QuoteReplyTopic: Hair Education for daycare centers Posted: January 12 2000 at 6:54am
> Hi,> I am currently studying to be a Preschool teacher> through a Community college that has an on site> daycare training facility, Although I am a student -> teacher in training at this program, I have concerns> that this program does not have enough information> about dealing, with hair issues that arise when> dealing with Afro-American children. I recently> volunteered myself to hold an in class disscusion on> about the difference between African - American hair> and how teachers and staff can understand the> differences in our hair and how to deal with it ...> I'm this presentation discussion for friday ... and> I'm looking for help in addressing this issue. As an> African - American Women I well know and understand> the sensitivity of 'The Hair' subject in our community> but I really feel strongly about this topic I feel> that something needs to be done when children are> being made fun of because they don't wash their hair> every day, when little girls who get their hair> pressed are forbbiden to participate in water or sand> play and the daycare teachers don't understand why, or> when a little girl asks a teacher to take down a corn> row that is surrounded by whitehead bumps and the> parent threatens to sue. I feel that daycare centers> who have African American Children in attendence> really need to the right ways to address these issues> but I need help in who to present this issue without> offending anyone in my community and making the center> understand the differences and the beauty that our> hair represents. Please respond...> need help ...I don't have a way of really helping you but please tell the kids they are all beautiful and that there is no such thing as good hair or bad hair....
Hi Tamara :)I just want to say I think it's great you are addressing this issue and attempting to bring it to a larger audience. I am not sure how I can help you, but I've been a preschool/daycare teacher for over eleven years now. In those eleven years I've learned so much how to address certain sensitive issues to parents and it's not always an easy thing to do, but we've never addressed the subject of hair. In my particular classroom, most of the children are multi cultural (most are Afro American) and we talk about what makes each one special. For instance, we'll sit in a circle and I might say "so and so and so and so have different color skin and different hair, but that is what makes each one of us special. We might look different on the outside, but we are all the same inside and need to treat each other with love and respect". Something like that. Now, I will repeat, I've never addressed the subject of hair to a parent but what might help get the message across to the parent is something like this: "I just wanted you to know, that today Samantha came over to me and told me one of the cornrows on her head were hurting her. I looked at it and noticed some bumps around the cornrow. Just wanted to make you aware of it". When it comes to addressing sensitive issues like their children's hair to parents (or any sensitive issue), what helps is presenting it from the child's viewpoint rather than your's. Tell them the child came over to you and said such and such. Also, you might want to look into reading or purchasing some children's books written from a child's perspective of Afro-American hair. I heard about a few really good ones, but forgot the names of them. If you want, I can try to find the titles and let you know okay? If you have anymore questions, please let me know. I will be more than happy to help if I can.Maria :)Related Link:Maria In Mass
Hi,I am currently studying to be a Preschool teacher through a Community college that has an on site daycare training facility, Although I am a student - teacher in training at this program, I have concerns that this program does not have enough information about dealing, with hair issues that arise when dealing with Afro-American children. I recently volunteered myself to hold an in class disscusion on about the difference between African - American hair and how teachers and staff can understand the differences in our hair and how to deal with it ... I'm this presentation discussion for friday ... and I'm looking for help in addressing this issue. As an African - American Women I well know and understand the sensitivity of 'The Hair' subject in our community but I really feel strongly about this topic I feel that something needs to be done when children are being made fun of because they don't wash their hair every day, when little girls who get their hair pressed are forbbiden to participate in water or sand play and the daycare teachers don't understand why, or when a little girl asks a teacher to take down a corn row that is surrounded by whitehead bumps and the parent threatens to sue. I feel that daycare centers who have African American Children in attendence really need to the right ways to address these issues but I need help in who to present this issue without offending anyone in my community and making the center understand the differences and the beauty that our hair represents. Please respond...need help ...
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Hair Education for daycare centers
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