{"id":1248,"date":"2025-09-11T14:35:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/?p=1248"},"modified":"2025-09-11T14:35:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:35:21","slug":"interculturality-socioemotional-development-in-early-childhood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/2025\/09\/11\/interculturality-socioemotional-development-in-early-childhood\/","title":{"rendered":"Interculturality &#038; Socioemotional Development in Early Childhood"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"><span>A conversation with Dr. Dina Castro (Boston University &amp; OMEP Per\u00fa), interviewed by Dr. Liliana Mu\u00f1oz (OMEP Per\u00fa)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">In a recent talk with<\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none white-space-prewrap\"> <\/span><\/em><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"><em>OMEP Per\u00fa<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Liliana Mu\u00f1oz shared that early years are very important for helping children build their identity and form strong emotional connections. She then invited Dr. Dina Castro to explain interculturality in education, an approach that respects and values each child\u2019s culture and language, and encourages learning from one another.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Defining Interculturality<\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">in Education<br \/>\n<\/span><\/em><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Dr. Dina Castro described interculturality as an educational approach that:<\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Respects and values the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of all children<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Creates intentional learning environments that promote cultural exchange<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Encourages children to learn with and from one another across differences<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Beyond Superficial Practices<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Dr. Castro cautioned against limiting intercultural education to superficial expressions such as food, music, or dance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg white-space-prewrap font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"> <\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">She emphasized that it must:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Engage with children\u2019s lived experiences<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-start para-style-body\"><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Actively challenge racism, prejudice,<\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none white-space-prewrap\"> <\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">and stereotypes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Promote critical reflection and meaningful cultural dialogue<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Supporting Socioemotional Development<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Dr. Castro explained that intercultural practices in education directly impact children\u2019s:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Self-esteem and self-concept<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Cultural identity and confidence<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Ability to form healthy, respectful relationships<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">The Cost of Discrimination<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Dr. Castro referenced powerful research showing that some Afro-Peruvian children as young as four depict themselves with lighter skin and blue eyes, a reflection of internalized discrimination. This underscores the urgent need for early educational practices that affirm and protect diverse identities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Strategies for Educators and Families<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Dr. Castro recommended actionable strategies to<\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none white-space-prewrap\"> <\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">implement interculturality:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Reflect students&#8217; cultural and linguistic backgrounds in classroom materials<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Choose literature and media that represent diverse identities<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Involve families and elders in learning activities<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Avoid relying solely on externally imposed pedagogical models<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg white-space-prewrap font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"> <\/span><em><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Voices from Indigenous Educators<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"cvGsUA direction-ltr align-center para-style-body\"><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Dr. Castro shared reflections from a<\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none white-space-prewrap\"> <\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Shipibo educator:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg white-space-prewrap font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\"> <\/span><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">\u201cWhy are we taught interculturality, when it is mestizos who need to learn it?\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">\u201cFor me, interculturality means affirming my own identity before engaging with others.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">These insights call for a deeper rethinking of what interculturality truly demands.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none\">Dr. Castro concluded that interculturality must be a core part of early education, not an add-on. When children see their culture and identity reflected in the classroom, it fosters inclusion, a sense of belonging, and equitable learning. Ultimately, valuing diversity from the start helps raise empathetic, engaged citizens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Check out the full interview at this link (note: video is in Spanish): https:\/\/youtu.be\/3rfpNA1c_qo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A conversation with Dr. Dina Castro (Boston University &amp; OMEP Per\u00fa), interviewed by Dr. Liliana Mu\u00f1oz (OMEP Per\u00fa) In a recent talk with OMEP Per\u00fa Dr. Liliana Mu\u00f1oz shared that early years are very important for helping children build their identity and form strong emotional connections. She then invited Dr. Dina Castro to explain interculturality [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19837,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1248"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19837"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1248"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1252,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1248\/revisions\/1252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bu.edu\/ecinstitute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}