Creating Affirming Environments

In my family child care home, it is important to represent a variety of cultures, ages, races, and abilities.  Providing a variety of materials will allow for children to make connections to their own life (Laureate Education, 2011). Specifically, I want to make sure that the differences of the children in my care are represented in my home. I want pictures of their families to be visible and work that the children completed to be on the walls. I want the environment of my child care home to be inviting, comfortable, and stimulating. 


In order to do this, the following will be present in my home:

• An inviting entry way with a place to put each child's belongings. There will be a board with a calendar of our learning events, birthdays, and other significant pieces of information. Parents will sign their children in at this location.
• Walls/Decor: Walls will be colorful with posters and other learning materials. There will be photos of families on the walls and work or art that the children completed.
•  Play area: In the play area, I want to include toys for both genders, different races, multiple cultures, and a variety of ability levels. This will include books about different cultures, races, and genders, dolls of different races, puzzles and games for different abilities, dress up materials for both genders, cars with tracks, blocks, legos, dinosaurs, doll house, airplanes, and many other toys that are age appropriate (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). 
• There will be an arts and crafts area that will include play dough, crayons, paper, easels, paint, and other art materials.
• There will be a cozy area that the children will lay on their own individual cot, with a blanket and small pillow for rest time. 
• There will be a fun outdoor area that includes outdoor play toys, sand/water table, and riding toys.
• The curriculum will consist of age appropriate learning activities that fosters cognitive and social development. Circle time will consist of discussions on character traits in which we will discuss similarities and differences. Students will be encouraged to ask questions and share feelings during this time. We will share information related to culture, holidays, and traditions throughout the year. Every child will feel welcome and comfortable expressing who they are!