Relationships, Interactions, and Guidance:

Seek Multiple Perspectives

Breadcrumb trail:

Uncover and experience the perspectives of children, families, and colleagues.

When your work is informed by multiple perspectives, you have richer experiences, build stronger relationships, and deepen mutual understandings. Listening to others who have different perspectives can nudge you to reconsider your daily practice and worldview, and recognize and challenge your biases. They can also lead to shared inquiry. Finding areas in which you can collaborate with others is a great way to uncover and experience different perspectives. With CompSAT by your side, you may be inspired to seek the perspectives of the children, families, and colleagues in your program and beyond.

Two teachers discussing issues outside.

When you find yourself puzzled by a child's behavior, who do you talk to about it? How might different cultural or family perspectives be shaping behaviors and potential conflicts? What professional resources might inform your understanding?

Two teachers talking over lunch.
Two teachers talking over lunch.
Two teachers talking about child behavior.
Two teachers talking about child behavior.
A father talks to his child's teacher.
A father talks to his child's teacher.

Try This!

  • Recall a child's behavior that you didn't understand. Describe the behavior and yours and others' responses to it.
  • How did your perspectives differ?
  • How did you handle your differences of opinion?
  • How did you reach agreement on how to approach the child's behavior?

Use this template to record your observations, thoughts, and feelings.  Download the Template

Deepen Your Understanding

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

Deepen your understanding of multiple perspectives among adults by reviewing the Topic: Positive relationships in Performance Area 2 and the Topic: Conflict resolution in Performance Area 3 of the CA ECE Competencies. Scroll to page 33 and 36.

Can you find other places in this competency area that address your interests and needs?

Download the California ECE Competencies

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies