Creating Affirming Environments

DILLY’S HOME DAYCARE

My Family Child Care Home would reflect the various diversity in the children and their families as well as other cultures that the children may not be aware of, but will no doubt encounter in other public places such as grocery stores, doctor’s office and playgrounds/parks. Children love to see their names and pictures .Therefore upon entering my day care you will see their personal cubby spaces marked with their names and pictures of themselves .This will allow them to know where to place their personal belonging and how to respect other children personal space. Some will be able to read their names; others will use the pictures as a way of identifying their cubby. Above the cubby space will be a sign in book and labels, which is for all visitors to sign in and wear a name tag the next thing you will see is my Parent Bulletin Board. This will be bordered with the children’s art work and includes the schedule, menu, current information about up and coming events that parents/families may want to participate in. My picture and credentials will be posted as well as my CPR/First Aid card, training and workshops certificates. As an early childhood professional I know that children n(and parents )may have separation anxieties ,According to the media segment they may cry, as  Adriana  mentioned(Laureate Education, Inc. 2010), I will allow the parents time with their child  before leaving. I will in no way allow them to “sneak out” realizing this will cause more harm than good. Adriana and Judith both agree that Family Child care home should not be done alone, because we are a community (Laureate Education, Inc. 2010), I will then have my room arranged in the following matter.  My Dramatic Learning Center will have Professional Uniforms to reflect various professions, from traditional to nontraditional. Scrubs will be provided for medical profession, gowns, tuxedos and dress shoes will allow children to dress up for formal occasions. Accessories will also be available Multicultural dolls; dolls with disabilities will be in this center, clothes for the dolls. House Keeping will consist of a refrigerator, microwave, along with a table setting for four ,a high chair ,sink ,cabinets and various types of dishes and empty food containers  provided by the families (for rotation),realizing that all children do not eat the same types of food. It is always fascinating to see what comes in, and listen to the children talk to each other about the types of food they are preparing. My Library Center will have throw pillows and bean bag chairs for comfort. It will also have children’s magazines and various multicultural books .Again Parent donation of magazines and out books is encourage to keep this center interesting and diverse. Because according to our text, “Books are one of the riches resources for helping children meet the anti-bias education goals” (Derman- Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p46). The Manipulative Center consists of a variety of puzzles, Legos, Lincoln logs, board games, lacing cards and various flash cards. Art Center will have multicultural paints, crayons, construction paper, various items for collages such as buttons, cotton balls, beads and yarns paper towel/toilet paper dowels, markers, color pencils glue/paste, magazines to select pictures for collage.  Realizing that children sometimes like to be alone, there is a quiet area within sight which has a throw pillow and some books, where children can relax. Listening Center has headphones, audio read along books in various languages as well as braille .Sand and water play is located outside on the patio along with Music and Movement Center.

Children art work can be seen throughout the center at their eye level with their first name age and date on each picture, as these are rotated Parents take them home and have them for precious keepsakes, realizing the uniqueness in each artwork. As children leave they are required to clean up where they were playing and parents are aware of this upon registering and realize this can be time consuming for the child. I use this time to let the parents know about their child’s day always including something positive in the discussion.

References:
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” (Transcript)