Giving Thanks

I will like to take a minute and think about how my colleagues have been supportive through my experience of completing this course. I hope I have contributed to your education and experience as much as you have played a role in my exposure to this class. I have gained sense of knowledge and understanding as we have all encouraged and pushed each other to excel in our studies. As we enter into our specializations, I hope your journey leads you to become a more competent and skillful worker in order to effectively meet the needs of young children and their families. Good luck and victory, and I encourage you to remain focused and determined as we all reach our goal in obtaining our Masters Degree.

The Adjourning Phase

          This week I read about the five stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. The adjourning stage reflects on their accomplishments and failures as well. A celebratory dinner or a simple thank you and goodbye are enacted at this stage (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012).

As I look back and consider the adjourning phase for several of the groups in which I have been involved in, I can recall a time in my past where I traveled with my church each summer to sing in a youth choir. We worked together preparing to perform songs and for other performances as well. Day in and day out, we practiced to show ourselves approved in order to put on a great show, bonds were made; as well as, being able to build unity amongst the choir members. After the concert was over, I can look back and remember how hard it was to say goodbye. Even though we all knew we would see each other again for the next summer, we were sad to see our time together end.

Depending on the success or the failure of the group some groups are harder than others to say good bye. Groups that may not have been a success will be easier for me to departure due to the lack of accomplishment. However, in regards to a high performing group, I am sure that it will be more difficult to adjourn. The more we apply our time and effort; we become attached and fond of something’s and/or someone.

One closing ritual that I experienced while being in the youth choir, is that a dinner was held for the youth in order to celebrate our achievement. We took several of pictures with one another; as well as, exchanging contact numbers in hopes to communicate with one another even after the program.

As we become closer into completing our Master’s degree; it will be difficult to part ways. However, I plan to keep in touch through the blogs that we have all created. I will thank everyone for their dedication and effort that we all have put forth into this program. Members may also opt to maintain friendships even if they will no longer be working together (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012). I hope we may all continue to work together in order to ensure that we all are doing our parts in the EC field.

Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because naturally all things will have to come to an end and the adjourning process prepares us for this stage. It also helps us to understand that while we work in groups, we should take the responsibility seriously because there will be timeframes in order to accomplish a task. The more time you waste will be the more time you lose.

 

 

Reference

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Two Strategies in Managing/Resolving Conflict More Productively

While attempting to resolve conflict I would use two strategies as a guide in order to allow me to address and to alleviate any negative interactions.

1)    Compromise

2)    3S Skills

Conflict cannot always be resolved. But every conflict does, eventually, have some outcome (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012). In my opinion, during a struggle of conflict, there will be a time when two or more interdependent people will have to give up a little in order to gain a little (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012) while compromising for the more effective method of decision making. Each party wants to be heard and understood; therefore, a mutual agreement must be developed in order for each party to feel valued and heard. This method also meets the needs of others because it may allow for all to express themselves without feeling wrong, judged, and/or criticized.

The 3S skills may resolve conflict as well because it forces a person to gain a new viewpoint by stepping away from the situation and seeing the conflict in a different view. To gain perspective and see from the Third Side you need to Go to the Balcony. The Balcony is a mental place of calm and perspective where you can keep your eyes on what is truly important. Going to the balcony means taking a distanced view of close things. What do you see from up there? How does that alter your perspective (The Center for Nonviolent Communication)? This method allows you to open up to new ideas and possibilities.

Going to the Balcony allows you to speak and listen with a measure of detachment. It permits you to be open to new ideas and possibilities. Improving your ability to go to the balcony can have a positive impact on conflicts around you. Sometimes the simple act of witnessing a conflict, paying respectful attention to the parties and what they are saying, can shift the outcome (The Center for Nonviolent Communication).

  While experiencing conflict it is crucial that we take time to formulate a plan in order to be productive as we face conflict. We must be conscious of our own feelings/emotions; as well as, being certain that they are being controlled, so that our feelings/emotions are not acted out in a negative manner.

Reference

          O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

          The Center for Nonviolent Communication. (n.d). The center of nonviolent communication.

Evaluating my Communication Skills

As I think about the similarities and differences between how I evaluated myself as a communicator and how others evaluated me; it is clear that those who are dear to my life perceived me in the same form as I see myself. I always knew that some individuals would examine me for who I am, while others develop their own concept in a different/new light. The one thing that surprised me the most would have been the fact that the individuals evaluation was parallel to my own analyze of who I am and how I communicate to others.

