Post by Gale Coleman on Jun 15, 2017 0:16:46 GMT -8
How can you develop respectful, reciprocal relationships with families in your childcare practice? Do you think an understanding of diversity plays a part? An understanding of yourself?
Programs should create a family-centered environment where parents and professionals work together to achieve shared goals, which are based on respect, cooperation, and shared responsibility. Caregivers should work in partnership with families to establish and maintain ongoing, two-way communication. Parents are welcome in the program and participate in decisions about their children's care and education. Relationships that support children's optimal development require ongoing interaction that contributes to a deeper knowledge of individual children and the context of their lives. All children can benefit from the time and effort adults dedicate to creating these vital, reciprocal relationships.
These beliefs guide children in how to behave and interact within their family and community. We can help children develop respect and appreciation for people whose ideas and experiences are different from their own, and it is important to embrace differences by exploring my own attitudes, and reflecting on my own influence on children. To support children, we as educators need to learn about each child’s background and respect and honor family histories, cultures, languages, traditions, child rearing practices and lifestyle choices to build a respect for diversity and cultural competence.
I think an understanding of diversity plays a part in developing respectful, reciprocal relationships with families, because cultural diversity is the norm in our society, and so we all must learn to function in this diverse society. Culture influences our values, expectations of behavior, social customs, and basically how we live our lives, and it is an integrated pattern of knowledge, beliefs and behavior that weave a group of people together.