Terminology
As source content for this book was compiled from numerous sources, terminology doesn’t always match up, even after efforts were made to provide consistency across the text.
Age groups
For the purpose of this textbook age groups have been defined as the following;
- Infants: 0 – 18mths
- Toddlers: 18mths – 30mths
- Preschoolers: 30mths – 5yrs
- Middle childhood: 6 – 12 yrs
Indigenous Terminology
The use of the word Indigenous is used in First Nation, Metis and Inuit (FNMI) communities. Although some communities still use the word Aboriginal, many Indigenous leaders are asking that the word Aboriginal be replaced with Indigenous. When specific studies were/are conducted or stats are used or when Indigenous people are mentioned, it is best to use either one of those words to reflect the peoples that were part of them. (i.e. A study that was conducted about Inuit people; the wording should be Inuit instead of the broader term “Indigenous”.). For hundreds of years, Indigenous people were treated as “less than human”. For this reason, we use a capital “I” to reflect that Indigenous people are human.
For the purpose of establishing an understanding of the importance of the spiritual domain for Indigenous people, the ancillary activities will capture spirituality in the emotional component of the textbook to reflect the worldview that individuals should be seen in a holistic way. That is that we must see the individual as a whole because all the domains that are part of the individual are interconnected. The reasoning behind this is that anything that raises the self-esteem, self-worth, and the spirit of a child or individual will enhance their spiritual development.
Indigenous people Traditions and culture know and understand the sacredness of our ways. For this reason, throughout the activities, one will note that the word tradition is seen with a capital “T”. When the reader sees this, they will be reminded that the Indigenous people value their Traditions in a sacred way. When the word is seen with a lower case “t”, it will reflect the common use of the word traditional.
Care Providers
You may notice several ways programs that provide care and education for young children are referred to in this book. In general, these all refer to programs in which children are cared for in groups by non-family members and are used interchangeably.
Early care and education programs
Early childhood education programs
Child care centers or child care programs
Out-of-home care
And at times, just programs or centers
The adults that care for children in these programs may be referred to as:
Early childhood educators or professionals
Teachers
Caregivers
Staff (although this term is often used when including other employees who may work in an early childhood education program outside of the classroom).
Gendered Language
At times you may notice that a child or adult is referred to with the pronoun they or them. This is to be more gender inclusive. Unless specifically stated, when children or adults are gendered, it is not to be exclusionary (and likely is due to the language used in the source content).
Family Structures and Forms
Throughout this book, the word families have been used in place of parents in most places. This is to be as inclusive as possible of the different family structures in which the adults responsible for caring for children may not fit the label of parents. When the source content used the word parents (referring specifically to the adults that are responsible for a child), efforts were made to also use the words caregivers or guardians to be inclusive of all families.
Person First Language
Because people are not the situations they encounter (such as poverty) or may experience (such as disabilities or medical conditions), person-first language is used. This is not intended to discount characteristics that may be part of a person’s identity but in an attempt to be respectful.
