Celebrating diversity in early care and education settings: moving beyond the margins

Abstract

As the USA continues to live up to its historical reputation as a nation of immigrants, early childhood professionals are increasingly faced with the challenge of supporting children and families from diverse cultural milieu. However, to truly celebrate diversity in early childhood settings, early childhood teachers and caregivers must engage in a careful examination of their own cultural biases and assumptions, and be willing to consider differences not as deficient but as potential sources of strength. In short, providing care and education in which all children can thrive requires moving diversity out of the margins of the curriculum, and infusing principles of diversity, equity and social justice into our teaching and our interactions with children and families.

Keywords:

• cultural diversity
• multicultural sensitivity
• early childhood pedagogy
• racial identity

Notes

1. Portions of this manuscript were taken from a keynote address given by the author in November 2007 at the 9th Annual Upper Cape Early Childhood Conference in Bourne, MA.