Early Childhood - SNAICC The rich benefits of traditional methods like this can be extended to all children, by involving singers, dancers, and actors specialising in culturally specific music, movement and drama in ECEC services. The following provocations can be used to stimulate dialogue on cultural diversity and inclusion: Professor Gunilla Dahlberg (2019) recommends a pedagogy of welcoming and hospitality to everyone working in ECE. In subtle and explicit ways Little J & Big Cuz modelled some of the behaviours Keiryn was deliberately trying to develop in the children, especially respectful and empathetic relationships with each other and adults. Tobin, J. The National Education Leader of the Australian Childrens Education and Care Quality Authority, Rhonda Livingstone, explains that cultural competence is the ability to understand, communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures. Jessica has worked in early childhood for fifteen years for a range of service providers in both urban and regional communities. The Wellbeing Framework supports schools to create learning environments that enable students to be healthy, happy, engaged and successful. Though there are still 13 Indigenous languages spoken by children around Australia, they are slowly fading as older generations pass on. Plus, information for parents including how to choose a service and supporting your child for their transition to school. Copyright Early Childhood Australia Inc. 2023, Promoting cultural competence in early childhood. Additionally, during this special period there are many local community events taking place around the Country. Regardless of culture, these are wonderful, powerful values to teach our children. loading essentials, You Here are some suggestions for engaging with local Aboriginal communities: Embed Indigenous culture in your practice. The childrens interest in the joey, led the educators to incorporate further activities about Australias indigenous animals into their education program, as well as the teaching resources relating to habitats and sustainability. More spaces could be added for cultural expression; for example: dramatic play spaces; areas for self-portrait exploration through drawing, painting and crafts; or a designate space for cultural artefacts that celebrate diversity. Childrens books must be diverse, or kids will grow up believing white is superior. Last updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2021. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Teachers can invite families to share drawings, pictures, stories, cuisines and so on, to show how many different lived experiences there are between children in one classroom. The judicious use of digital technology in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings is supported in Outcome 5 of the EYLF and through national guidelines on screen time of up to an hour a day for children aged two to five years. Celebrating culture with all age groups and not only in the pre-school room. Educators at Wulagi Preschool used six Little J & Big Cuz episodes and all of the online games with 40 children aged between three and four years, 13 of whom identified as being Indigenous. We usually talk about sustainability in relation to the environment but its also relevant to the practice of cultural competence and embedding culture in sustainable ways in early childhood services. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Childrens Day is held on 4 August each year. As part of our Quality in Practice series, Jessica Staines, Director of the Koori Curriculum explores National Quality Standard 1.2 and shares ideas on how educators can embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through their program and practice. Teachers must follow protocols for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. have no essentials, {{ firstName }} Additionally, when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources, tools and artefacts are available at a service, ensure they are utilised in play and not used in cultural corners as a display. hXmo6+E@qqAD-24~wG8v}b|G(`Jz&3h^A}RiJ2Yo)7,l-:qL*` aa=`J7fiC[fq1Y`d1cNH#~\ SB]9y((a>dp=\ Our perspectives about most things are informed and shaped by our day-to-day interactions. Ask them what activities they enjoyed most, what teachings meant the most to them, or what other questions they have. The educators commented that the learning resources included questions that helped them guide the discussion with the children as well as lots of ways to incorporate activities to support the viewing of each episode. This is enshrined in both Australia's Education and Care Services National Law and the National Quality Framework. In a recent interview for podcast Mamamia, Aunty Phyllis Marsh, a First Nations Cultural Educator at West Moreton Anglican College in Queensland, discussed how cultivating understanding should start from the earliest age and begins by taking children outside to explore the natural world around them. 8 Aboriginal Ways Of Learning - Aussie Childcare Network It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to receive quality early learning programs, educators need to understand the trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people historically in mainstream institutions and the important steps they need to take to create culturally inclusive environments and build trust. Lessons in cultural competence: 5 ways to embrace cultural diversity in your service. She works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are starting their careers in early childhood. 