February 21 is International Mother Language Day. 

At Jenny’s ELC we are proud of the diversity and richness of language found in our centres, and of the many and diverse cultures represented in our staff team, and in the children and families we care for. 

Whether it’s starting the day off with a friendly “Kumusta ka?” (“How are you?” in Tagalog, the language spoken in the Philippines) or saying goodbye with 再见 (Zàijiàn) (A Chinese farewell), the children and families at all Jenny’s centres are surrounded by opportunities to hear words in other languages, and to learn more about cultures from around the world. 

Is well as supporting children and families to feel connected to community, the presence of ‘mother languages’ – that is, languages which are learned in the home, before engaging in formal education – can help to foster a sense of inclusion, and a respect for diversity, even amongst native English speakers. 

 

The benefits of diversity 

Children growing up in Australia are surrounded by a variety of cultures, both within and outside their Jenny’s service. 

With each different culture comes new languages, traditions, perspectives and beliefs. When these differences are acknowledged and celebrated, children become inspired not only to accept these differences, but also to respect that not everyone looks, thinks and acts in the same way, and that there are multiple perspectives and viewpoints in the world. 

When children are able to sit with these differences, and even to embrace them, they are on the way to being ‘culturally competent.’

Cultural competence refers to the ability to understand and interact with people from a range of cultures. Being open to and respectful of another’s cultural perspectives or background is the beginning of being culturally competent. A person’s culture can include their ethnicity, appearance, religion, cuisine, social habits, beliefs, values and more.

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) recognises cultural competence as:

• being aware of one’s own world view

• developing positive attitudes towards cultural differences

• gaining knowledge of different cultural practices and world views

• developing skills for communication and interaction across cultures

Supported by educators 

Children learn by what they live, and nowhere is that more important than in the journey to cultural competence. 

At Jenny’s ELC, educators understand that they are powerful role models in the lives of children, and that it is critically important for them to demonstrate cultural competence, as this has such a profound impact on the children’s acceptance of different cultures, and on the sense of belonging that children from outside the dominant culture feel when attending care. 

Embracing cultural diversity in early childhood settings can strengthen partnerships with families. Quality Area 6 of the National Quality Standard (NQS) highlights the importance of collaborative partnerships with families and makes specific reference to respecting parents’ views, stating “The expertise, culture, values and beliefs of families are respected”.

How does Jenny’s ELC celebrate language diversity? 

There are a number of ways that our services show respect for diversity, and celebrate the rich cultural make up of our families and team. 

Educators and families are invited to share their culture: Representation is important and we want to encourage pride in culture. Families and educators are regularly invited to share their traditions and culture within the service. This might be through traditional dress, food, music, games or just sharing stories about their unique culture.

Celebrating a variety of cultural events: As well as Christmas and Easter, we celebrate other dates on the cultural calendar such as Diwali, Ramadan, Lunar New Year and International Day of Sign Language.

Environments reflect diversity: As well as hearing language spoken, children attending Jenny’s ELC are surrounded by diversity. Everything from dolls with a variety of skin tones and hair colours, to books featuring families of all different kinds, diversity is celebrated across our network. 

We dance and sing to songs in a variety of languages, we eat food from across the world, and we participate in community events and activities which connect us to our broader world. 

Would you like to learn more about how Jenny’s ELC can build a sense of belonging for your family? Book a tour at your nearest Jenny’s Early Learning Centre.