The diversity of family forms is the trend in the early childhood field. The traditional families are still the majority in the school community, but many other nontraditional families become more visible in this community too. Those non-traditional families are like same-sex parents, single parent, and many other forms. That is a new trend that we all need to adapt ourselves to it, and help our children and their families to be open-minded to it.
To those who believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families, I would like to say no to them. Books are considered to be one of the most visual and vivid way for children to get the information and transform what they learn or see from the book to reality. They can make the connection between the content in the books and the reality. In reality, there are children from the families who have two moms or two dads. If children read about it from the books through lovely stories, they will be open to the discussion later on in the class and be more respectful to the families like that. As inclusiveness is the core of many early childhood centers, including the diverse families should be the first step that the centers take. Books, and posters can be the appropriate and direct resources for children to explore and understand diversity in the world.
I believe there are traditional families who do not want their children to be interacted with children or educators from non-traditional families. To those parents, the first thing I would like to address to them is the school that their children are at is encouraging inclusiveness and diversity. That is one of the goals in our school’s curriculum. Besides that I would like to ask why they are against the interaction between their children and children from non-traditional families, as it stated in the video (that one of the most helpful ways to respond to biased comments is to ask why they think that (Laureate Education, Inc.,2010). Only if we find out the problem, we can solve it collaboratively.
Anti-bias curriculum and practices at school is a long term process, children at the young age are easily influenced by the stereotypes and biases that they sense and are told from the society or from the families. That is an influence that children will bring back to school when they are interacting with their friends and teachers. In that case, anti-bias curriculum should be implemented with diversity and the inclusion of families participation as well. Only the school and the families have the agreement to encourage diversity, equity, and inclusiveness, children will have a clear picture and model to follow. They will know what the expectations are.
References
Course Media: "Start Seeing Diversity: Gender"
Course Media: "Start Seeing Diversity: Sexual Orientation"
Hi Xiyue, as usual, I enjoyed reading your blog, and I always learn something from your perspectives.
ReplyDeleteFor the past few weeks, I have been searching through class libraries, while doing observations or assessments. While I was, obviously, limited to a few schools, I did not see any books that represented diversity. I found it interesting that even in animal books, there families are represented by a father (stronger, bigger), mother, and baby.
I was glad to see your response to books demonstrating sexual orientation, because from what I have read, many of them have been banned from libraries (read my blog about such a book!).
I found it interesting that one of the people interviewed in a media segment (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010) shared that she would be uncomfortable acknnowledging that there are families with two dads or two moms. While the teacher has her own beliefs and might very well believe that having two parents of the same sex is wrong, I think she has an obligation to her young students to acknowledge the existance of such families. This knowledge will bring the child comfort and respect.
Thanks, as always, for sharing.
Course Media: "Start Seeing Diversity: Sexual Orientation"
Hi Sissi,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree the books will help the child to understand the reality if same sex relationships. Parents should have an open mind about life, because whether they want they child to learn about the issue the issue will come to the child. Same sex relationships are amongst the world today and it is not going no where. Educating the child on the issue and answer questions that children may have at all times. Be open with your child and discuss the issues of same sex if needed. Children learn through their environment and same sex is there and growing strong.