Respecting Diversity:

Families enrol their children in early childhood settings for many reasons. Whatever the reason, they want to know that their children are being well cared for, that they are safe and happy; that they are liked and respected and that they are given opportunities to grow and learn through the experiences they encounter each day they are in care.

Families also want to know that their own parenting choices and parenting styles are acknowledged and respected and that there will be continuity between what happens at home and what happens in the early learning setting.

But for many families, what actually happens in child care and why it happens in the way it does can feel like a mystery. And, understanding what learning might be occurring as children participate in the early learning program can sometimes feel like a secret.

Respecting diversity: Articulating early childhood practice will help you identify some ways in which early childhood educators can talk about their practice with families:

• It draws upon the setting’s philosophy and curriculum documents as bases from which educators articulate their practice
• It acknowledges that staff will need support to be able to do this well
• It explains what actually happens in child care and why it happens in the way it does
• Understanding what learning might be occurring as children participate in the early learning program
• Throughout the book, scenarios are presented as examples of everyday practice and the discussion that follows provides information about how teaching, or pedagogy, can be understood and then discussed.

While these are practical guidebooks for educators, they may also be of interest to families and others who work closely with young children.