Page 82 - HBEC4303_flipTest

68  TOPIC 4 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT FOR PRESCHOOLERS
4.4 CREATING AND MANAGING DIVERSITY IN
PRESCHOOL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Diversity is not something that can be taught directly to children. It is, in fact, a continuous approach that parents, teachers and colleagues have to take everyday within and outside the learning environment. Children must experience and see for themselves the different faces, colours, headgears, dresses and ways of eating their friends have.
Diversity in Early Childhood Education
To understand diversity, children must learn about the differences they have and also the differences their friends have. Teachers and caregivers for the young learners are often given the task of providing the children with diverse and multicultural experiences. Although parents continuously choose child care that matches their own view of education and discipline, they basically tend to search for programmes that speak the same language and same religion. But now, many schools and programmes are expected to provide children with experiences outside their own communities, offering opportunities to teach their children to be tolerant, respectful and accepting of differences. The learning centres should provide programmes that allow children to:
(a) Understand their own background;
(b) Understand the background of their friends who are different from them;
(c) See themselves, their families, and communities represented throughout the centre;
(d) Enjoy and appreciate the difference;
(e) Learn that harassment and intolerance are unacceptable;
(f) Be exposed to activities or experiences that destroy stereotypes; and
(g) Understand that there are many ways to overcome differences.
Challenging Stereotyping Thinking
(Adapted from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/ article_view.aspx?ArticleID=548)
Children think in a very simple manner, thus it is easy for them to stereotype. Therefore, caregivers and teachers must support diversity to challenge the childrenÊs stereotyping. Children must be taught to accept:
(a) Gender – boys can become fashion designers and girls can become pilots;
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)