My Supports

Support from others encourages us and motivates us to push ourselves in achieving goals that we have always wanted to accomplish. When I think about support, I consider it as having someone who or something that stands beside me to walk with me through my journey. Support is having a strong foundation to stand behind us as guidance and to provide a sense of direction. I am blessed to have family who supports me in my time of growth and in my time of need.

I start my day off by thanking God for allowing me to see yet another day. I find support in God because he gives me the strength to conquer daily challenges and to use those difficulties as a foot stool to stand above. If there is ever a time that I feel helpless, I know that I can look to the hills and know that I am not weak because my help comes from the Lord. To see the love and happiness in my son eyes each day reminds me that not only am I supporting him; however, he supports me in many ways than one.  He encourages me to be better and to do better. His smile is a way that I feel as though he is telling me “job well done.”

My family is very supportive and it is a great benefit to have those who love you, believing in you every step of the way.  It will be difficult not to have the support of my family. Just as the saying goes “birds flock together;” therefore, support is the foundation for a strong platform.

One challenge I would have is losing my health and strength. I am a person who gets the job done and knowing how to take initiative in the things that I do, and losing my physical ability will be difficult to adjust to. At times I have witnessed that some things do not get done unless I do those things myself, and even though I am thankful for the support system that I have; not being able to do for myself in many ways than one will be difficult to cope with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Connections to Play

The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground- Gilbert K. Chesterton

Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities- Stuart Brown, MD

 

I remember always enjoying playing with playdoh and using my imagination to the fullest, attempting to form the best model, and I would become so proud of myself for trying my best and creating new objects. The bright colors drew my attention and it held my concentration for hours.

 

Jump rope was something that brought neighborhood kids together. We would sing while jumping the rope. It was a great way for us to work together and to enjoy play.

Fantasy play was the best. I remember playing dress up with my sisters and we would imagine ourselves being a person that we looked up to at that time. I also remember singing with my hair brush, deeming the lights, and singing in the mirror as if I was Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston performing at a concert.



        My parents supported play and encouraged my siblings and I to venture the outdoors. We would stay outside for hours being creative and exploring. We had a clubhouse; in which, we would ride our bikes to the store and buy junk food to have parties. I remember building volcano's out of dirt and using vinegar and baking soda to create lava. All the children in the neighborhood would get together to race, play basketball, play hide and seek, football, etc. We were able to enjoy the meaning of play and learned from our experiences as well.
        Play is different today than it was when I was a young child. Children are more excited to play video games and to watch TV, then they are to breathe the air outdoors. I rarely see children playing in order to increase their imagination. Children are not as adventurous or exciting to discover new things that the outdoors have to offer.
        The role of play throughout life changes because as we grow from children to adults, we forget how happy and how enlightening play is. I strongly believe in playing even as an adult. As adults we work so hard attempting to be responsible and taking care of our duties; however, there will be no fun in only working hard and not playing just as hard. There should be balance in our life, so I encourage all to incorporate play in their world. We need to be reminded how we use to be and how play brought happiness in our lives.

RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

 

Relationships are important because it helps to build confidence and it displays love; and that is the greatest gift of all.

 

My mother is a person who I admire and I have a strong positive relationship with as well. She has been an inspiration and a way maker throughout my life. I have seven siblings and as a child my mother returned to school to complete her degree for nursing to care for her family. As a young child I would see her constantly pushing through the struggles and hardships. I adored that about her because without knowing, by observing her she taught me and showed me how to depend on myself and to never stop striving until I get what I am striving for. My mother is very encouraging and she has always motivated me to gain a higher education and to be a woman who is strong, independent, wise, and able-bodied. As a young child I did not understand why she worked so hard. However, after having my own son, I understand the love, affection, and security that she wanted to provide for me. The relationship that I share with my mother is unconditional love. Relationships must have trust, love, respect, and support in order for it to be effective and to have an impact. My mother has faced many of challenges; however, because our relationship is so strong and sincere, we have stood together even closer to jump over hurdles.

My neices and nephews are my world. I have attempted to be a great aunt for them all, because I feel as though it is my duty to help them and support them to make sense of the world. It is amazing because not only have I impacted their lives, but they have also made a difference in my world. I know that family make a difference in the lives of children; for example, socially and academically. Therefore, I will continue to be involved in their lives and development to ensure that they will have the opportunities and support to prepare them in their future.

 

I will strive to continue to build relationships/partnerships as an effective early childhood professional by guiding children's learning and building support amongst several relationships as well. As educators we must take the responsibility to reach out and to play a role in children's development.

