Assignment Task: As early childhood educators, we must consider how play and the environment will foster positive social interactions and diversity. We will be working with children from all walks of life and from everywhere in the world. Therefore, it is important to consider the environment and ways to include all our children and families while fostering positive social interactions among them. The children may not all speak the same language, so we may need to consider ways of communicating with them, as well as their parents. We must ensure that our environment reflects the diversity within the environment. At the same time, supporting children to have positive social interactions. It is important for the early childhood educator to create an environment where positive social interactions can take place.
Initial Post
For your first post, read the scenario below and reflect on the learning environment. Then, address the following questions.
- How does this space foster positive social interactions among the children?
- What might you do to the space to help foster positive social interactions among the children? Should things be added or changed?
- What might help to get positive conversations flowing?
- How is diversity represented within the environment? Are all the children represented in some way? What are things within the room that depict each child's culture?
- Are parents or family members sometimes involved?
- What should be done about the child that kicked over the other children's block tower creation? Should we ignore this behavior? Why or why not?
Scenario
You walk into a group of 3-4 year olds and you see a small group of children quietly working on worksheets at one table. At another table, a teacher is instructing the children how to make ladybugs. Each child is given exactly the same materials including a red ball, six black dots, and two pipe-cleaner antennae along with six black legs. Everyone is busily working on their project without interacting much with one another.
At one other table, a teacher's assistant is working with the children with beads. She asks each child to collect a certain number of beads in one specific color. While the children do their work, there is little interaction among them. In addition, the environment is relatively stark, with few pictures hanging on the walls, other than animals. No humans of any kind are depicted.
In the blocks area, you observe a child kicking down the tower that two other children are playing with, causing them to shout and cry. The instigator runs away, laughing loudly. When you look at the dramatic play area, you see only baby dolls of Caucasian descent and no other baby dolls. Despite the diversity of the environment, you see only American food cartons represented.