Creating Affirming Environment

           I am imaging my own family child care home. Children are welcome from diverse backgrounds age from 0 to 4 years old. There are 6 significant areas that reflect the learning station. At the library area, there will be favorite books that brought from all the families that are currently enrolled; the books that the children ask me read again and again, the books that support the theme that relates to the curriculum. All books set on the America style shelf. At the dramatically play area, there are dolls from all races, all genders, and the nationalities of the families that are currently enrolled, and the learning materials reflect the theme related to the curriculum. The furniture of dramatically play area is Indian style. In the block area, there are figures of people from our community such as teachers, doctors, librarians, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and fireman/firewoman; there are also materials reflect theme related to the curriculum, such as trains, boats, and cars for the theme of transportation. The furniture of block area is Africa style. At art area, the items that represent diversity families current enrolled will be displayed on the wall, regular learning tools such as papers, paints, glues, scissors, and paintbrushes set on a Asian style shelf. At the quiet/cozy/peace area, there shall be a rock chair and pillows decorated in the European style changed according with seasons. At the music/movement area, there will be various instruments reflecting the culture of families current enrolled. I would ask the families which instrument they would like to introduce/bring or donate to this area. There will be Ipad/CdPlayer/computer for playing cultural music. All families currently enrolled are asked to bring in their family pictures to hang on the wall of the childcare rooms. also, there will be a world map that all families currently enrolled would pin their nations on the map. Other learning area such as playground, inside play area, math area, language area, science area, sensory play area, etc. will be made up in the style of local community. For example, my child care home is located in Atlanta; the equipment and furtnitures for these areas will be reflecting the culture of Atlanta.
       The furniture of each learn area   reflect the diversity of our world. It honors diversity both within and beyond the children's own identity groups. All learning material in each area reflects exploration, discovery, and support the children's play in both emergent and planned activities. The decorations of the room, such as the pictures from the families and items that reflect the culture of the families represent an anti-bias environment that is culturally consistent for the children and families. Physical environment begins with who children are. This culturally consistent environment reflects the children's real lives, families, and communities, and is regardless of their economic class, racial and ethnic, and various family structures.

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). Strategies for working with diverse children: Welcome to an anti-bias learning community. Baltimore, MD: Author