Creating Affecting Environments

I would want my center to be family and anti-bias friendly how I would start this process is by having a family orientation when families first come to the center.  I would sit down with the parents so they can tell me a little about themselves and what would they like to see their children doing here.  I believe starting this way will allow you to open up the lines of communication with the center staff and the parent.  Next, there would be a parent center where the parents will sign their children in and each child will have their own folder or envelope were parents and staff can leave correspondents for one another if they do not have the necessary time to talk.  In the parent center there will be pictures and items that represent each culture that we serve so when everyone comes in it feels like a piece of home. 

One particular idea that I like to incorporate from Adrina Castillo would be a cool down or transition room where the children can come in adjust to the setting after being drop off  by their parents or even having a not so good moment during the day.  While watching the video I notice many of the sayings were in Spanish, I would like to have someone who speaks another language on staff where the children will be able to learn a second language if that’s not their language of origin. Another thing from the video I would incorporate is the emotion corner where the children will be able to come and express their emotions and relax their minds and be able to focus on the lesson. 

Throughout the center will be all type of paraphernalia which represents diversity and cultures having this around will allow the children to ask questions and learn new things about others.  The look and sounds of the room reflect the family culture s and daily lives of the children (Derman-Sparks & Edwards p. 43).  That is why the center will be painted bright and will be a place that is family and child friendly where everyone who enters feels welcome. 

Reference:

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 Learning Community.”