Creating Affirming Environments

 

If I opened my own Family Child Care Home, I would want it to look warm and inviting. I would want a lot of bright colors so children would feel happy and safe, and so it would look like a happy and fun place to be. I want my environment to encourage diversity, exploration, discovery, and play (Sparks & Edwards, 2020).

One element I would include is a variety of children’s books. I want to include books that I liked as a child, books pertaining to children’s interests, and books that include a variety of genders, families, occupations, and physical characteristics (Sparks & Edwards, 2020). This will help children find books they like and will also help them to see themselves and others like them reflected in the books.

Another element I would include is art materials. I loved to draw and color when I was a child. My own children color every night while I am making dinner. The children in my classroom love to color and draw during choice time and indoor recess time. I would include crayons, markers, colored pencils, paints, coloring books, and colored paper. I would also include playdough, putty, and stickers. These art supplies would give children the opportunity to create and use their imaginations.

The next element I would include is toys, dolls, and dramatic play materials. I would include dolls that are diverse in terms of race, gender, clothing, appearance, and ability (Sparks & Edwards, 2020). Children would see and be able to play with dolls that look like them. I would include toys that are appropriate for boys and girls so they could play together and with what they want- puzzles, blocks, cars, trucks, dinosaurs, barbies, little people toy sets, and games. The dramatic play materials could include costumes, cooking sets, a play kitchen, and other materials that reflect caring for families, diversity, and the home lives of children (Sparks & Edwards, 2020).

Finally, I would include academic elements such as manipulatives and posters showing numbers, the alphabet, colors, shapes, and emotions. These academic elements will help children learn and develop. They will also create a visually appealing environment.

To ensure every child and family feels welcome and respected, I would have a positive affirmations poster, something like this:

Always Remember: You belong here. You matter. You are worth it. You can do anything. You are important. You are loved. You have a voice. You are doing great. I believe in you.

 I would have this displayed in the entry way that way it would be the first thing families and children would see. I would also greet each child and family every morning at drop off time. I greet my students in my own classroom at the door every morning. This is a way to show them that I am excited they are there. It is also a way top check in and build a community (Walden University, 2011). I would also keep an open line of communication with families. I want them to know that I care about them and their children.

I enjoyed Adriana’s tour of her childcare home.  One idea I would like to utilize is the family culture display. This is a great way to focus on one child and their family each month. I am sure it makes the child and family feel so special. I could do something similar in my own classroom by having a student of the month. I could have the student complete a poster about themselves, bring in pictures, and bring in objects that tell about themselves and their family. I could display this at the front of the classroom for the month, giving each student a chance to be in the spotlight.

Creating my environment in this way I envision it will “make it clear that all children, their families, and all forms of diversity are welcome” (Sparks & Edwards, 2020, p. 43). It will also be an environment that is bright, warm, and welcoming to children and their families.

References

Sparks, L. D., & Edwards, J. O. (2020). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves (2^nd ed.). NAEYC.

Walden University, LLC. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Welcome to an anti-bias learning community. [Video file].