Families participating in Head Start come from many different cultural backgrounds, bringing a unique blend of history, traditions andbeliefs to the tasks of child rearing and education. Some come from groups that have been oppressed for generations. Others arerecent immigrants, trying to combine their native culture with the one in which they currently live. Still others are deeply rooted in ahistory of cultural traditions. Similarly, all of the individuals who work in Head Start also bring their own rich cultural traditions andbeliefs to their work with families. As a result, families and Head Start staff may have different ideas about what is good for children.How long children sleep, what methods work to manage their behavior, what they expect at mealtimes, and how they play with otherchildren may all involve different cultural values. Recognizing that cultural heritage and identity influence each of us in many, profoundways is a first step in ….
