Involving LanguageMinority Parents and Families CulturallySensitive Family Involvement

What can we as educators do?

Know what each parent in your program wants for his/her child
Encourage

parents to ask questions and be honest with their personal goals for their child.

Become clear about your values and goals

Have

a bottom line but be willing to be flexible Be open to learning about cultural differences when assessing the strengths and the needs of families

Build Relationships
Be patient building these relationships takes time but it enhances communication, understanding, and conflict management skills. Ask the client about a practice's history and meaning, if unfamiliar with it Elicit information from the client regarding strongly held family traditions, values, and beliefs, especially child-rearing practices.

Become an effective crossculture communicator

Learn

about communication styles that are different than your own Dont make assumptions Listen carefully Explain the law that regards a particular cultural practice as abuse

Use problem solving rather than power to approach problems Be flexible Negotiate Share power Avoid judgments and decisionmaking resulting from biases, myths, or stereotypes

Commit yourself to education

Educate

yourself and families Lack of understanding leads to conflict

Works Cited

Morrison, George S. "Observation and Assessment for Teaching and Learning." Early Childhood Education Today. 12th ed. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill, 1976. Print. "Appendix K: Cultural Sensitivity When Working with Families." Child welfare Information Gateway. Children's Bureau. Office on Child Abuse and Neglect., 2010. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. Stark , Deborah R., and Shannon Moodie. National Association for the Education of Young Children | NAEYC. N.p., 2009. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.