ELC News
Lyn Pewtress, Director of the ELC
Celebrating cultural diversity in the ELC
Cultural responsiveness is evident in everyday practice when educators demonstrate an ongoing commitment to developing their own cultural knowledge in a three-way process with children, families and communities.
- The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia p. 23, v2.0, 2022
RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY IN EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE
The newly updated Australian Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which serves as a guiding framework for our early childhood curriculum, frequently addresses the topic of diversity and emphasises the importance of cultural responsiveness.
Respect for diversity and working for equity are highlighted in the EYLF as fundamental principles underpinning early and middle childhood educational practice. These principles aim to support the development of every child’s sense of ‘belonging, being and becoming’.
Here at the Kilvington ELC, we encourage young children to learn about other cultural practices and develop skills in communication and interaction across communities. In the Australian context, a key component of this is also acknowledging and responding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
EMBRACING CULTURAL DIVERSITY
In the early years, we believe it's important to acknowledge that all families have their own traditions, beliefs and cultures, and we should treat each other with respect and dignity, regardless of where we come from or what we believe.
We also design programs which are inclusive of Aboriginal culture and engage in learning experiences with indigenous members and environments to support our understanding.
HOW WE CELEBRATE MULTICULTURALISM IN THE ELC
There are many ways we celebrate and embed multiculturalism within the ELC. Some of these ways include:
- Having group discussions with the children on cultural diversity and acceptance.
- Cooking foods from around the world.
- Incorporating play experiences and resources that reflect diversity and customs.
- Learning simple songs and words in different languages.
Recent examples include celebrating Harmony Day with the whole school, and Pre-Prep groups enjoying French immersion sessions with educator Laure Moisson Vinsonneau.
In addition, we have begun to look forward to the return of our indigenous educator, ‘Aunty Karan’ (Karan Kent), who regularly shares her knowledge about Aboriginal customs and her love of Country with us.
Celebrating multiculturalism also presents a wonderful opportunity to encourage family involvement in their child’s program.
Within the ELC, this could involve inviting parents to share something culturally significant with the group, such as cooking a favorite dish together or bringing in items for show and tell.
For instance, recently, Magnolia mums Cathy and Kate visited the group, sharing their knowledge and customs of Chinese New Year and demonstrating the creation of Chinese lanterns.
Cultural diversity in the Kilvington ELC is about community participation, inclusiveness, celebrating diversity, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
ELC reptile incursion
A slew of slithery, feathery and furry friends came to visit our ELC kids on 12 March as they learned about Australia’s unique and wonderful wildlife. What a fun and memorable experience for their young minds!