A Note of Professional Thanks

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation." <Brian Tracy>

I will like to thank each of my colleagues for the learning experience and for the knowledge that I have gained while completing this course of study. We are all doing something special with our talents, and that is to make a better life for young children. I encourage you to make a mark on the world and to shape it the best way possible. Yes, it will be hard; if it wasn't everyone will be doing it. We are all called to have a great impact on young children and with patience and commitment, I am confident that we will excel. Good luck in your future!

When I Think of Child Development

 

"Your children will see what you're all about by what you live rather than what you say." <Dr. Wayne Dyer>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him." <Pablo Casals>

 

 

"If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders."
<Abigail Van Buren>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TESTING FOR INTELLIGENCE?

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein

Assessments are vital in the school systems and the educational field. However; what exactly is being assessed when viewing children and their progress or decrease of performance? The most effective way to measure children's minds and abilities, I believe, is by reading to a child and encouraging creativity in children as well. Reading to children at a young age and asking questions after storytime may benefit the child's ability to increase and improve their comprehension. Creativity is an essential problem-solving technique that allows children to not only look inside the box; however, it allows them to look outside the box as well. It is evident that most schools use standardize testing to measure children's academic achievement. However, is standardize testing effective when viewing young children holistically? The school systems use the standardizing testing as a source to determine their effectiveness. A child should be looked at more than just needing to learn the basic courses in school; such as, math, science,etc; because ultimately a child makeup is greater than that.

 The problem with assessment in South African public schools persists. In 2008 thousands of candidates taking South Africa's first ever National Certificate Examination could not be resulted because of a failure to report school-based assessment (SBA) tasks. Only 62.5% of candidates prepared for the final external examination through a process of continuous SBA passed. In 2009 the pass rate dropped to a new low of 60.7%, which begs the question: why is SBA not serving its purpose of enhancing learning and preparing candidates for the high stakes external examinations? We focus on English First Additional Language (EFAL) teachers' perceptions of SBA in the Further Education and Training (FET) band and the challenges they face with the implementation of the curriculum that calls for drastic changes in assessment practice.

Reference:
           Assessment Reform Group 1999. Assessment for Learning: beyond the black box. Cambridge: University of Cambridge. School of Education. Available at http://arg.educ.cam.ac.uk/AssessInsides.pdf. Accessed 2 March 2006.   

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Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Children are not strangers to stress. Over a significant span of human history they have been more often the victims of the slings and arrows of an uncaring society than recipients of its beneficent protection- Garmezy

I have a relative who experienced a lot of stressors as a young child. While being immature myself; I remember being there for her with open arms. Her household was very dysfunctional and chaotic. She was neglected by her mother and continuously sexually abused by her family member. Her mother was highly addicted to drugs and alcohol, and she was left to fend for herself a many of nights. Non-addicts have long wondered why addicts don’t “just quit.” Inherited biochemistry makes people vulnerable to various addictions (Berger, 2009). Anyone can abuse drugs and alcohol, but genes create an addictive pull that can be overpowering, extremely weak, or something in between (Berger, 2009).  I remember her asking the question “why won’t she just stop abusing drugs and love me like your mom loves you.” I never had an answer or words to mend her broken heart; however, I would always tell her that she is important to me. Her family has history with abusing drugs/ alcohol, and misusing prescription drugs as well. She would fight often with other kids and I knew she was needing to be loved and accepted by others due to lack of attachment and the feeling of being good enough from her mom. Berger teaches us that maltreated children typically are less friendly, more aggressive, and more isolated than other children (Berger, 2009).

            Later, she was taken away from her mother through Child Protective Services and placed with her aunt.  Berger explained three levels of Prevention; tertiary prevention includes everything intended to reduce harm when maltreated has already occurred (Berger, 2009). Luckily for her, someone saw enough abuse and decided to take the first steps and reported the abuse to authority. Children need a caregiver they trust, in a safe and stable environment, whether they live with their biological parents, with a foster family, or with an adoptive family (Berger, 2009). She began to cope with the stress surrounding her by becoming active in sports and drill team in school. She began learning from her peers how to form rapport and how to build her social skills.

            Every year, more than 200 million children under five years old fail to reach their full cognitive and social potential. Most of these children live in South Asia and Saharan Africa. As a result of poor development, many children are likely to underachieve in school and subsequently to have low incomes as adults. As adults, they are also likely to have children at a very early age, and provide poor health care, nutrition and stimulation to their children, thus contributing to the intergenerational transmission of poverty and poor development (WHO, 2012). South African children and adolescents are exposed to high levels of HIV/AIDS, poverty, violent trauma with a significant proportion developing Post-traumatic stress disorder (Holdford, 1993). Since they were first adopted, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have raised awareness to help alleviate a few stressors that children face day to day.

Reference:

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5^th ed.). New York

Publishers.

Smith C, Holford Post-traumatic stress disorder: South Africa’s children and adolescents.

Southern African Journal of child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 1993;5:57-69.

