The Importance of Sharing Your Familiy's Culture with your Child Care Provider

When you choose someone to take care of your child while you work, there are many things to think about. One thing you might not think about right away is the importance of sharing the values and traditions of your family.

Child care and early education providers are sometimes trained to be “culturally responsive.” This means understanding that different people and cultures have different ways of taking care of children.

Your own ideas about raising children might differ from the traditions and expectations of your parents and elders. Every family is a little bit different. Each parent has their own way of parenting, based on their own experiences.

Here are some ways you can help your child care provider learn more about your child and your family:

If they ask about your family’s culture, take the time to answer questions and have a conversation.
If you receive a survey from the day care provider or teacher, be sure to answer and return the survey.
Share your culture in fun ways. For example, you could teach the class the word for “hello” in your family’s language.
Be open to learning about the traditions of other families whose children attend the same day care or preschool.
If there’s a certain way you would like to be greeted, let the provider know. Be sure to address them in the way that they prefer, too.
Let the provider know if you prefer to be in contact—phone, email, text, written notes, or face-to-face meeting, for example.

Communicating helps to build mutual respect and trust. By learning from each other, you and your child care provider can support your child’s growth and learning.