Welcoming Families From Around the World

Setting: Child Development Center
The name of “your” family’s country of origin .

Zimbabwe

At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family.

1) Internet research about different lifestyles in Zimbabwe.
2) Research of Family dynamics in Zimbabwe.
3) Contact someone from Zimbabwe that works in the early childhood field.
4) Research dominant culture and minorities in Zimbabwe.
5) Find pictures that display different families from Zimbabwe.

A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family.

I hope that finding out more about different groups of people and families that live in Zimbabwe will help me understand more about the family in general. In addition, it will prevent me from making Microinsults because of not knowing how to approach the families. I would also try to find picture from the area to make my program more inviting for the family. Furthermore, I would try to contact an early childhood professional from Zimbabwe to find out more about what the educational standard is like. I would try to find out more about the dominant culture and the minorities in the area and maybe prepare a traditional welcome.
I believe that all the research and preparation described above will help the family feel more welcome in our program. Nothing is more difficult for a family then leaving their children with someone else. It is important for families to feel that their children are taken care of and accepted in early childhood programs. However, this can be difficult if we do not know anything about the families or their culture. We may offend them or their tradition out of ignorance. Therefore, it is important for early childhood professionals to learn more about all families before and after they enter a program.