Question

How would you set up a learning environment that honors all children and their families?

Answer 1

Answer:

he early childhood program environment should look and feel welcoming for all children and

should reflect the diverse world in which we live. In addition to being bright, colorful, safe and clean, it

should include children’s artwork and show the diversity of the world through the program’s abundant

supply of age-appropriate toys, dolls, books, magazines, pictures and musical instruments. Because what is

in the environment, as well as what is absent, provides children with essential information about who and

what is important, every effort should be made to create a setting that is rich in possibilities for exploringvariety of family structures, gender roles, and people with a variety of disabilities. The following guidelines

suggest the types of images that are desirable in an early childhood environment in order to create an

inclusive, diverse setting:

 images of the children and their families and/or caregivers as well as images of staff

 images that accurately reflect people’s current daily lives in the United States, including home,

work and recreation

 images of children and adults that represent all groups in the children’s community

 images of all the cultural groups across the United States and in the world

 images that show people of various cultural groups and ages engaged in both similar and

different activities

 images that reflect diversity in gender roles

 images that show diversity in family styles and configurations

 images that depict diversity of abilities and body types