Professional Hopes and Goals

I hope through my work with children and families to be able to allow them to maintain their family culture as well as educate others on the culture. I also hope to be able to assist children as they grow create a positive sense of self as they create a social identity. Being able to communicate with the family and child to learn about them will help me advocate for the child and family making them feel welcome while creating a sense of community rich in culture.

Creating programs that embrace diversity, equity and social justice while encouraging children to create a positive sense of self would be my goal for the early childhood field. Learning how to apply the knowledge we have and model for the children and families in our programs how to embrace others and accepting what makes us all unique.

Thank you, for the past eight weeks supplying feedback and sharing your stories and knowledge with me. Having the ability to learn from all of you creates a learning network for myself and gives insight from all of you to be able to reflect upon. I hope each of you continue on this journey and continue to reflect and advocate for those children and families in your programs.

Welcoming Families from around the World

The country I would choose would be India.

The five ways I would be culturally responsive to the incoming family would be:

First, learn about the country of India what the climate is like, what the cities are like the people live in. etc. to get a sense of what life in general is like.

Second, become familiar with the national celebrations which ones are similar to those celebrated in America and those that are very different.

Third, begin to learn the language especially general greetings as well as phrases to assist with easing the transition to the American program.

Fourth, explore their food and diet differences. Learn about what the flavors and foods are look to incorporate some dishes to allow other children to explore the new family’s culture.

Finally, get to know the family as a whole. Learn about what is important what their goals are for their child in the program and how they would like to grow as a family in the new land.

By preparing for the family in the above order I will be able to get to know the family deeper than a general get-to-know-you conversation. Immigrating from a different is difficult enough to learn the new country alone. Feeling as though they are welcome and important. Also for the family to know their family culture and way of life is valued.

Personal side of Bias, Prejuidce, and Oppression

What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression?

When working at the center in Alaska we had a family that the father was from the Dominican Republic and the mother was German. The family struggled with many issues such as the home language to speak, which religion the children should be, the foods to be served to name a few. Within the center the family was quick to be judged based on the issue that the children had major speech delays and some caregivers were unwilling to help. Many did not understand the want for the parents to want to instill both cultures deeply. Some would not want the family or the children in their classroom due to the added work of the delays and the frustration the parents had with one another on raising their children. Accommodation for the diets was also made for the children the mother felt as though they should only eat fresh fruits and vegetables. I had both children in my care both children were wonderful children their parents were both great just had different ways of parenting. When we worked with the parents with the expectation from what they wanted from the center we saw an improvement in the children as well as better communication within the center walls with the parents.

In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

The unwillingness others had of getting to know the family, particularly the parents, to understand the desire they possessed on not loosing their own personal cultures. Being able to communicate with the family and gain an understanding of their wants and needs helped with lessening the inequity.

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

Frustration was the major feeling along with sadness. I was frustrated for the parents who wanted high quality care for their children and faced resistance. Sadness for the children who were being excluded due to their differences and delays.

What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

The parents who had the different beliefs and being not as accepting of one another and their own values and beliefs along with those who were resistant to learning about the family and their cultures within the center. Not being willing to accept others and set aside personal beliefs is difficult, however we must remember to educate ourselves about others and their beliefs and values not disregard them.