33(1), 6-21. Resources to help parents teach about Aboriginal culture and history. Queensland educator, JULIE LEE DAVIDSON takes us through the importance of preserving Indigenous languages and suggests ways to incorporate them into early childhood curriculums.Exploring ways for children to learn Indigenous languages helps build awareness . This area is my huge interest to incorporate my teaching strategies and bring cultural competence. For example, when the episodes involved time in Ms Chens classroom, the children would model some of the behaviours of the onscreen children, such as sitting up and crossing their legs. Lamb, C. (2019). Additionally, it's about celebrating culture, education, historical acceptance, race relations and reconciliation. Reconciling strongly held beliefs by parents and teachers takes time, effort and resources. i look forward to reading more of your real and relevant topics. Telling stories without a book or any other props, is an ancient custom that serves the profound purposes of cultural maintenance and connection between generations and homelands. You are urged to read Lambs papers on practical strategies for addressing childrens trauma induced challenging behaviours and learning difficulties. Including a balance of contemporary, traditional, urban, regional and local cultural perspectives. Feedback from the educators included that the teacher resources provided a good starting point for the incorporation of Indigenous perspectives in the preschool curriculum. To what extent is your service a culturally credible place for children, families and staff? The EYLF states that children are effective communicators when they engage with and gain meaning from a range of texts, both print- and screen-based, and when they use information and communication technologies to access information, explore diverse perspectives and make sense of their world. Congratulations, Somayeh. The educators also found that the teaching resources enabled them to consider deeper learning opportunities and to tie in big picture thinking with the cultural aspects of the episode. This learning sequence draws on Aboriginal Pedagogies (ways of learning, thinking, knowing and doing) to explore playbuilding in Stage 5 drama. The article is very interesting and I agree that sometimes educators are not so confident to implement/teach cultural diversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture and Education - Education Thank you for being bold and addressing this topic, bringing to the fore an awareness where there has been a lack of. Sprinkling culture across multiple play spaces instead of creating cultural corners. President Nelson Mandelas statement says it all: There can be no keener revelation of a societys soul than the way in which it treats its children.. The 2019 theme was We Play, We Learn, We Belong. If youre a teacher, incorporating indigenous culture into the classroom is one of the best ways we can start teaching children about these topics at a young age. Educational resources about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander I have been working in the early years sector for over 20 years and have been sharing Aboriginal Culture in Kindergartens, Early Childhood Centres and Primary Schools for 10 years. Having made that effort, what can we do to enable these children to stay and thrive? Aboriginal children : the healing power of cultural identity The educators found that Little J & Big Cuz has the potential to support children through stories that specifically incorporate Indigenous perspectives as well as contribute to the EYLF, given the series emphasis on language and socio-emotional development. What do educators know or not know on the topic? developing collaborative partnerships and learning about places of cultural significance. endstream endobj startxref For the majority of non-Indigenous early childhood educators, the key to authentically engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures is cultural competence, according to the Educators Guide to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). How to Teach Young Children About Indigenous Culture 184 0 obj <> endobj You can incorporate it in small ways like practicing daily gratitude, reading a new book every week, or creating art. By connecting to people or community groups who have knowledge and expertise on living culture, educators can build relationships with these communities and invite them to participate as part of the learning program. In 1990, the Australian parliament ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Specifically, as teachers of young children you can make a difference in promoting peace and harmony in our communities, so that Australia becomes a truly awesome place to live, for all of us! The tools and technologies mentioned were familiar to the children because several of them go camping with their families. Many early childhood educators experience extreme anxiety when it comes to including Aboriginal perspectives in their program. Read the When educators use their cultural competence to building childrens knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing and being, they address Learning Outcome 2 of the EYLFChildren are connected with and contribute to their world. It is hard enough to get refugee families to bring their children into ECEC services. Finding these kinds of resources will not only help you learn, but give you a way to share what you find with your children. Perspectives of children from refugee backgrounds on their family storytelling as a culturally sustaining practice. Early childhood education and Indigenous Australia: what is our Copyright 2020 Aboriginal Culture in Early Years - All Rights Reserved. Aborigines were the first people to inhabit Australia. The television series was integrated into the transition from play to lunchtime. The children loved the witty entertaining stories with moral values. Keiryn discovered informally that children up to the age of 10 enjoyed watching the episodes. Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in early childhood curriculums is a multifaceted approach that includes using Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pedagogies, using children's interests as a vehicle for learning and creating culturally inclusive play spaces. According to Deborah Hoger, Dunghutti woman and early years Indigenous educational resources specialist: Through sustaining the focus on Indigenous Australia throughout the year through activities and excursions, and new books and activities that engage across a range of diverse topics, we can help foster in our children a well-rounded knowledge of Australias First Peoples, and help them to develop a respect for diversity and an understanding and appreciation of cultural difference.. How does your organizational culture promote a sense of belonging at your service? i believe we still have a way to go in this area but feel very excited doing this course and hopefully crossing paths. PDF 1 Outcome 1: Children Have a Strong Sense of Identity - Acecqa Educators are often so worried about doing the wrong thing that they tend to do nothing at all and suffer from a form of analysis paralysis. Sorry, the content of this store can't be seen by a younger audience. Copyright Early Childhood Australia Inc. 