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Activity 1.4 | Considering your own understanding of children, families and educators

Images of Children

Reflecting on Images of Children

After exploring the Early Learning Framework and Indigenous Principles of Learning, consider: 

  • What image of the child they have? 
  • How does this influence your viewpoint of inclusion? 
Take some time to read "Independence or Interdependence" reprinted with permission from the Child Care Information Exchange and shared by Janet Gonzalez-Mena (n.d.), then connect to the following questions as you write in your journal:  

  1. How might independence and interdependence be intertwined? 
  2. When we help a child with their coat, we have an opportunity for one on one time with them. How might that help our relationship with that child? 

Gonzalez-Mena (1997) believes that the difference between families' and educators' perspectives on whether children need help can be cultural and how each adult sees children’s need to be dependent or independent of others. It is important to be aware of how families view dependence and independence for themselves and their children.

What is your program's policy on self-help skills, and why did your program decide on your policy? How might you revisit and alter your program’s policies? How might educators respond to a family that supports their child differently from their own? 

Reference

Gonzalez-Mena, J. (1997). Understanding the parent’s perspective: Independence or interdependence. Child Care Information Exchange, 9(97), 61–63. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1342gJsi15WFyEsym1i-eKAf5Bll00zE6G5Yophor7lo/edit?tab=t.0