“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is: Positive educator to child interactions.
Element 5.1.1: Responsive and meaningful interactions build trusting relationships which engage and support each child to feel secure, confident and included.
What strategies does your service use to gather information about the histories, religions, cultures, languages, traditions, spiritual beliefs, child-rearing practices and lifestyle choices of families using the service?
When children are encouraged to explore their cultural, social, gender, and linguistic identities, they develop a strengthened sense of belonging which fosters their self-esteem. This self-esteem is essential for shaping their identity and is crucial for helping children recognise their strengths, capabilities, and interests.
Services should ensure that information about the needs and cultures of individual children and their families is maintained and is current to foster respectful, reciprocal, nurturing, positive relationships and supports children to experience a strong sense of belonging.
Review what strategies your service currently implements and consider what improvements can be made. Do these strategies foster trust, respect, and open communication, ensuring the service can create inclusive environments that honour and celebrate the diversity of children and their families?
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- Child information form at enrolment: a comprehensive yet sensitive form that invites families to share details about their cultural background, languages spoken at home, religious practices, traditions, and parenting preferences. Include optional open-ended questions to allow families to elaborate on their values and lifestyle choices.
- Verbal discussions with families about their child’s background, family traditions, and any specific cultural or spiritual practices they wish to share. Use open-ended questioning to encourage sharing in a relaxed setting, during the orientation process and throughout enrolment.
- Family surveys: Distribute periodic surveys (paper or digital) to gather updated information about families’ preferences, such as dietary restrictions, holiday observances, or changes in child-rearing practices. Ensure surveys are available in multiple languages, accessible formats and based on family’s individual preferences for receiving information.
- Family profiles: Invite families to create a visual or written “family profile” (e.g., a poster or digital slide) to share their heritage, languages, celebrations, or special traditions. Display these in a communal area to celebrate diversity and encourage meaningful discussion.
- Create opportunities for children to share stories, songs, or objects from home that reflect their family’s culture or traditions. Use these as talking points with families to learn more about their backgrounds.
- Invite families to suggest cultural, religious, or traditional events to include in the service calendar, showing respect for their individual practices by incorporating them into the program whilst fostering a strengthened sense of belonging in children.
- Cultural sharing days: Organise events where families are invited to share aspects of their culture, such as traditional stories, songs, foods, or celebrations. These events can provide insights into family traditions and foster a sense of community.
- Documenting information obtained from children during informal discussions/interactions about their individual preferences, needs, traditions and cultural practices.
Resources:
Guide to the NQF: Element 5.1.: Positive educator to child interactions
The Early Education Show- Element 5.1.1: Positive educator to child interactions.
Within System7 go to Quality Area 5/ Module 1 to submit self-assessment notes and if required, open a QIP issue if you identify any areas of improvement.
The Childcare Centre Desktop has a range of resources to assist services with positive interactions including: Interactions with Children, Families and Staff Policy, All About Me-Child Introduction Form, Philosophy Development and Review Procedure, Family Surveys, Behaviour Guidance forms and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 5/5.1.1: Positive educator to child interactions
National Regulations – 155, 156 & 168 (2) (j)
System7 Module – QA 5/ Module 1
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