Suggested practices:
1. Provide translated notices, brochures and pamphlets that help explain the routines of the early years setting.
2. Create a space to display community information and provide bilingual information whenever possible.
3. Acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land at meetings and public forums.
4. Display a plaque that recognises the Traditional Owners of the land, as well as posters and symbols (such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag) that symbolize cultural respect.
5. Display a calendar of significant cultural events to share with all families.
6. Discuss with families appropriate ways of acknowledging and celebrating these events with children and families
Music:
• Musical instruments used in different cultures
• Songs reflective of different cultures.
• Make musical instruments from natural materials
• Have diverse types of music playing throughout the centre
Construction & Blocks:
• Images of a diverse range of houses and architecture, including those representative of the local community. National geographic magazines or websites may be a good source of images from diverse places.
• A range of building materials including twigs, rocks, plants, canvas and bricks.
• Animal figures- both locally familiar and native to other countries.
• Toy vehicles that represent different occupations (e.g. taxis, farm tractors…)
Dramatic Play:
• Multicultural kitchen utensils, storage containers and food packages
• Dolls and puppets of various ethnicities and genders
• Child sized disability aids (e.g. crutches, walkers, eyeglasses with lens removed)
• Consider designing dramatic play setting that represent a range of environments where people may live and work.
Displays:
• Fabrics and rugs, wall hanging and artwork that are representative of a wide variety of cultures.
• Maps of local community or world maps to identify different cultures within the centre.
• Environmental print in different languages, particularly those that are relevant to the children and their families including local Aboriginal languages.
• Images of diverse peoples and lands can be sourced through various websites and magazines, including National Geographic. Representations of cultures in books, images and artifacts need to reflect contemporary perspectives, rather than stereotypes.
Outdoors play:
• Plant a variety of herbs and plants that reflect a rich cultural diversity, for example Vietnamese mint, bamboo in pots, lemongrass, and oregano, Australian native plants.
• Get baskets from the local op shop and fill them with pebbles, bark, honkey nuts, shells and other locally sourced natural resources.
1. Provide translated notices, brochures and pamphlets that help explain the routines of the early years setting.
2. Create a space to display community information and provide bilingual information whenever possible.
3. Acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land at meetings and public forums.
4. Display a plaque that recognises the Traditional Owners of the land, as well as posters and symbols (such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag) that symbolize cultural respect.
5. Display a calendar of significant cultural events to share with all families.
6. Discuss with families appropriate ways of acknowledging and celebrating these events with children and families
Music:
• Musical instruments used in different cultures
• Songs reflective of different cultures.
• Make musical instruments from natural materials
• Have diverse types of music playing throughout the centre
Construction & Blocks:
• Images of a diverse range of houses and architecture, including those representative of the local community. National geographic magazines or websites may be a good source of images from diverse places.
• A range of building materials including twigs, rocks, plants, canvas and bricks.
• Animal figures- both locally familiar and native to other countries.
• Toy vehicles that represent different occupations (e.g. taxis, farm tractors…)
Dramatic Play:
• Multicultural kitchen utensils, storage containers and food packages
• Dolls and puppets of various ethnicities and genders
• Child sized disability aids (e.g. crutches, walkers, eyeglasses with lens removed)
• Consider designing dramatic play setting that represent a range of environments where people may live and work.
Displays:
• Fabrics and rugs, wall hanging and artwork that are representative of a wide variety of cultures.
• Maps of local community or world maps to identify different cultures within the centre.
• Environmental print in different languages, particularly those that are relevant to the children and their families including local Aboriginal languages.
• Images of diverse peoples and lands can be sourced through various websites and magazines, including National Geographic. Representations of cultures in books, images and artifacts need to reflect contemporary perspectives, rather than stereotypes.
Outdoors play:
• Plant a variety of herbs and plants that reflect a rich cultural diversity, for example Vietnamese mint, bamboo in pots, lemongrass, and oregano, Australian native plants.
• Get baskets from the local op shop and fill them with pebbles, bark, honkey nuts, shells and other locally sourced natural resources.