Education, Inc. (2010). "Welcome to an Anti-Bias Learning Community". Laureate Media