Multicultural Practices Betsy Ayankoya

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Multicultural PracticesBetsy Ayankoya
Christina KasprzakFrank Porter Graham Child
Development InstituteAugust 2005

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Culturally Appropriate Practices

Age Appropriate Based on the knowledge of
typical development of children
Socio-Cultural Appropriateness Based on
knowledge of the cultural and societal
environment in which the child and family live
Individually Appropriate Based on knowledge of
individual childs growth patterns, strengths,
interests and experiences

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Myths about Multicultural Practices
MYTH 1 Multicultural practices emphasize how
other cultures are different from the dominant
culture. MYTH 2 Bilingualism is a liability.
MYTH 3 Multicultural practices are only
relevant in environments with children from
diverse cultural and linguistic
backgrounds. MYTH 4 Random and sporadic
cultural activities make good multicultural
practices
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5 Primary Goals of Multicultural Practices

• To teach children to respect others cultures and
  values as well as their own 
• To help all children learn to function
  successfully in a multicultural and multiracial
  society
• To develop a positive self-concept in those
  children who are most affected by racism
• To help all children experience in positive ways
  both their differences and their similarities
• To allow children to experience people of diverse
  cultures

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Benefits of a Diversity Rich Environment

• It helps children develop their ideas about
• themselves and others
• It creates conditions for the child to initiate
• conversations about differences
• It provides adults with a setting for
  introducing
• activities about diversity

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• Getting Started Exploring Cultures
• Learn about your own culture -- beliefs, values
  and attitudes
• Build partnerships with families
•   Learn about the culture of the
  children/families your serve

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Getting Started Assessing Programs

• Mission, values and beliefs
• Resources
• Staffing
• Environment
• Family involvement
• Policies

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Getting Started Assessing Practices

• Activities
• Materials/Resources
• Environment
• Family involvement
• Interactions with children/families