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Activity 2.4 | Attitude of Care and Inclusion

Site: RRU Open Educational Resources
Course: Connecting Deeply for an Inclusive ECE Environment
Book: Activity 2.4 | Attitude of Care and Inclusion
Printed by: Guest user
Date: Sunday, 11 May 2025, 6:06 PM

Table of contents

Being cared for

We all know when we are being cared for and about. 

As C. G. Murray in her book Illuminating Care (2021) says, “Care is an attitude through which we show our support for the child’s growth, health and protection by our response, attention, tone and presence” (p. 7). It works well with a mindset of yes. We must consider how to encourage everyone to feel comfortable and safe.  

When we welcome children and families, we welcome each child and each family, and sometimes this can be challenging. We all would like to have a group of children who listen, respond and get along well with everyone, but there are no perfect children (or adults).  

Read the scenarios as you move through this activity and think how you might approach them with a caring attitude and mindset of yes, which is a mindset that finds ways to support children and problem-solve around obstacles. This is easier with a team approach, with everyone thinking together and working together on the issue.  

References

Murray, C. G. (2021). Illuminating care: The pedagogy and practice of care in early childhood communities. Exchange Press. 

Free webinar by C. Murray (2021) The pedagogy and practice of care. 

Scenario One: Biting

You have a child who bites other children. What are some strategies you might try? 

  1. Shadowing this child to prevent the biting by intervening quickly.
  2. Analysing with your staff what seems to be the trigger.
  3. Work to help them make friends and play. 
  4. Share with the parent what you are trying and reassuring them biting does happen and you are doing all you can to help the child find other strategies.

Scenario Two: Expressing Strongly

You have a child who is expressing strongly by screaming when having to change activities, so you try some different strategies:
 

  1. Simplify your schedule so that having to change activities is minimized.

  1. Make a chart of the day’s activities–to help the child orient themself in the day and use it to warn them of upcoming shifts in activities.

  1. Let them move at their own pace and have staff who can keep an eye out for the child while being with other children.

  1. Have a puppet or stuffy friend who can accompany the child at difficult moments.

  1. You share with other children that some of us have a hard time leaving one thing to go to another.


Scenario Three: Mobility

You have a child with mobility issues. You want to be sure this child can navigate your space easily. What strategies do you implement? 

  1. Make plans with your staff before this child arrives and problem-solve.

  1. Include the family in planning as they will have suggestions.

  1. Reach out to local groups which may specialize in this particular issue.


Policy barriers

To support a culture of care and inclusion we can cultivate our curiosity and listening skills. 

Why is a child doing what they are doing? What triggered it? What are they trying to tell us? How might we modify our space, schedules or attitude to help this child? We have talked about a mindset that is flexible and open. Can we hold on to this mindset and be curious? 

We are in a practice that cares for and about children. When we care we see the full humanity of a person and respond to each person as an individual. We all know how we feel when we are cared for. Usually, we feel safe, we can make a mistake and it is okay. Children need to feel safe and cared for. That is our challenge! We must find out how best to care for each child and each family. We have to be curious to understand their situation and we can use a welcoming mindset.   

Take some time to look at your policies. Often policies were done in the past and have not been looked at again, but it is worthwhile to look at your policies and ask yourself if a policy is a barrier for a family or sends a message of exclusion. Read the US Department of Education's National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (2024) Developing a Child Guidance Policy for inspiration.

Reference

National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations. (2024). Developing a Child Guidance Policy. https://challengingbehavior.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/developing_a_child_guidance_policy.pdf