Listening To And Welcoming Newcomer Children

This workshop/versation circle aims to highlight importance of listening to and valuing children’s stories who have migrated from other places – particularly their process of developing their identities in a new country. By sharing the stories, narratives, and factors that have impacted four children in relation to their identity development and sense of belonging in Canada, my hope is to emphasize the ethical, political, and societal need to listen to culturally diverse children, especially from minority groups. Moving away from monolingual approaches, I intend to share, and open to and engage in conversations about multiple strategies used by educators to welcome and support newcomer children in developing a cohesive and meaningful identity that fosters immigrant children’s well-being and sense of belonging. Strategies experienced by educators can also support them in creating an inclusive, reciprocal, equitable, and responsive environment for newcomer children.

Tatiane an ECE with a Bachelor’s in Pedagogy and a Master’s student in Curriculum Studies at the University of Victoria researching Latin American newcomer children in Canada. She currently an instructor in the Early Learning and Care program at Camosun College.