My second interviewee lived locally, therefore, I was able to get more detailed answers for my questions. My colleague explained that although same-sex families were not as popular in her time, she was taught multiculturalism, diversity, and tolerance; and that she was neutral when it came to her own assumptions or biases about gays and lesbians. However overtime, she moved from neutrality to advocacy. This colleague also states that early childhood educators can figure out what is the best way to provide the optimal experience for the child and their family regardless of their dynamics.
The ideas that were expressed by both interviewees that I most connected with is that our beliefs were influential in our lives; however charity/love is a powerful influential part of our beliefs, which provides us with the understanding that in our field ALL children deserves high quality education and ALL families need to feel safe and welcome in early childcare programs. We are here to teach and not judge!
QUESTION:
How can early childcare
educators teach resiliency to young children from same-sex families?
Reference
Lee, G.
(2010). Gay mothers and early childhood education: Standing tall. Australasian Journal
of Early Childhood, 25(1), 16-23.
Pizzolongo, P. J., & Hunter, A.
(2011). I am safe and secure: Promoting resilience in young children. Young
Children 66(2), 67–69. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
If children have positive reinforcement at home about their lives, it doesn't matter if they come from same-sex families or heterosexual families.
ReplyDeletePositive reinforcement taught at home can build children's pride of themselves and their families.
DeleteThe fact is resiliency must be taught at home by parents. As an educator we should create an environment of acceptance. The fact is prejudice is among us and educators should try and remove these biases. Educators can model and create and environment where students understand that individuals and families are unique.
ReplyDeleteResiliency should be taught at home; however for those children that do not get those positive influences can only rely on us as educators to build confidence and strength into their own being in order to overcome trauma.
DeleteI love your topic and I agree with your statement in that ALL children deserve high quality education and ALL families should feel safe in our schools. To answer your question, I think we can teach resiliency to young children from same-sex families by offering a safe environment in our classrooms where children feel safe learning and asking questions as well as having a safe environment for parents. Good luck and I look forward to reading and learning more. Thank you, Cissy
ReplyDeleteHi Susan McKoy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your challenge project about "same-sex families in early childhood programs." I very much agree with you in which "all children deserve high quality education and all families should feel safe in our schools. We can teach "resiliency" to our young learners from same-sex families by acceptance and respect. We must accept their diverse culture and respect their families. Next, we have to teach students of diverse cultures and respect their differences of families. For example, in my pre-k class, I have pictures of families of diversity that I must illustrate and talk about respect. The pictures of "classroom diversity" are from "Lakeshore" a teacher supply store. I do have 2 pictures of 2 women with 2 children and 2 men with 2 children. Thank you, Vianey
Sometimes I wonder why it is so hard for some educators to think out of the box, when I think that is ECE 101. We are living in such a diverse world that in order for us to accomplish a successful classroom we MUST understand and teach diversity. It is good to know that organizations like, Lakeshore is providing learning materials that assist teachers in teaching about diverse cultures.
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