To begin, choose three types of families from the list below.
Keep in mind the role as an early childhood professional who does anti-bias work involves you in teaching the children with whom you work to respect and understand all kinds of families without over-generalizing or stereotyping.
3 family types chosen:
1) Transnational Families
2) Gay/Lesbian-headed families
3) One or more family members incarcerated
- Consider the various resources that you might draw on to develop a deeper understanding about the specific challenges faced by this type of family including stereotypes/misconceptions held by society in general or at individual levels. Conduct a brief investigation by looking for local and/or national organizations, support groups, publications, and online resources that might be available to expand awareness about this kind of family. Take note of the resources that you feel would be particularly helpful to teachers committed to anti-bias work and effective early childhood practice. For each resource, indicate whether it would be helpful to early childhood professionals, families, or both. Justify your ideas.
- Reference the textbook and your additional resources, summarize your insights.
- Locate three key strategies that might be used to help adults and/or children understand each other’s families with more respect.
For this assignment, you will address all of the components listed above for each of the three family types
Consider the following prompts:
- What insights have you gained this week with regard to specific categories of families that foster your anti-bias work with adults and children?
- What misconceptions or assumptions of yours, if any, were dispelled?
- What resources did you find to be invaluable?
- What qualities and skills do you already possess that might help you to positively support and communicate with every child’s unique family?
