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The transition into formal early learning settings, such as preschool and child care, represents a significant milestone for children and families.This particular paper that I found online, explores the perspectives of 25 Indigenous parents and family members and two caregivers who share and reflect on their transition of the Indigenous children from their home to an early childhood development program in a large urban centre in western Canada. The findings suggest that the transition experiences begin well before Indigenous children and families even join a program. There are multiple factors that facilitate their participation, such as costs, transportation and location. How these parents negotiate their transition is inevitably impacted by their historical experiences with schooling and the place of culture and language in supporting their children and families. As educators, and facilitators of supportive learning programs, we must all come to an understanding that the social, cultural and historical realities that shape the transition experience for Indigenous children and families, must be done with awareness, acknowledgment, empathy and respect.
Reference:
Hare, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Transitions to early childhood education and care for Indigenous children and families in Canada: Historical and Social Realities. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 35(2), 19–27.[Site]. Retrieved June 22, 2021 from https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/10.1177/183693911003500204
Hi Selene,
This is a very interesting area of research. As you’ve mentioned, education isn’t just about instruction and learning, it does involve other factors like costs, transportation, and participation. I am excited to see how you incorporate this idea into your final project!
Thank you Seo-Whi. My final assignment is something I am currently working on diligently and I am excited to incorporate all that my mom had done for her Indigenous students, who came from afarm where some of her very young students lived away from home and family. I grew up being very close with her students as I was always tagging along at my mom’s childcare centre. So I am super grateful to have an opportunity to shine light on vital issues like the Indigenization of schooling in one Vancouver school, where I can share all of the social and economical factors that her students dealt with, on top of all the psychological and emotional factors as well, while honouring a humble educator, who helped hundreds of her Indigenous students for close to 4 decades, my mom 🙂