What I Have Learned

One hope I have when thinking about working with children and families who come from diverse background is that they always find acceptance where they are. Since diversity is something that should be celebrated, I hope that children and families are always able to celebrate and share their diversity with other and that through that sharing they find acceptance. 

            One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to diversity is that educators take the time and stress the importance of including families in the education of young children. This partnership will help educators, families, and children learn about one another and share about differences and ways that they can make the world a better place. 

            Thank you to all of my colleagues who have taken the time to read and comment on my blog. I appreciate your time, suggestions, and encouragement! Good luck in your next stage of this journey!

Creating Art

I see diversity in many ways, but this collage is a good representation of what the videos have taught me about diversity and an anti-bias approach to teaching. 

Start Seeing Diversity

            Walking in the grocery store you see many different people from different cultural groups. When I was shopping a few years ago there was a young boy who looked to be about four, that commented on a woman doing her shopping in the cart with the motorized seat attached. He asked his mother “why does she get to use that?” and his mother more or less responded to his question with telling him not to stare at her. She may have spoken to him about her more when they were further away from me, but I heard no response to his answer except to stop staring. 

            The child may have learned that it is not polite to stare, according to his mother’s teaching. His mother may have also communicated that since he was not allowed to look at this person in the motorized shopping cart that there was something wrong with her. This child may also now believe that they should not ask questions because their question was not answered and they were just told to stop looking at something. 

            An anti-bias educator would have responded differently to support the child’s understanding about the woman in the motorized shopping cart. An anti-bias educator might have explained why people use the motorized shopping carts in stores. The educator may have given many different reasons that people may use that and also that there is nothing wrong with someone using a motorized shopping cart. An anti-bias educator might also extend the learning about diversity to talk about other types of tools that people may use when they might need help getting around (e.g. wheelchair, walker, crutches, cane). An anti-bias educator can extend this conversation in so many different ways to help children with understanding and acceptance of all others.