Observing Communication

I had the opportunity of observing a child and her mother and a lady at the park. The child was placed in the sand and water area while her mother was sitting on the bench talking with her friend. The focus was totally left off the child and they were just there busily talking. A little while off a cat came by and the child began playing and talking to the cat. Upon pulling the cat on the tail the cat retaliated by scratching the child on her hand. This made her cry out real loud. The mother hurried to her with her friend running along . "What is wrong, Moya?" she yelled. She replied, " the cat scratch me". Her mother replied, "Serve you right , I placed you to play in the sand and not with a stupid cat?" Moya as called by her mother began crying even more as she held down her head and began throwing the sand. Her mother went back and sit on the bench and began talking to her friend once more.
From thus observation, I have realized that this little girl was not given much attention and guidance as she ought to be getting because she looked like a four years old child. I have learned that our children need to be treated with love, they need to feel a sense of belonging. Secondly, they should not be left entirely on their own without proper supervision. Based upon what I have learn this week, the mother could have dealt with the matter in a much calmer and polite manner. Her use of language could have been kinder as well as she could have have sat more closer and guide her child while she spoke with her friend.
The communication interaction that I have observed  have affected the child in a negative manner because the mother insulted the child in a public place that was filled of different children and their families. It was obvious that emotionally the child was hurting as she held her head down. This in turn plays a negative posture on the child's self worth.
From what I have observed, I can state that my approach and interaction with children are totally different.  I always ensure that proper respect is given to children, the language communicated is warm, true and just. Children are not afraid of speaking to me because I create an atmosphere for them to feel free to express themselves openly.I therefore, need to continue being the calm, warm person that I am.

Creating AFfirming Environments

If I were to open my own Family Child Care Home, there would be a number of things that I would do to ensure that proper guidance, warmth and love is dispelled. First, I would ensure that it caters for different families and their beliefs, thus I would ensure that it displays a variety of materials that highlights different cultures so as to exercise and maintain an anti bias environment. Second, ensure that children are sensitized about other people's culture and practice so as to ensure that respect, love and honour is given to all. One way of doing thus is through storytelling. These crucial anti-bias tools introduce children to the love of reading as well as to human differences and similarities (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Third, is to create various play areas that depicts an anti bias free scene which is developmentally appropriate towards children's growth and development as independent individuals. This was strongly emphasized in Adriana's home care for example the area where she had the couch where children went that catered to their emotional needs (Laureate Education, Inc. 2011). Fourth, children must feel safe, loved, and nurtured to develop the basic trust they need for healthy development (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Therefore, the manner in which they are welcomed into my home care has to be outstanding. One way that I deem of doing such is to have different activities for them in the morning for example puppet show, sing along activities, games, manipulative activities for example, colouring, puzzles. Fifth, this aspect is very critical, having pictures displaying different family background. This aspect can be rotated so as to allow everyone to feel a sense of equality. Sixth, maintaining a safe environmental structure both in and outside of my family home care environment.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Welcome to an
anti-bias learning community. Baltimore, MD: Author

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and
ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC).