Considering Culturally Sustainable Environments

In their third Loose Parts book, Lisa Daly and Miriam Beloglovsky consider how loose parts can be used in a culturally sustainable way. They write:

“It is the responsibility of early childhood educators to create indoor and outdoor environments that let children know they belong and are valued…Culturally sustainable environments empower children to think critically as they share their ideas and actively participate in decision making…Loose parts are materials that clearly represent and embrace the diverse culture found in early childhood programs…The open-ended qualities of the loose parts allow children to recreate and represent their cultures and home languages in a variety of ways.”

The new professional development film, Reflecting on Anti-Bias Education in Practice: The Early Years, available for free download, provides much food-for-thought about creating environments that meet the anti-bias goals of identity, diversity, justice and action. Exchange partnered with the producers of the film, Debbie LeeKeenan and John Nimmo, to develop a low cost DVD and guidebook for those who would like that option.

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.

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