Structure of life 

INTERCULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND HOW THEY CAN LEAD TO PARENT-EDUCATOR PARTNERSHIP CHALLENGES

The structure of organization and life is different from country to country and culture to culture. Different cultures have different views on when to start and end the day, whether they are strict with their planning or spontaneous, as well as their view on how child led the day should be.  

Where adults can cope with changes when it is necessary, a child needs more preparation and support. Comfort and security come from the routines and structure a child knows and learns from a very young age. By exposing a child to a very different structure, that comfort and reliability is removed. This can often cause a regression in skills or behaviour. If one takes away these reliable routines, the child must find security in herself. Of course, there are routines and structure in the kindergarten, but a child is not able to recognize and adapt to them right away. They must be provided with explicit support and time.  

Arno may be coming from a very different structure or lack of structure. The educators will benefit from knowing what kind of structure he is coming from in order to help in the classroom. They can also help him with making personalized cards to help him understand the daily routine from his perspective, such as a key ring with pictures of his day including pictures of his parents for when he gets picked up. 

Structure within a family influences the child’s upbringing as well as in the context of kindergarten. Influential aspects can include if this is the family’s first child, how old the child is when starting kindergarten as well as the age, the rules and daily structure they do or do not have at home. The experience of the educator or parents can also play a role.