Welcoming an Indonesian Family

“As an early childhood professional you will encounter children from diverse backgrounds whose families may have come from many different countries.”

I will like to welcome a family from Indonesia into my childcare center. My mission is to make sure that the family feels comfortable and welcomed as they enter into their new educational journey. I know nothing about this culture; however, I am preparing myself to welcome the child and her family, so that they feel respected and included. Luckily for me, I am enrolled in a course about diversity and I have learned that in order to support families who have immigrated, I need to know more than surface facts about their country of origin.

My Preparation

First, I will prepare myself to be receptive to the things that are new and/or different from me. However, remaining unbiased and opened minded that the family may not share similar customs or remedies.  

2^nd, communication is key; therefore, I will conduct a research on language in order to prepare whether or not I will need a translator to adequately conduct the meeting between the family and myself.

3^rd, I will ask relevant questions in regards to the family’s culture, values, and/or beliefs (pertaining to their educational desires for their child).

4^th, I will ask the family to state their expectations, so that I will be aware of what the family expects from my center, and the different type of learning techniques that the family may believe will help their child to learn.

5^th, after obtaining needed information about the child and her family, I will discover if the family is willing to be partakers (family participation) in their child’s learning process. And if so, I will discover ways to include the family without being too pushy or demanding.

I am expecting that these preparations will benefit both me and the family in order to work together to ensure that their child is receiving high quality education. I hope that a relationship and trust will be formed, in order to continue to partner together to make certain that the family’s educational needs are met and that the child and her family feel important, visible, and respected.