Child Decelopment and Public Health- Access to Healthy Water

The place where a child is born will be determinant in her life and death. If she sees the first day of light in a household without running water and a toilet facility, she will be more likely to die from risks associated to poor environmental conditions (Fuentas, 2006). I chose this topic because access to healthy water is vital and it is essential to our health and well-being. We will not adequately thrive without having connections to clean water. Interestingly enough South Africa boast one of the most clean water systems in the world; however, due to the lack of sanitation and access in the country's rural communities the threat of water borne disease is steadily increasing. The Vaal River, the largest river in South Africa is becoming increasingly contaminated with fecal material due to the lack of sanitation supplies (The Water Project, 2006-2012). Women are traditionally responsible for collecting water in South Africa. The walk may take hours to and from; however, it is still not enough water to abundantly care for a household. This topic is meaningful to me because water is regarded as a human right in our country as well as in South Africa. It saddens me to know that children are at risks of deprivation of healthy water. As simple as it may sound, some countries cannot provide their families with something as plain as clean water. Children should not have to worry about where their next glass of water will come from; however, the problem exists. I always admired those who visited other countries as well as calling upon the issues in the United States, and implementing methods to help decrease the problems that children experience in regards to their health and well-being. I am even more encouraged to implement ways on how I can make a difference and help a child in need, in order to improve their lifestyle and environment.


Reference:
        
          Ricardo Fuentes, Tobias Pfutze and Papa Seck (2006). Does Access to Water and Sanitation Affect Child Survival? A Fiv Country Analysis. Human Development Report, 2006.

          Water in Crisis- Spotlight South Africa www.thewaterproject.org/water-in-crisis-south-africa.php

Childbirth in Your Life and Around the World

A personal birthing experience that I remember so well is the birth of my son. I remember being a little nervous because I didnt know what to expect and/or the level of pain that I may endured. I was scheduled for a C-section and arrived to the hospital a day before for preparation. I chose this as my example because my son means the world to me and I believe bringing him into this world and seeing him for the first time was the best time in my life. Having birth to a child is the most precious moment that a family may experience. The way the body works to prepare for the birthing event is amazing. A newborn learns to breathe, suck, etc, immediately coming into this world; and that child will continue to develop and learn throughout their lifetime as well.

The country that I chose to find out how births happen is South Africa. In rural areas, mothers may give birth in community health centres and/or district hospitals; however, these do have high maternal mortality rates. In more populated areas it is usual to go to provincial tertiary and national central hospitals where wards can be crowded. Mothers may also give birth at home. Mothers stay in the hospital for post-natal checks and until a paediatrician has seen the baby. In the private sector, mothers have the option of giving birth in a hospital or at home. It is necessary to discuss options with the private healthcare facility. I have realized that the births in South Africa are similiar to the birthing in the USA.

GIVING THANKS

Throughout this course of study, I have learned from my colleagues and my professor in order to become a great advocate for young children. It has been exciting to have had the opportunity to learn from others and hopefully to have been an resource for my colleagues as well. I am thankful for the support and for the encouragement while completing this course. I believe that I have grown and have developed into a better student and person while understanding the role that I have to become a better professional while working for young children.

Examining Codes of Ethics

Ethical Responsibilities to Children

We are committed to promoting children's self-awareness, competence, self- worth, resiliency, and physical well-being.

- To be familiar with the knowledge based of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.

-To appreciate the vulnerability of children and their dependence of adults.

I believe that as an professional, it is vital to have the proper and appropriate education in order to addres issues/problems of young children. Children are exposed to a lot and their young minds are not equipped to handle many issues that come their way. They are weak and sensitive as young children, and respectng that they are dependent of adults; should be appreciated and not taking for granted.

Ethical Responsibilities to Families

Familys are of primary importance in children's development.

-To develop relationships of mutual trust and create parnerships with the families we serve.


Responsibilities to co-workers

- to share resources with co-workers, collaborating to ensure that the best possible early childhood care and education program is provided.

I believe working together as a unit in order to get the job done, may be beneficial to young children. It will only favor the child if professionals will share their knowledge with others in order for each professional to meet the same goals.

Enhancement of Children's and Families Qualit o Lives

- We shall recognize and respect the dignity, diversity, ad autonomy of the families and children we serve.

Respect goes along ways. Without professionals being able to respect the families, the child will not gain. Because it is known that children and adults ahieve their full potentialin the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES RELATED TO YOUNG CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND/OR THE FIELD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

Educational (Pre-School)- News-Times Topics-The New York Times
www.topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/.../education.../index.hml

Obama Unveils New Standards o Early Childhood Education- US
http://www.usnews.com%3enews/

"Experts tell us that 90% of all brain development occurs by the age of five. If we don't begin thinking about education in the early years, our children are at risk of falling behind by the time they start Kindergarten."
- Robert. L. Ehrlich

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."
- Stacia Tauscher

"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows."
- Sydney J. Harris

COURSE RESOURCES SECTION:

COURSE RESOURCES SECTION:

• Course Media: "The Resources for Early Childhood"
  Five early childhood professionals discuss their preferred and trusted resources.

