Creating Affirming Environments
Reflecting on my personal ideas and thoughts of creating an
anti-bias home-based, or center based learning classroom environment, I would
use persona dolls, books, and posters that represents different nationalities.
Adriana’s care home featured different play and explore
areas. The two ideas that stands out for me are the over-sized comfy couch for a
warm cuddly and homey feeling. Children can curl up on it and read, take a nap,
or sit together and talk. The second idea Adriana used in her care home that I would
also use is the creation of a family corner or wall that displays personal
family items, and family photos that the child may view at any time (Laureate,
2011) ;(Derman-Sparks, & Olsen Edwards, 2010, p 42).
I would also use decorative posters of multiple racial
groups of people displayed around my classroom as an added attempt to extend a
warm welcome. Many of us parents, and teachers feel that we know what’s best
for young children, our children, or the children we service or teach, but if we
are voicing our opinions with negative words, or negative actions and body
language towards others and about others, we are unknowingly harming our
children because we are taking away their chance to experience having friends
who are different from them, and their chance to learn of other cultures and
rich history, and a chance to live without conflict.
If we adults take a moment to observe young children’s interactions,
we will notice that they are always willing to interact with each other. They
will aggressively walk up to another child, look them in the eye, grab their
hand and lead them to play. They may notice each other’s differences, but it
doesn’t lead them away. In fact, they seem even more interested in the other
child as they display an interest in one another. When we decorate our
classrooms to show a welcome attitude and atmosphere, it is mainly for the
parents because young children are naturally accepting of one another, they don’t
really have a problem with differences, we adults do. It matters what we say
and do to and around children, because they are watching our every movement,
and they are listening to every word spoken. Negative, or positive, they are
learning from us. As Derman-Sparks, & Olsen Edwards insist, that “children
learn prejudice from prejudice”, and that “differences in and of itself do not
create the problem; in addition, it is how people respond to differences that teaches
bias and fear” (2010, p 4 par 7).
References
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).
Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with
diverse children: welcome
To anti-bias
learning community. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Darlene,
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas in your post. You stated many ideas for an anti-biased Child Care. You are so right when you mentioned that children are willing to interact with others. I have seen children who do not speak the same language play and interact. They seem to somehow have a silent understanding of each other. Differences can be interesting and human nature seems to make us want to learn more. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
Mary
Darlene,
ReplyDeletethis is a great post! In my childcare setting, I envision having a safe environment and friendly atmosphere most importantly. I would allow up to nine children in my home daycare, two infants, five toddlers and up to two school age children. My staff would include three respectable, responsible, vibrant professionals who value morals just as I do and have an elongated desire for anti-bias curriculum. The elements of cultural variety that I would want to include are visual learning aids, games, books, and dolls. Visual learning aids can be interactive and can help customize the learning process. When children have something interesting to look at, it helps to hold their attention.
ReplyDeleteDarlene,
I think you make an excellent point about children wanting to play with each other. Children want to make friends and usually do not look at abilities or disabilities to make friends. This all comes as you said from the adults in their lives. It still breaks my heart when I hear a family say “don’t play with them”. No matter the reason the adults are hindering both children’s ability to grow and learn from one another. When children do have a disagreement is usually only lasts the day if that and then they are on to the next thing. Children are great at looking the other way and forgiveness. There are times I think adults should be watching children on how we should treat people instead of the other way around.