1. WestEd.org Infant & Toddler Group Care Self-Awareness & Cultural Perceptions

2. WestEd.org Learning Objectives Participants will be able to: Examine their own cultural beliefs. Discuss caregiving practices that may be subject to cultural conflicts between the teacher and parent. Implement the culturally responsive caregiving process of acknowledge, ask, and adapt when negotiating cultural conflicts.

3. WestEd.org Ground Rules What behaviors do you think are respectful in the training setting? How can we ensure that we and others maintain dignity and self-respect? What ground rules can we agree upon for this session?

4. WestEd.org Revisiting Handout #20: Defining a Cultural Context Pull out your completed Handout #20 from the prior session. In small groups, discuss the following: What are similarities and differences among group members? Identify the values underlying particular practices. Reflect on how these values influence one’s present beliefs and actions.

5. WestEd.org Essential Connections: Key 6 – Uncover Your Cultural Beliefs Essential Connections: Ten Keys to Culturally Sensitive Child Care, 1993.

6. WestEd.org Large Group Discussion: After watching the video clip, do you have any further thoughts about either your or other group members’ responses to Handout #20?

7. WestEd.org Essential Connections: Key 7 – Be Open to the Perspectives of Others Essential Connections: Ten Keys to Culturally Sensitive Child Care, 1993.

8. WestEd.org Dyad Discussion: Reflect on a past cultural difference in caregiving beliefs or practices that really surprised or upset you. Share this experience with a partner.

9. WestEd.org Essential Connections: Key 8 – Seek Out Cultural and Family Information Essential Connections: Ten Keys to Culturally Sensitive Child Care, 1993.

10. WestEd.org Small Group Discussion: What format/process do you use to gather initial family information? How often is the information updated? What if something new comes up? How do you seek the family’s perspective?

11. WestEd.org Essential Connections: Key 9 – Clarify Values Essential Connections: Ten Keys to Culturally Sensitive Child Care, 1993

12. WestEd.org Dyad or Small Group Discussion: Clarifying Values Clarify expectation of parent and teacher. Teacher needs to respect parent’s perspective. Need to have a true dialogue/partnership with parent. Together, parent and teacher determine what is best for the child.

13. WestEd.org Essential Connections: Key 10 – Negotiate Cultural Conflicts Essential Connections: Ten Keys to Culturally Sensitive Child Care, 1993.

14. WestEd.org Define Terms: Culturally repressive: Behavior shows no recognition of the validity of a different belief or practice, and there is no desire to discuss the difference. Culturally responsive: Behavior acknowledges differences with respect; there is a desire to gain understanding and a resolution, if needed.

15. WestEd.org The Steps for Culturally Responsive Care Step 1: Acknowledge differences. Recognize the existence of different cultural assumptions. Step 2: Ask for information. Get information about the parent’s and your cultural values and beliefs so you can solve the problem together. Step 3: Adapt through negotiation. Use information gathered to resolve conflicts caused by cultural differences and find the most effective way to support each child’s growth. Developing Culturally Responsive Caregiving Practices: Acknowledge, Ask and Adapt, Louise Derman-Sparks

16. WestEd.org Activity: Handout #37, Assessing Cultural Responsiveness Scenario #1: A Baby is Crying Read the situation and each response, along with the rating for each response in the article. How would you rate each response -- repressive or responsive? Compare your rating with the one in the article. Discuss your rating with a partner. Developing Culturally Responsive Caregiving Practices: Acknowledge, Ask and Adapt, Louise Derman- Sparks

17. WestEd.org Activity: Is it a developmental issue, or a cultural difference? Scenario: A toddler refuses to use a spoon. With a partner, outline the steps you will take to determine if the reason the toddler refuses to use a spoon is a cultural difference or a developmental issue.

18. WestEd.org Skills Needed to Become Culturally Responsive to Families: Being able to name our values and beliefs. Listening to or being willing to learn from others. Gathering information Communicating and creating dialogues Collaborating and negotiating

19. WestEd.org Remember: being culturally responsive is an ongoing process. Every new situation, new child and family, new child care setting, requires that you use the responsive process of Acknowledge, Ask and Adapt.

20. WestEd.org Revisit the Learning Objectives Participants will be able to: Examine their own cultural beliefs. Discuss caregiving practices that may be subject to cultural conflicts between the teacher and parent. Implement the culturally responsive caregiving process of acknowledge, ask, and adapt when negotiating cultural conflicts.