In your response, ask your classmates’ questions regarding their beliefs about play and/or clarifying questions about their cultural experiences. You are encouraged to be culturally sensitive in your responses, as this discussion is an opportunity to show that you value and respect diversity and are sensitive to cultural differences. 5 sentences or more.
Week 3 Discussion 1-Cultural Variations and Beliefs about Play
The two cultural groups I chose are European Americans and Asian Indians.
Compare and Contrast
The similarities of the two groups are that they both speak mostly English; their children learn that there are different classes among them all, and both cultures accept the western medicine. Their differences are:
European American children are taught independence and self-reliance. They are also taught self-expression and how to assert themselves. Their primary religion is Christianity and a lot of their meals lack vitamins.
Asian Indian children are interdependent and are expected to respect authority. Their primary religion is Hinduism and unlike the European Americans their meals consist of a lot of herbs and seasonings.
Impact cultural norms can have on play
Anticipated impacts cultural norms can have on play can vary depending if the child’s culture reinforces or restricts play. A culture’s biases or unbiased also affect how children play. Culture and ethnicity impact language and cognitive development as it relates to play in an important way. There is a cultural tendency of many families with Asian backgrounds to perceive child’s play as a subject in itself rather than as a means for supporting academic experiences.
As families interact with their children, they are teaching the children about their cultural beliefs, values, and behaviors (Mashinot, 2008). I do believe that children can learn from each other through cross-cultural play; some children learn to become more independent through playing while other children learn to explore more through play. My understanding of culture has been expanded by explaining how classrooms need to have toys, books, and displays from various cultures so that the children in the class will benefit from these materials and help children to be more accepting of others.
Summarize your beliefs about play cross-culturally. How has your understanding of culture been “expanded” by this week’s course content?
Schools are more diverse in today’s society. Through critical, self-reflexive practices, and our teaching; we are working against bias, cultural, and linguistic differences by creating a classroom where the teacher and children are learning to use language and literacy in positive ways. I believe that the differences in play that exist cross-culturally can be important in teaching us the effects they have on the children. A lot of cultures put more responsibilities on their children rather than having them play. All cultures believe in different things. I think my understanding of culture has been expanded in the sense that I will try to incorporate the different aspects of play that I learned from reading this week’s materials. I think all the different cultures have valuable ideas.
References
Frost, J., Wortham, S., & Reifel, S. (2011). Play and child development. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Prentice-Hall.
Mashinot, B. (2008). The changing face of the United States: The influence of culture on early child development (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved from http://www.cehd.umn.edu/CEED/projects/ecassessment…