Welcoming Families From Around the World

As a child care director I feel it is so important to know the children and families before they start attending your center. In order to properly teach and care for their child there are many aspects of their family life, child behaviors and characteristics that need to be known. Reading the fact that was shared with us that the U.S. population includes families from 150 different countries I would love to include a section in our center newsletter where we highlight a particular country. This way the other families that attend our center can also become aware and knowledgeable of the different countries our country populates. Not just the teachers and staff members in the center should be knowledgeable of the diversity in our school, but the families should also get to know the other family cultures that exist in their child’s daily life. This is an opportunity for everyone to become more culturally aware and diverse.

The family that will be joining our center is from the country of Guyana. In order to familiarize myself with the culture, beliefs, religions, and languages spoken in Guyana I would love to be able to make a home visit to learn the behaviors and characteristics of this particular family. It would be important to learn their religion in order to accommodate their beliefs inside the child’s classroom and if they have any days of observance that they will be absent from school. In order to communicate with the family in their native language I would learn some of the basic words needed to speak to the child and family in certain circumstances, based on how much English they knew. Their native language would also need to be known in case an interpreter needs to be found. It would be important for me to also learn what family members I will be in contact with on a daily basis, whether it is at pick up or drop off time. Learning that family is very important to the Guyanese culture, I know that there will be members of the extended family that I may see every day. The child’s teacher will also need to be aware of the individuals that belong to the child’s family, and the information that can be shared with the family members. Males have more power than the women in Guyana, so I would want to be aware of the roles the parents take on in their child’s life and education and with whom important information needs to be shared with.  Also learning that the children have more responsibility in the family and when old enough do odd jobs around the house, I would like to know what the child is involved in within the family and their strengths and weaknesses. 

All staff members, not just the child’s teacher should be knowledgeable of the families that enter the school and so a notice will be given to all staff members introducing them to the country and culture of Guyana as well as the basic words needed to learn in order to communicate with the family. This way all members become more culturally diverse by learning about all the different countries our school populates. I would make sure that the child’s classroom provides a welcoming atmosphere for the child and family and where the classroom represents their culture in certain aspects (ie. Pictures, words, books etc). I would want the family to know that our center respects their culture and beliefs and feels a sense of comfort when leaving their child in my care. The child should know they will not be judged for being different than other students and that they will be welcomed and cared for. I would also want the family to fill out a welcome packet that includes questions specific to their family and information that needs to be known to properly care for their child. I would want the parents to think about what our center staff should know about their family in order to meet their needs. This information will be shared with all members that will be involved in this child’s education.

All this preparation made will hopefully help myself and my staff to be more aware of this particular family’s needs and characteristics. I want the family to see that we take the education of children very seriously in our center and that we welcome families of all cultures and accept the diversity of others. Coming to the U.S. for the first time and being away from what has been familiar to them can be a shock and cause negative feelings. We want to provide a family atmosphere where there are positive experiences for all involved.  I would want the family to feel comfortable speaking to myself and the staff in regards to any questions and concerns they may have. I want no one to feel left out or in the dark about procedures and the curriculum we possess in the center, so open communication is important.

http://www.ncolonie.com/ESL/Guyana%20Culture.html