Diversity: Support for Children and Families

Assignment:  You are working in an early childhood setting of your choice—a hospital, a child care center, a social service agency. You receive word that the child of a family who has recently emigrated from a country you know nothing about will join your group soon. You want to prepare yourself to welcome the child and her family. Luckily, you are enrolled in a course about diversity and have learned that in order to support families who have immigrated you need to know more than surface facts about their country of origin.

In order to complete this assignment, first choose a country you know nothing about as this family’s country of origin.

The name of “your” family’s country of origin

At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family

A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family

Response:

Given the task of making up a “family origin” not of my own.  I would like to truly adventure into my diverse “family origin,” as there are many aspects of who I am, that I am not familiar with, such as my ancestors’ roots, traditions, and so forth.  As ethos pass generational cultures become dynamic.  Adapting to society and the eras of time.  Changing and replacing certain traditions or views, and more.  So with all those factors, I am going to dive into an individual who has an Irish “family origin.”  Part of my roots were established with these same origins, so the interest is indeed rich.

The name “Collins” has been changed through the many eras of time.  The families name has been transcribed incorrectly many times, thus changing the spelling of the family’s original name.  Collins considered a surname, has spawn off the follow; Collin, Collinson, Colling, Collings, and Collinge.  The origin’s meaning of the name would refer to ‘son of Nicholas’, which has Anglo-Saxon decent.  Roots to this family can be found linked to Ireland, Scotland, and Wales during medieval times.  For example many medieval manuscripts through the Celtic countries had records with this family name on it.  Two records were found dating back to 1273, in the “Hundred Rolls.”  Colinus de Newill of Linconshire, England and William filius Colini of County Yorkshire.  Record also dates roots back to a “Poll Tax” collect of a Johannes Colinson, while riding west of Yorkshire, in year 1379.  The Collins also can be traced back to a Sept (clan or group) referred to as O’Cuilleain, which settled west of Cork.  Establishing a family coat of arms, as this was part of their value.  Staking their land with their mark.  Pride of the land passed down and fought for.  As the families would eventually migrate further west to America.  The family would establish itself up north where the opportunity for prosperity was promised and able.  As America grew and expanded so did the family.  Continuing to develop off-spring, marriage other cultures and more, that contributes to the changing of long-lost roots or traditions. (www.ancestory.com) 

The traditions that are still dominant in this culture is the Catholic practice, the cuisines, and the character traits, such as red hair, freckles, fair skin, and more.  The holiday of St. Patrick’s Day is still very important and practiced.  The traditions of using bagpipes at festivals and celebrations for music, the dance jig, and know for brewing and making stout.  Family units are of the mainstream culture, man and woman, with children.  Family in general is valued very high.  Many siblings will grow up living beside each other.  Children are allowed to be children and enjoy the wonders of childhood, verses constant discipline. 

The ways I will prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this child and family, I would begin with self-reflection and any hidden bias I have established on this culture.  If there is any present, then I need to address them, if none then I can move forward to the next step in preparing to work with this family.  Following addressing my personal issues, I will begin to become knowledgeable on the culture of Ireland, or individuals with Irish roots.  Research the web or find local Irish families willing to enlighten my curiosity and interest.  Attend any cultural events that may be offered in your state or area you can travel that is related to the Irish culture.  Becoming educated in multicultural experience and knowledge one can gain a means to bond to one another.  Five ways or “…dimensions of multicultural education: content integration, knowledge construction, prejudice reduction, equity pedagogy and empowering school culture and social structure” (Miranda, 2010, p 221).  I would also try and local other families of this culture to create an alliance to say.  There are many other options and ways we can work with others insight of our differences or lack of knowledge. 

In preparing for this family or other families of different culture, I hope that not only I personally can gain knowledge and experience but create an experience they can remember or take from.  Showing that we can overcome differences one step at a time, can lead to making leaps.  If we can make an impact on another’s life, what impact will they make as well?  Creating an environment that welcomes someone can make a lifelong impact. 

References

 Miranda, E. (2010). Going global in Arlington, Virginia. Journal of Education for Sustainable            Development 4(2), 219-226.

www.ancestory.com