Welcoming Families From Around the World

I know about different families and their cultures, but I have never taken the time to study a family and their actual rituals. I would be sure to use letters, e-mail, and in person events to connect families to their child’s school life. Hopefully this will start a pattern of involvement that will benefit the children for years to come. Upon enrolling a family from a different country let’s say China, I would speak to the parents one on one before they start, and just get them to share some information about their country. One question I love asking is how much of a difference is their country from ours. I would also ask them about the food their child likes to eat, and if any of our food would be similar to what they are used to having at home. I do not think I will try to imitate what they do at home in my center only because I have known real knowledge of what I am doing, and do not want to offend anyone. When you take the time to get to know all of the families in your classroom, you are better able to keep the lines of positive communication open. Family members must see that you enjoy teaching and caring for their children. It’s part of the product that we’re providing to the children in our care.

This week’s topic is a great one, because I have a young girl from Vietnam who just started at my center, and her family was worried about her being at our center since this was her first daycare center in the US. I had a conversation with her mother, and she did not want us to go out of our way to make her feel “at home. She said her reason for sending her to daycare was so she could get adjusted to the American life style. Often times we want to try to help families out with their culture, but sometimes they just want that to stay within their family and homes.