Here’s a thoughtful set of critical reflection questions you can use to evaluate and enrich cultural displays in your service.
Self-Awareness & Bias
- What cultural assumptions or biases might I bring into the way I select or present displays?
- Do I unintentionally prioritize certain cultures over others? Why might that be?
Representation & Inclusion
- Whose cultures are represented in our displays—and whose are missing?
- Are the displays tokenistic, or do they reflect meaningful engagement with the culture?
- How do we ensure Indigenous perspectives are respectfully and authentically included?
Family & Community Engagement
- Have we invited families to contribute to or co-create cultural displays?
- How do we ensure families feel their cultural identities are valued and visible?
- What strategies do we use to learn about and reflect the cultural traditions of the families we serve?
Child Voice & Understanding
- How do children engage with the cultural displays? What do they notice, question, or celebrate?
- Do the displays prompt conversations about similarities and differences?
- How do we support children in expressing their own cultural identities?
Ongoing Reflection & Practice
- How often do we review and update our cultural displays?
- What feedback have we received from families, children, or colleagues about the displays?
- How do these displays align with our service philosophy and the EYLF principles?
Cultural Depth & Authenticity
- Do our displays reflect lived cultural experiences or surface-level symbols?
- How do we avoid stereotypes while still celebrating cultural uniqueness?
- Are we representing cultures as dynamic and evolving, rather than static or historical?
Alignment with EYLF & Child Safety
- How do our displays support children’s sense of identity and belonging (Outcome 1)?
- In what ways do they promote respect for diversity and inclusion (Principle 4)?
- Do our displays align with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, particularly around cultural safety?
Educator Practice & Growth
- What have I learned from engaging with cultural displays this year?
- How do I challenge my own assumptions when selecting or interpreting cultural content?
- Have I sought professional learning to better understand cultural responsiveness?
Child Agency & Participation
- Have children contributed to the creation or curation of the displays?
- How do we document and respond to children’s questions or ideas sparked by the displays?
- Are we creating opportunities for children to share their own cultural stories or artifacts?
Team Collaboration & Reflection
- How do we ensure all educators feel confident and supported in contributing to cultural displays?
- What processes do we have in place to reflect on and improve our cultural practices as a team?
- How do we respectfully navigate cultural differences within our educator team?
Further Reading
Educator's Guide To Critical Reflections
How To Write A Critical Reflection In Early Childhood
Practical Examples Of Critical Reflections In Early Childhood
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