Creating Affirming Environments

 



          Affirming environments emerge from environments where children feel safe, physically and emotionally, and are culturally responsive.

 My anti-bias family-based center is a comprehensive, home-like learning center with children and staff from diverse backgrounds. The center curriculum promotes diversity and inclusiveness where all children learn, grow, and develop their full potential. In addition, children are equipped with the tools to cultivate friendships, partnerships, social justice, and equity as adults. The center staff is annually retrained and recertified, giving them the tools to help them be better caregivers in nurturing each child's developmental growth. The center atmosphere "exemplifies effective practices, and an intentional approach to anti-bias learning and community building" (Castillo; Laureate Education, 2011).

         Our is to provide every child and their families the warmth, care, and love they expect in a care center. As a result, the children and families coming to us come to an environment where they feel comfortable within themselves and others. My center anti-bias program is a strength-based approach. Children are taught to accept and respect each other and embrace and promote diversity.

          Indoor and outdoor spaces, where children can explore and play while learning. Each indoor room is decorated with children's family photos—visual material environment. The care center has an assortment of toys, blocks, cars, creative art objects, diverse pictures, and reading books for all ages. At the front entrance, there are various pictures on the wall depicting class rules, monthly themes, policies, weekly curriculum schedules, languages, holidays, personal hygiene procedures, and classroom duties. The outdoor equipment is designed with children's safety in mind. This equipment is used to help them strengthen their motor and cognitive skills. We also encourage families to create anti-bias environments in their homes (Derman-Sparks and Edwards, 2010, p. 54). 

            In the media segment of the week on how to design a quality care center, the vital information extrapolated was the need for a comfortable home where children who are crying after being dropped off by their parents can be comforted without disrupting the flow of activity at the center. I also drew inspiration from the media section that talked about the feeling of children and families when visualized to create an anti-bias environment. An environment that allows for inclusiveness, where families can come together, forming a friendly community. Since Children's holistic well-being is the primary objective of an educational program, I have created an environment that helps children transition from their parents to a comfortable, home-like setting. 

          I have the privileged to create a safe place for every family irrespective of their race, religion, culture, gender, and sexual orientation- a home away from home, where their children's development and learning are paramount. 



                                                                References


Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J O (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and  

       ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Welcome to an anti-bias 

     learning community. Baltimore, MD: Author.







Comments

  1. Mechu LippertMarch 20, 2022 at 9:06 AM

    I too, also absolutely love how involved and how welcomed the parents were. This could be one of the first times both the child and the parents are separated and they can be quite intense feelings. Accepting them, giving these feelings room to breathe, and giving space for these interactions to happen is going to affect these kids and their families SO much. It is telling them that being scared and working through it is ok. It is telling them that sometimes you need to a take a breath and keep going. It is teaching them ways to work through intense emotions and separation. Watching that was such a strong indicator of how planned out that environment was to cater and work through every aspect of a child's life and is definitely one that I want emulate!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rebecca ClarkMarch 20, 2022 at 3:06 PM

    Great post. You included all elements of creating an environment of belonging. I like you wanted your space to have a home element. I think this is definitely important for children to feel welcome, affirmed, and like they can learn and grow in a space. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Teach the ChildrenMarch 20, 2022 at 6:37 PM

    Children are our future for tomorrow. they need to be protected, safe, secured and handled with care because they are fragile. An early childhood center should look like a second home for children where can play, nap and resting room, explore, sing and run around it is their world; and you described just that. According to Adriana Castillo, who uses different dusters to teach children on how to accept, include, respect and welcome each other's color regardless of the differences (Laureate Education, 2011).

    Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Welcome to an anti-bias learning community. Baltimore, MD: Author

    ReplyDelete
  4. LucyMarch 20, 2022 at 7:22 PM

    thanks, ya'll for your contribution to my post

    ReplyDelete

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