Learning ResourcesRequired ResourcesCourse Text: Diversity in Early Care and Education Chapter 2, "Communicating across Cultures" (pp. 31–32 only) Chapter 4, "A Framework for Understanding D

Learning Resources

Required Resources

• Course Text: Diversity in Early Care and Education
  • Chapter 2, "Communicating across Cultures" (pp. 31–32 only)
  • Chapter 4, "A Framework for Understanding Differences"  
• Course Text: How Culture Shapes Social-Emotional Development
  • Read pp. 13–16, "Exploring and Learning From the Environment" 
• Article: Phillips, C. B., & Cooper, R. M. (1992). Cultural dimensions of feeding relationships.                                                                        In The caregiver's companion: Readings and professional resources - Infants, toddlers, and caregivers (pp. 95–101). Washington, DC: Zero to Three. Reproduced with permission of Zero to Three in the format Scan via Copyright Clearance Center. 
  • Complete the full reading for this week. 
• Article: Gonzalez-Mena, J., & Bhavnagri, N. P. (1992). Cultural differences in sleeping practices.                                                                        In The caregiver's companion: Readings and professional resources—Infants, toddlers, and caregivers (pp. 103–106). Washington, DC: Zero to Three. Reproduced with permission of Zero to Three in the format Scan via Copyright Clearance Center. 
  • Copplication: Understanding Differences in Perspectives on the Care and Education of Infants and Toddlers

As you have been learning, "culture is extremely complex, and people of the same culture are quite different, depending on their individuality, their family, their gender, age, race, ethnicity, abilities, religion, economic level, social status, where they live and where they come from, sexual orientation, educational level, and even appearance, size, and shape!" (Gonzalez-Mena, 2008, p. 5) 

In this Application Assignment, you will have an opportunity to learn more about the complexities of culture, as well as your own system, by interviewing someone who appears to be of the same culture as you. In addition, you will gain insight into this individual's beliefs about the care and education of an infant/toddler in his or her family. The purpose of this assignment is to gain insight into how perspectives can differ even when individuals share a similar cultural background and to build on your growing awareness of the importance of learning directly from families about their values, beliefs, and expectations with regard to caregiving practices for infants and toddlers. 

Download and print the Interview   

   document for instructions and interview questions.Assignment length: 2 pages