Adapted from Janet Gonzalez-Mena and Navaz Bhavnagri these questions are helpful for providers to self reflect when struggling with a family’s practice, that is different than their own.
This reading from the Head Start Early Childhood Learning and and Knowledge Center for Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness revisits the Multicultural Principles handbook from 1991. It provides updated research and information on key points including:
- Culture has an influence on the beliefs and behaviors of everyone.
- Culture is passed from generation to generation.
- Culture is dynamic and changes according to the contemporary environment.
- Home language is a key component of children’s identity formation.
- Successful programs respect and incorporate the cultures of children and families.
The first principle is “Every individual is rooted in culture”. To view all of the updated principles visit ECLKC.
This resource offers tips for choosing culturally responsive books for children and how to check for stereotyping and bias. There is a worksheet included that can be used when evaluating a children’s book and links to other helpful resources. Check out the Head Start National Center on Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness for more information and resources.
Selecting Culturally Appropriate Books Resource
This new blog post from NAEYC raises some important considerations for what developmentally appropriate practice means in different contexts around the world. Stephanie Olmore raises some important questions about differences and similarities in what development means and looks like in different cultures.
