Understanding and Working with Infants and Toddlers of International Families in Group Care.

Vallery, Arlee

Increasing numbers of families from foreign countries reside temporarily or permanently in the United States. These "international families" are enrolling infants and toddlers in child care programs. In many such programs, the diversity of countries and languages represented presents a challenge for creating an integrated, cohesive group. To learn about and interact with culturally different persons in a nonstereotyped way, service providers are faced with the necessity of adopting a world view. Careful staff planning can enhance the success of multicultural preschool programs. Attention should be given to the following questions: Are all center policies in writing, and are they easily understood by adults with limited comprehension of English? What arrangements can be made to help the non-English-speaking child adjust? What can be done to assist children and staff in understanding and accepting cultural differences in dress, food habits, and religious customs? What support services does the community offer for international students and families? This paper includes suggestions for helping young children adjust, cites publications containing guidelines for promoting multicultural education, lists resources for observing families, and presents a set of problems and solutions to consider in center policy formation. (RH)