What is being “Culturally Sensitive” with Infants, Toddlers and Their Families?

1. What is being “Culturally Sensitive” with Infants, Toddlers and Their Families? Who makes the judgments? Should it be up to us to determine? What types of conversations are helpful? Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

2. Creating an Embracing Environment The environment for infants, toddlers and their families Reflects the culture, values and philosophy of the program (are you really inviting?) It “tells” the person walking into the environment what is important and what is valued who is important and who is valued Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

3. The Environment: People Consider the cultural context: Interactions (observations) Experience Education Understanding Abilities Emotional health Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

4. Consider your culture and philosophy The interactions and the physical environment reflects your values and culture, even if you don’t consciously plan it. How you approach an infant and family will give a message about how you value the culture of “the other” and your judgment of what they bring to the relationship. You are giving a message with both your physical space and personal way of being. Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

5. The same is really different. Different children react differently. How much touching, holding and kissing should be noted and shared respecting the cultural an individual context. Knowing what you don’t know is important: It’s more than just family history. It’s more than sensitive listening. Know your own “filters” and “bias.” Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

6. Places that respect infants, toddlers and their families need to have a balance! The needs of all children must be considered, including adaptations for children of varying needs that might be “invisible” to the general public. The needs of families and colleagues you work with need to be considered. Prepare by learning more about different cultures, religions and styles. Examine what you are doing and how you are doing it. Look at your present environment. Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

7. What does it mean to be caring? Sensory aspects of care What does it mean to be “a family”? How does a professional prepare a child for the family? How does a professional prepare a family for the child? When you negotiate with a parent, you are really negotiating with a culture. Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

8. Communication Styles Barriers: what to “call” someone Definition of high emotional words: polite, respect, general rules of behavior Approach: friendly and forward? Waiting or withdrawn? Refusing out of politeness? Touch? Gestures? Physical proximity? Emotional expression Directness of questions, eye contact Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

9. What does it mean to be a “good person?” What are the presenting needs? What goals are important? Independence Dependence Interdependence Whose values are most important? Why? Who sets the value? Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

10. What it means to be responsible Leadership Power Control Authority Assertion of ideas Respect for ideas Insight into the interaction The shared balance – never assume Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

11. Moving beyond “comfort” The 3 R’s: respect, reciprocal and responsive The challenge of judgment and interpretation What makes the work so hard? Cultural norms are internalized There are levels of culture and levels of participation in cultures Bring it to tomorrow What will you do differently? How will you consciously make a difference? Marsha Shigeyo Hawley, Kendall College

12. “Guided by my heritage of a love of beautyand a respect for strength –in search of my mother's garden I found my own.”-Alice Walker Consider culture, heritage, history