Creating Affirming Environments - EDUC 6358

 

Family Focused Childcare Home 

In our home learning center we provide a healthy balanced learning environment that strives to meet the complete needs of both children and their families. Our home based learning center is equipped to care for children and families that promotes family involvement by allowing children to incorporate their learning and home life in our facility. Upon entering our facility everyone is greeted by their name and are given time to get themselves acclimated before beginning any of our morning routines. To begin the morning off although everyone is greeted individually once we are all together, we sing a morning chant that introduces everyone and in unison they are told "we are happy you are here today". We have a reading stations that has a variety of books that focuses on diversity, respect, cultures, languages and more. At story time we sit on bouncy balls to allow them to release a little energy before naptime. "Photographs of the children and their families in our program and of people and places in the children's neighborhood make useful raw material" (Derman-Sparks, 2010. pg. 45). There are pictures of each student and their families around the general learning area so that whenever we are going over an objective that involves that particular student they as well as their peers can have a visual of what it looks like. Our artwork is comprised of posters and personal drawing that showcase our students and their families cultures so that it will bring a sense of familiarity for them. "Children must feel safe, loved, and nurtured to develop the basic trust  they need for healthy development" (Derman-Sparks, 2010. pg. 52). I like how in our media segment for this week with Adriana there was a section for a  child who is upset to lay in a quiet place with a pillow or just to be able to calm down at their own pace (Laureate Education, 2011). If a child is having a rough start to their day there is a quiet room in the back of our home with a swing nestled near a widow with calming music in the background to allow the child to be at ease. At the start of each week I will share with the families what we would like to work on for the weeks lessons so that they can contribute things about their home life that can be beneficial for our leaning that incorporates their family culture, values and beliefs. Ideally if the families can provide props, toys, books or other items to complete the learning experience I will request that they feel welcomed to share at anytime. "When we reach out to families to include them in every aspect , families feel like they are teachers, true partners" (Derman-Sparks, 2010. pg. 43). At the end of each day parents will be provided with a written detailed update of how their childs' day went, what we covered, how they progressed, what if any concerns are present and how they can help moving forward. 

Reference

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 an Anti-bias Learning Community. Baltimore, MD: Author

Photo: https://cliengagefamily.org/