1. Sometimes a family expresses a strong preference or acts in a way that you feel conflicts with what's best for the child and consistent with developmentally appropriate practice. When this happens, you should take the opportunity to find out more about the other person's perspective. The preliminary conversation may bring to light some cultural differences,and you may feel out of your depth. But also know that the family may feel lost or confused by the differences in how you view children. what you need to keep in mind when you encounter cultural differences is this: when a family behavior or preference seems to be at odds with developmentally appropriate practice, do not jump to negative judgments.
2. Culture is deeply rooted and highly complex, and teachers cannot have a detailed understanding of every culture they encounter through the children and families they serve. More importantly, teachers cannot know how different cultures and expectations will interact, or what form the cultural norms take for each individual or family.
3. Hitting a cultural bump means you first need to learn more about the family and their culture. You can do this by observing the family members interacting with their children. You can listen to their expectations for their child's behavior and interaction with adults and peers and try to come to an understanding of the family's beliefs about children and childrearing. Then, take some time to comment (with no judgment implied ) on what you see, and talk to the family about your
4. Concept of child development as well as the teaching and care practices used in the program.
Families will want to know that what their children will learn in the early childhood program is in harmony with their values. Aiming for harmony between program and home can come about through culturally responsive practices. Cultural responsiveness can be compared to music, where notes that are harmonious aren't the exact same notes, but they do go together. The point is to avoid driving a wedge between children and their families by continuing with practices that aren't mutually agreeable.
5 To create harmony even in the face of differing practices, it is important to move away from viewing contrasting practices as right or wrong, instead thinking of them simply as different. This change in perspective doesn't mean that "anything goes." Nor does the change mean that you should abandon your commitment to good practice. Remember, just because it's cultural doesn't always mean it's good for children. First, you must first seek to understand the family's perspective and the identity issues involved, and then you can better judge what's actually harmful or beneficial for the particular child. Obviously, even while being open to accepting cultural differences as valid and right, you must consider the nonnegotiable legal and ethical boundaries involved in caring for children.
6 So when your professional knowledge about what children need is in contrast with the practice of a particular family or individual, the solution lies in communicating about the differences. Together everyone involved can figure out what to do about those differences, as Jamal's family and teacher did with their shower cap solution. Professional knowledge is valuable, but there is always room to expand on it. The goal, unless a family sees it differently, is to keep children safe, trusting, developing, growing, and connected to their culture while also learning how to operate in the world outside it.