Activity 1.2 | Cultural Spaces

In your journal, write about some of your experiences with newcomer families. 

Consider as you reflect on these experiences:

• What did you learn?
• What resources have you found to support children from different cultures? 
• Do you have a collection of storybooks? 

Family Diversity

No two families are alike. A few families may be like the 1950s stereotype of a mother, father, two children, grandparents and other relatives who visit on the weekend, a single-family home with a yard to play in, maybe Mom even stays home. But generally, we know that is not today’s reality.

A family may be a father and daughter living in a small apartment. It may be two moms who both work full-time. It may be blended with five children with several parents. It may be multi-generational with grandparents who live in another part of the house or a young mom receiving support from her own mother. Children in our care will have different ideas about the meaning of family. 

Take some time to return to your journal entry and draw, sketch or describe a few versions of families that you work with. 

What commonalities do you see in your drawings?