Theoretical Beliefs

Socioeconomic conditions, family structures, cultures, family dynamics, and home languages impact families in numerous ways, including how they engage with other people, how children learn and play, and the traditions and practices that they follow. Everyone should be treated with respect and fairness despite their backgrounds and disabilities. People come from all different walks of life and families teach their children about their cultural values and traditions. Within each family, children are expected to uphold certain mindsets, views, and practices within their cultures.

Our program positively supports these aspects within our setting by incorporating culturally competent strategies as we engage with the children and families (PACER Center, n.d.). These strategies include bringing the children’s primary language into the classroom through labeling of materials and communicating in both their home language and English, incorporating the children’s cultural values and interests into the classroom through materials and activities, and teaching the children respect for others abilities and disabilities through teaching and engagement. Children and families are encouraged to share their cultural values and traditions in the classroom through their interactions in the lessons, activities, and family events in our program (Curenton & Iruka, 2024). Sharing your cultural values with us will help us learn your cultures and practices more effectively and release biases that we may hold in our minds.