module7 unit2

TRUE - Babies’ speech development is actually promoted by having access to their parents speaking in their own language.

It is better for a child’s speech for them to hear fluent talking in a consistent language. This will make it easier for them to learn English when they start playgroup, nursery or school.

In other parts of the world, it is less common for a child to only speak one language. In these places it would be mono-linguistic children who were seen as the anomaly.

It is common for babies to be spoken to by their father in one language and by their mother in another. These children go on to learn English as well and often find it easier to learn another European Language later on.

FALSE - Grandparents can be as good and as bad a provider of childcare as anyone else. For a child from a migrant family, spending this quality time with an older family member can provide an important link back to their family history and to their cultural identity.

This can provide powerful protection against bullying as it can give a child a clear sense of who they are and where they are from.

Speaking to their grandparents in their own language will give the child an additional opportunity to practice their language skills. This will boost their language development and all round understanding of the world.

The impact of the loss of the extended family structure on migrant families should also be noted.

TRUE - Some communities do believe in the communal responsibility for children. This is often expressed in the phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child’.

This shared responsibility for children can be very supportive to parents and can surround the children with adults who care about their welfare.

Children often find others in their community who can fill roles in situations when their immediate family cannot e.g. father, older brother, grandmother, aunty.

This can provide a wider range of role models for children and richer relationships from which to base their understanding of the world.

Again, the impact of the loss of a familiar way of life and support to raise a family in very different surroundings need consideration when working with migrant families.

Conversely, some families feel stifled by this community involvement. This is felt most keenly by families and individuals who are making life choices outside the norm of their community e.g. single parenthood, fleeing/disclosing domestic abuse, coming out as gay/lesbian.

Individuals and families in these situations may need signposting to specialist service providers. In these cases, people may actually prefer services which are not culturally specific and are focused on the issue itself.

FALSE - Female Circumcision or Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or any other injury to the female genital organs for non medical reasons.

Not all African girls are circumcised although it is true that in some African tribal communities it is common for young girls to undergo this procedure.

The practice is most common in the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa, in some countries in Asia and the Middle East, and among certain immigrant communities in North America and Europe.

FGM is illegal in the United Kingdom and some families may return to their country of origin to have this procedure. The child or family may speak about this as returning home for a special celebration or ceremony. If you hear families speaking about this it is important to ask what they mean and to find out the nature of the celebration.

It is important for health care professionals to understand that this is a child protection issue and should be reported, using the procedures in your own organisation and in accordance with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures.

Whilst it is important to be culturally sensitive to the differences in some communities, female genital mutilation (FGM) is always a child protection concern.

For more information see this factsheet.

TRUE - Some migrants can feel very isolated because they are split from their families, their countries and their way of life. This can lead to people feeling very isolated and this can have a devastating impact on their mental health.

People feel supported and helped when they speak to others who understand them or have similar experience. This tends to be heightened when individuals have had experiences very different to that of the general population.

For more information, see the Mental Health Unit of the Health module.

FALSE - Many Muslim girls and women do not wear headscarves. Many of those that do wear headscarves have made a conscious personal decision to do so. This can be a difficult choice to make and women of all ages are proud of their decision and what it represents for them.

Whilst it can be true that in some situations women and girls are forced to cover themselves, it is a mistake to make assumptions about the reasons behind them being covered.

It is quite acceptable to ask a genuine, conversational question about head and face coverings, and this will usually not cause offence if the interest is genuine.

In this way you can gain an indication of the situation for that specific individual.