This week we were asked to imagine opening a Family
Child Care Home. After viewing the course media this week I saw some great
ideas in the center run by Adrianna Castilla. I loved the way she described her
morning routine. In her home she had an area where parents could write in the
mornings on a communication board so that Ms. Catilla and her staff were aware
of any changes or information about the children could be noted. She had a
welcoming environment where parents were able to stay and participate in the
circle time activities that the children did. I thought this was a great way to
involve the parents. She said she wanted to make her parents feel like there
was a partnership with the center.
What I just described is how I would envision my
childcare center. It would be a place where children and parents felt like it
was an extension of their own home. I would be sure that the toys, games,
materials, pictures, and posters were reflective of the children in the center
environment and children who may not be in the environment. According to
Derman-Sparks & Edwards, an anti-bias environment is also culturally
consistent for the children and families it currently serves. I used to feel
guilty about this when I was a new teacher. Most of the children in my class
were predominately African American and I had lots of pictures of African
American children so they could see themselves in a positive light. I also
provided pictures of Caucasian children but I really wanted to make sure that I
provided an environment where children could see themselves. The books I had in
the room were also reflective of the cultures as well. This is something that I
would also include in my center as well.
On page 43 of our course text, it lists activities
that could be sent home with children to do with their parents. One of the
activities I would incorporate in my center would be having the parent and
child select a book from the lending library and then create a family book
report. Some of the ideas like having the family come in to perform a skit
about what took place in the book would be a fantastic way to get parents
involved in the classroom environment.
When I envision my center, I see a place where child
can’t wait to get to everyday. It would be full of activities where children
feel free to take risks and feel good about themselves. The dolls and toys
would be multi-cultural and reflective of many races. In the course media,
Adriana Castilla showed pillows that were the skin color of the children in her
center. Even at the tender age of four years old, she opened the conversation of
skin colors with the children in her center.
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).
Laureate Education,
Inc. (2011). Welcome to an anti-bias community.