2023, Exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Bringing Indigenous Dance into the Primary Classroom. Alonzo Cruz, an MSUM early education major . Read the terminology guide from Narragunnawali on using respectful and inclusive language and terminology. She works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are starting their careers in early childhood. Each episode is accompanied by online resources including games for children, an ebook and suggestions for play-based learning that recognises the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy), and social and emotional development. Second, it is clearly explained that the settings within which the child develops are ever changing, affected by relations and transactions between the settings. Australian educators understanding of cultural expression also seemed one-dimensional. Required fields are marked *. Learn more about Aboriginal Studies and Press and purchase their books from the AIATSIS Shop. Music is a powerful tool for bringing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into our classrooms. It is easy to see how these family storytelling sessions contributed to refugee childrens language learning and the passage of values, traditions and beliefs from one generation to the next. This provides rich opportunities to build a culture of understanding and respect for the environment for all children. @{&.g`D` 0 Keiryn said the educator resources were authentic and resonated with the childrens own experiences. To break the cycle of trauma and violence and create hope and optimism, Lamb says we need to establish culturally credible services which are safe, secure and caring spaces for children and families. /g !$Qi C#k|2CU8>_tvmAK:6mWAiB. The protocols seek to protect the integrity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural expressions in a way in which all Australians can engage respectfully and feel connected to this identity. For educators to support agency they must be aware of the capabilities and interests of the children they work with. Information about NSW public education, including the school finder, high school enrolment, school safety, selective schools and opportunity classes. Learning and development happens rapidly during early childhood, as the brain has higher plasticity. Tune into podcasts such as Educator Yarns. The online games were seen as a useful end-of-day activity that was enjoyed by all the children and provided an oral language opportunity for the learning of new vocabulary. The older children who came into the Yera Childrens Service after school were content to sit with the younger children (a bit like the characters, Little J and Big Cuz) to watch the episodes. You might also try simple and engaging activities like crafts and videos. Amplify! is the essential early and middle childhood education - CELA The effects of these losses of land, culture, Research conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research suggests providing children with opportunities to watch how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families relate to each other, and to non-Indigenous people, can with teacher guidance enable children to reflect on how to see and interact with cultures other than their own. Many educators feel that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history was not taught well during their formal schooling and are now engaging in a process of unlearning and relearning. Unlike migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are forced to flee their country of origin under dire circumstances arising through armed conflict, earthquakes, floods, fire or famine, with no guarantee of return. With deep critical thinking, community conversations and correct protocol, your language music project can engage children in new ways and help connect everyone to culture. First, the impact of interaction between the child and others is seen transactionally, not additively. Do you want me to be with your child or photograph your child? Overall, these teachings help us learn and understand more about topics we encounter every day. endstream endobj 188 0 obj <>stream Additionally, my why is also linked to my understanding of how education is key in Closing the Gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians. If we want to create a society that values diversity, we must start instilling an appreciation for multiculturalism in young children as early as possible. Some ways in which educators could begin are: NAIDOC week is arguably one of the most embraced Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural celebrations within the early childhood community. Children are competent, capable learners when they are fully engaged and supported to participate in meaningful learning experiences that follow their interests. Describing her approach, she said Little kids love to learn, you need to fill their heads with wonder and play.. Cultural competence - We Hear You The power of song: sharing First Nations languages through music Teachers can assist children in learning and respecting different cultures by carefully setting up the classroom environment. The Victorian Government acknowledges Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria and pays respect to their cultures and Elders past, present and emerging. (2020). Parents reported exclusionary practices at EC services that were overtly or covertly discriminatory, and whereby they felt ignored and disrespected by educators (p.8). The purpose of this guide is to help Early Childhood Educators who work with Indigenous children, families, and communities find appropriate and meaningful resources that will increase their ability to provide culturally safe and respectful care. The article shares findings from research and reflects on strategies to support children and families from refugee/migrant backgrounds. . ACECQAs National Education Leader, Rhonda Livingstoneprovides insight into National Quality Framework topics of interest. Exploring the context of your service may include: Visual art and Aboriginal knowledges | Queensland Curriculum and I also believe that embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in early childhood education and care is equally as important for the benefit of non-Indigenous children, regardless of whether there are any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children attending your centre. Promoting cultural competence in early childhood - The Spoke