Creating an inclusive home environment is important because the safety that a lot of your children and household members need begins within the home. If it’s not available in the home, then there’s no source of comfort if things are bad outside of it, too.
An inclusive environment is all about validating and celebrating others. Whether it’s being appreciative of their accessible needs physically, or making sure they feel valued in their diversity. Here are some helpful tips for creating an inclusive environment for all in your home.
-
Ensure the environment is accessible physically
First and foremost, you want to make sure that your environment is accessible physically. Clearing pathways, for example, to ensure no one is tripping over or finding it difficult to navigate the space if they’re in a wheelchair or using crutches.
You want to make sure the environment is always accessible, no matter what, and that you’re taking note of what could have been improved but perhaps hasn’t been, when you have people with access needs who come over.
Perhaps a temporary ramp for your front door steps might be useful? Or could you consider clearing some furniture from a space that’s perhaps too cramped and therefore hard to navigate? You may want to look at disabled parking and making sure anyone within the household has considered a disabled parking permit so that they’ve got access inside and outside of the property.
-
Create sensory and comfort within the spaces
A sensory and comfortable space is something important to get right. You want to always be considerate of everyone’s preferences when it comes to lighting and the ambience that lighting can create.
Natural light can be wonderful, but don’t forget about the benefits that subtle lighting states can bring.
It’s good to experiment with comfort and how you could incorporate more natural comforts like a throw or fluffy cushion, for example, on your couch. The visual sensations you create around your home are a good way to create an inclusive space.
-
Provide open communication at all times
Open communication is something that you always want to encourage, especially when it comes to the younger ones of the family. Not providing open communication is something that can stunt your little one’s abilities to express their thoughts and feelings.
They may simply not feel comfortable about expressing them if you’re not always offering that channel of communication.
Open communication leads to stronger relationships and more trust being built in general.
-
Promote diverse representation
A diverse representation is important to present within the home. For example, what your children watch and read should be more inclusive when it comes to telling different stories, learning about other cultures than your own, etc.
The more diverse the representation is, the less likely they’ll be influenced by the media and other people around them with more sheltered viewpoints.
-
Establish routines that work for everyone
When it comes to routines, they’re important to put in place, and they need to be routines that everyone can work with. Implementing consistency is important for providing stability, minimizing uncertainty, and building both security and trust within the home, too.
These tips will help to create an inclusive environment for the whole family.
