Connecting Kids to Their Cultures and Communities

Early childhood programs and schools are part of a community. They imitate that community—its people, values, businesses, and resources. rnConnecting Kids to Their Cultures and CommunitiesrnThere are, of course, many ways for early childhood education programs to help unite the kids they serve with their cultures and communities. These include, providing a program that welcomes and includes everyone, taking kids into the community, and using community resources in the program. rnEveryone Should Feel Welcome and Part of Your Early Childhood Care CommunityrnPrograms can do a variety of things to make each kid and family feels welcome. These include using photographs and artwork all through the entire building that imitate each family, making sure every kid and family is reflected in program communication piece, and promising that educational materials—such as books in the parent lending library—provide something for everyone. This visibility in the program is mainly significant for people who are usually ignored, such as fathers and multiracial and broad-based families. rnA special bulletin board that addresses the father’s role and provides parenting tips for fathers works well. Programs that respond to families’ sole needs make people feel welcome. rnTake Kids into Their Communitiesrnas already discussed by teacher training course in Mumbai ; we should find lots and lots of ways for kids to discover the resources in the communities where they live. This can be attained through field trips, joining festivals and other community activities, and supporting specific events for kids and families in the community. rnInclude People from the Community in the ProgramrnThere are many ways to comprise people from the community in the program. These include volunteers, parent requirements for participation in the school parent cooperatives and some personal programs, visiting speakers and presenters, and using workshop students from local colleges. rnThere are many ways for early childhood programs to connect kids with their communities and cultures. These must be active, deliberate, and ongoing activities. But, in doing so, we must realise that the families we serve come from a variety of cultural backgrounds, that cultures are continually changing, and that all kids experience overlapping cultures and communities. Thus we should carefully make sure that we never engross in any activity, or support any community cause, that omits or marginalizes any of our kids or their families. Far from reinforcing divisions and separation, we are in the business of making connections and building community.