The Lion's Pride Volume 10 (Spring 2018) | Page 68

Inclusion in the Early Childhood Education Classroom
Victoria Lewis
I am a preschool teacher who strives to teach from my heart, plan from
my head while thinking on my feet. Leading always by example,
nurturing curiosity and creativity, encouraging kindness and continually
presenting children in my care with opportunities for self-discovery.
Inclusion in the Early Childhood Education classroom is an issue that I
am passionate about. I view each day as an opportunity to show children
the value of who they are by creating an environment that supports their
individual growth and welcomes diversity.
The topic of inclusion in the early childhood education classroom is
one of great debate. Can typically and atypically developing children be
taught alongside one another and succeed equally? Concerns arise as
teachers, families and members of the community ask, what is true Early
Childhood Inclusion, and can it be implemented in the preschool
classroom? According to Eileen Allen and Glynnis Cowdery (2015)
“Inclusion is not a set of strategies or a placement issue. Inclusion is
about belonging to a community-a group of friends, a school
community, or a neighborhood” (p. 6). In a sense, inclusion is the right
of every human to feel supported, valued and welcomed by those in their
community (Allen & Cowdery, 2015, p. 6). Having preschool
classrooms mirror a supportive and welcoming community that values
its members can be beneficial and successful if done with care and
consideration and a knowledge of child development, understanding true
inclusion and the impact of teamwork. The success of an inclusive early
childhood educational program is made possible through a dedicated