I already own a family childcare home so it was very interesting listening to Adriana talk about her program as well as see how she has things set up. I really liked the family culter shelf she had displayed. From the outside all of the children in my program look the same - white, middle class, suburban - but each family has a differnt make-up and culture. It would be great to use a family culture area as a way to teach the children that we are all different, even if we don't look that way on the outside.
Adrianna talked at lenght about how some children become upset and need time to calm themselves down, especially when being dropped off. Since I care for several young children (all under3) by myself, I am often unable to help calm each child. To help the children, there is a big stuffed monkey in the corner of our classroom, next to the library area. The monkey's name is Mono (Spanish for monkey) and the children know that if they feel upset at any time during the day they can cuddle with Mono to help them feel better. Since he lives near the library it's nice and quiet for them. By having the children sit in a comfortable, safe area to calm down rather than me holding them, the chilren learn to self-regulate their emotions. They also learn how to recognize when someone is feeling bad and may want to be left along or played with quietly.
Another of my favorite areas within our program is the library. The library contains books in multiple languages, showcases children of different races and from different types of families, and has materials for children to act out their own, or their favorite, stories. Children take things they read, or hear read, in books as factual. By showing all different types of people and ways of living, the children are exposed to a much broader world than our community portrays. Throughout the year, the children also help make their own books to add to our shelves. When I read these stories to the class the children swell with pride and learn that they are able to accomplish something important.
Hi Sarah, Congratulations on your day care. I can imagine how this program would be more meaningful to you.I like the idea of mono for children to self regulate their emotions and the varied books to meet individual needs.Anything we do to make children visible in class is a step to anti-bias education and your day care reflects that concept.Great post.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI too like Mono. How many children do you have in your care. You said that they are all under three so it has to be hard during emotional times. I am sure that Mono is a big help. A suggestion that I have that might help you deplict the different cultures and family structures is to have children and their families put together a poster of different milestones and experiences that each child has been through. I do a monthly family homework project and the first one is a pictures to make a classroom family phot album that is read throughout the school year and the last one consisted of the milstones that each child experienced throughout their lives. The children and families enjoy looking at these posters daily. Families share who they are and learn about the children that their child is around during the day.
Luci
Hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing about Mono. That is a wonderful idea! I agree with you that children can learn to self-regulate emotions. As we know, this is critical to school success. So the children in your center are blessed to have a teacher who is helping them with this skill! I too like the idea of having a family culture share spot.
What do you do in your center to partner with families? It sounds as if you have a successful program, and I am always looking for ideas to help me increase my connection to families.
Excellent post!
Kristi