It is important to recognize how our own attitudes and experiences related to culture show up in our work with families. As you and your colleagues reflect on how culture shapes your interactions with families, think about the following questions: - How do staff respond to differences in values they held when growing up and current values?
- Are there differences among staff in values or do all staff have the same or similar values?
- Are staff and families’ values reflected in the program as evidenced by language, photos, and pictures, expectations and rules, family engagement, interactions with children and adults?
- Are the dominant values in our program the values of the dominant culture? (What are the cultures represented in the program?)
- What other cultural values are represented in our program?
- What messages are children receiving about their roles, culture, and identity while in our program?
Element of Culture | My Beliefs | Our program values | How families’ values might differ | Steps to develop mutual respect and support within our program |
---|
Language | | | | | Gender roles | | | | | Attitudes about time | | | | | Responses to challenging behavior | | | | | Volume and Voice control | | | | | Personal space and touch | | | | | Interactions between children and adults | | | | | Role of family in child’s program/classroom | | | | | Autonomy of children | | | | |
|