Empowering Young Immigrant Children With an Inclusive and Compassionate Space

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 3:05 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Disrupting the Status Quo: Equity and Inclusion in Early Childhood (Table 4)

Abstract

While immigrant children constitute a significant population in the US, they face challenges in schools. This qualitative study used the translanguaging approach and the author’s chair within the context of storytelling to explore young immigrant children’s experiences and examine this intervention’s impacts on children’s interaction. The study involved sixteen kindergarteners and first graders, predominantly from Central America. Through observation of children’s interaction and documentation of their stories, I found that young immigrant children attach great importance to their own families. They faced challenges including bully, ignorance, and rudeness. Furthermore, this intervention fostered children’s sense of belonging and understanding of diversity. This study offers valuable insights for early childhood educators to create inclusive and compassionate environments for all children.

Authors

• Jiamin Xu, Florida International University

• Angela K. Salmon, Florida International University