Creating a Child Care Environment that is Culturally Diverse (10.11)

The toys, books, and play in a childcare facility are not important for increasing and promoting a positive culturally diverse environment.

Whether families leave their country or community for safety reasons or by choice, settling into a new area can be simple and seamless.

Giving support and understanding; reassuring the child often that he/she is safe, that the trauma is not their fault, and that you, their caregiver, can be trusted are things caregivers can do to reassure a child who has experienced trauma.

A beneficial way of dealing with racial teasing, taunting, and name calling is to address these instances in a calm and loving, yet firm manner.

Case Study: You are a new teacher at a childcare center in a rural area of your state, which has less cultural diversity compared to urban areas. Currently, 98% of the children attending the center are of one race. However, that number will decline soon as you learned there will be more children of different backgrounds enrolling at the center. Unfortunately, you feel your center could do more to promote a culturally diverse environment. You now are tasked with the role of proposing reasons why your center should be more culturally diverse. How will you persuade the director, assistant director, and owner for such a move? You tried to mention that it makes everyone feel at home in a brief conversation in the past, so you will certainly need to go more in-depth with your reasoning. Summarize your thoughts and reasons in-depth.