Identify and describe some of the challenges that educators may face when working with young children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. In what ways can these challenges be overcome?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Student responses will vary as there are many challenges educators can encounter when working with children and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. First, different cultures may interpret the cause of the child's disability in different ways. Furthermore, the child's family may not place as much emphasis on the need for early intervention as a family from another cultural background. Other possible student responses could include the family's coping strategies and the culture's acceptance of "outsiders" coming in to offer assistance with their child's educational needs. All of these differences among cultural groups must be considered when working with children and families from diverse groups. There are many possible ways to address each of these challenges within the academic setting. Student responses may vary, but it is critical to discuss the importance of teachers and educators being culturally responsive when working with all students, the ability of teachers to be open to new ideas that are different from their own, and the elimination of ethnocentric behaviors displayed by teachers and educators that ostracize individuals from culturally diverse groups and make them feel as though their way of life is odd or atypical.