Note: Read the documents listed in Parts 1 and 2 in preparation for this week's Discussion.

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201260_04/MS_MECS/EDUC_6005/Week%205/Resources/Resources/embedded/naeyc_dap_position_statement.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.

Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
• Websites:
• • World Forum Foundation
    http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP's mission.
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/
    Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week's Application assignment.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
• Children's Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.preknow.org/
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/
• Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
• Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to "How Do I...?", select "Tips for Specific Formats and Resources," and then "e-journals" to find this search interface.)
  
  • YC Young Children
  • Childhood
  • Journal of Child & Family Studies
  • Child Study Journal
  • Multicultural Education
  • Early Childhood Education Journal
  • Journal of Early Childhood Research
  • International Journal of Early Childhood
  • Early Childhood Research Quarterly
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Social Studies
  • Maternal & Child Health Journal
  • International Journal of Early Years Education

MY PRECIOUS GIFT FROM GOD!!!!

Personal Childhood Web

I have a large family and I found it to be a little difficult to decide what five persons I will talk about who nurtured and cared about me when I was a child. However, five people who I believe fits this description the most will be; my mother, grandmother, grandfather, brother, my aunt and uncle, and one of my closest childhood friends. My mother is the perfect example of being a “strong black women.” My mother has five children of her own and helped care for two other children while being married to my dad, a total of 7. While raising a hand full of children, my mother went back to school to gain a higher education and was able to accomplish her goal of becoming a nurse. Through the struggles, stressors, situations, etc; I never heard my mother complain. She did the best that she could and made a way out of no way many of days. My mom was the best at making sure we had our basic needs met, that we took our education seriously, and that we learned responsibilities in order to make it throughout this life independently. My mom was amazing at teaching me and my siblings on applying ourselves and how not to give up. My mother did not raise failures, and she made certain that we would succeed. My mom is truly the glue that has kept my family together. My grandmother, “Grammie” is what I call her has had a major impact on my life as well. Grammie has taught me vital lessons spiritually and has shown me things within myself that I may not have been aware of. She is the pastor of my church and has represented herself well. Whenever I need guidance or encouragement, she has always been great at doing so. My grandfather is very old school and has shared his wisdom to help guide me on my journeys in life. He is a very hard worker and has always believed in doing it right and putting your all in whatever you do. He is a true example of what a great man should be and his love for me is more than I can ever ask for. My older brother is a great influential part in my life as well. He has always looked out for me as a child and even now that I have developed into a young lady. He has always shown his love for me and I look up to him as a person, a man figure, and a role model. He is my blessing sent from heaven and I am thankful and grateful to have his love. My aunt and uncle have showered me so dearly and I desire them both. They both would remind me how much they were proud of me for accomplishing my goals. They treated me as their own and their unconditional love fills my heart completely. They have shown me how to work through the hard times and how not to easily give up on anything. One of my best friends has been supportive in the things that I have done and always gave me advice for the better. She has been there with me and helped me to keep things together and on track. She has never discouraged me and sincerely wants to see me advance as a person and in my life. I am very grateful to have loving individuals in my life who love me and recognizes my value and self-worth.

A Story About A Child Who Made A Difference "Mary Ellen McCormack"

Mary Ellen McCormack's situation inspired the founding of the first "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children." While completing my bachelors I remember discussing this five or six year old girl then in 1873, being abused and neglected with the windows darkened, and being locked in a room. Neighbors heard the cry of Mary but did not know what actions to take in order to provide assistance for this young girl. Mary was always seen dirty and thin, and had bruises and scars along her arms and legs. Neighbors finally spoke out for Mary and she was able to testify in court of the abuse. Mary reported getting beatings everyday with twisted whips. The whipping would always leave black and blue marks on Mary's body as well. During Mary's testimony, she was seen with a cut on her head where you abuser made by using scissors. This story and situation inspired me to make a difference in children's life and to become an advocate and/or to facilitate on behalf of children.

My Daddy And I by P.K. Hallinan

The book "My Daddy And I" is a great bedtime book for young children. It reflects great moments that children adore with their fathers, and signifies the respect and love all children have for their dads. The problem of "absent fathers" exists in the real world and the lack of involvement and being active deprive many of children socially and perhaps in many other ways. This book is meaningful to me because it reminds us as parents that a fathers connection and association with their child will give them love and affection to carry on to others.

Making A Difference, Making A Change!!!

The purpose of life is not to be happy- but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. ~Leo Rosten

A Dream Come True!!