Creating Affirming Environments

As the owner of my own Family Child Care Home, I would incorporate many components in order to ensure that every child and family feel welcomed and respected in my early childhood setting.  An anti-bias rich environment is vital for chilldren to develop a strong and positive self concept and empathy for others through healthy intellectual, physical, social, emotional, and moral development (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

In my Family Child Care Home, I would have many anti-bias materials for the children to have direct assess to.  I will ensure that there are a variety of anti-bias, multi-cultural books, ranging from board books for Infants to Preschool children.  The books will focus around multi-cultural foods, traditions, and celebrations. There will be a variety of multi-cultural puzzles, pictures and posters.  The posters that will be placed on the wall will include all types of families ranging from  all races and ages, reflecting the family base in my facility.  

In my dramatic play area, I will have multi-cultural dolls of all races and genders.  I will also include dress up clothes from all cultures and families that are not stereotypical.  I feel that cultures should be respected but not stereotyped.  I would include music from all cultures such as classical, jazz, music sung in many languages.   I would also encourage families to share some of their cultural traditions with us in order to make strong home/school connections.  I would have a parent communication board posted in plan sight for parents for be informed of important upcoming events and information that they need to be aware of.  

Every child will have space for their personal belongings and also family connections will be evident in my facility.  A family connection board will consist of pictures that families bring in of all family members so the children can feel secure and there is a constant reminder of their family culture while the children are in my care. Personal space is also essential in children feeling comfortable.  I will ensure that there is plenty of soft material for a child to be able to go to if needed in order to sooth themselves if needed.   

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).