This outcome was shocking because I have realized that I am representing myself in a true appearance, and that those who are familiar with my character our interpretation balanced out equally. I have always viewed myself to be a sympathetic communicator by being affectionate and caring in order to completely understand another person’s conditions in life.When perceiving others, we often try to explain why they say something or act in a certain way, especially if their behavior does not exactly fit our existing schema (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012, p. 40).

However, I believe that in order to be a competent communicator we must refrain frombeing narrow minded and forming the idea that others might not have the potential due to their situations and/or circumstances. We cannot be blinded by our own circumstances, socioeconomic, or geographical experiences for it might cloud our perception of other people’s reality (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012, p. 36).  We must make better sense of the world so that our perception may be accurate and valid. We have to begin to look beyond the obvious and to refrain from developing our thoughts solely on what is easily recognized. However, there are more hidden factors that are complex and powerful; and in order to become aware of the world around us we must become interested in learning what is below the surface of a person’s true character, and not only focusing on what is easily seen.

I can benefit from this knowledge in my professional and personal life by ensuring that I am appreciating everyone’s identity and to not discredit or marginalize any person who appear different from myself. Everyone wants to feel visible and that they belong; therefore, implementing inclusiveness is vital in this profession and in life as well.

Reference

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). B . New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Different Strategies of Communication

          Different situations force us to use different strategies of communication. I find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures. While conversing with neighbors, friends, and family; I am able to be my true self. I can relax, live life without trying to appear so perfect and put together. I am allowed to express who I am inside and out without being concerned with being judged or picked apart. My language does not have to be “correct” and informal speech is acceptable.

While being in the workplace I have to be sharp and punctual. I have to communicate in a way that appears as though I am competent in my work and error is not pleasing. Meeting the minimum requirements is not satisfactory and I must remain sure and free from doubt in regards to conversing with youth and their families. I have to be at my best and fully conscious in a professional manner. While working with children/families I must be understanding, patient, compassionate, and considerate in the way I communicate.

Three Strategies

Three strategies I could use to help my communication to be more effective with others would be:

-     To stay empathic and sensitive to the perception of others, while remaining mindful and responsive to their way of thinking.

-     Stay open-minded to families in order to ensure that they feel visible and respected.

-     To uncover my own biases while being open that people have different perspectives. To ask questions in order to better understand a family and/or situation.

Television Show- Toddlers and Tiaras

For this assignment I tuned in with my nieces and we watched a show called, “Toddlers & Tiaras.” The experience was very entertaining because I have always heard of this program; however, I never took time to watch the episodes. Nevertheless, after watching a piece of the segment, I attempted to figure out the family’s relationships based on their nonverbal communication. I suddenly realized that the little girls communicated with their parents and pageant coaches by throwing tantrums and/or fits. I observed a lot of facial expressions that insinuated that the girls were at times unhappy and irritated. I noticed one girl who stormed out the room with her hands folded, and with her lips pooched out due to being upset about a situation. It appeared that no matter how out of line the children were; the parents obeyed their little girl’s demands, and allowed for them to react in negative ways when things did not go the way they anticipated. The parents demonstrated praise and excitement for their little girls by presenting; smiles, hugs, high fives, cheering, etc when their child did a great job and their body language displayed feelings of defeat when their child did not perform to their best potential.

Now, I watched the same scene with the sound turned on and concluded that my observation was accurate. One family seemed as though their relationship with their little girl was based on doing what she wanted and to give in to her wants. Another family allowed their child to misbehave when things did not go her way. When the little girls became upset with how things were going throughout the pageant; consequently, it lead to yelling, temper tantrums, rage, and frustration. One little girl demonstrated a sudden burst of anger, and pointed her finger firmly; with her face frowned ordering the camera crew to “get out of my face.”

The assumptions that I made about the show would have most likely been the same had I watched a show that I knew well. The nonverbal communication displayed in the show appeared evident that the children experienced feelings of being upset and uncomfortable in certain instances. I was aware that something went wrong; however, during my observation I was unable to decipher what occurred specifically.

I have learned that communication involves more than two or more people conversing back and forth. We have to be conscious of a person’s nonverbal communication and to be willing to listen and/or observe behaviors of others. Communication can have ample meanings and may supply different explanations as well. We have to be able to communicate in numerous ways in order to be effective and competent while working with others.

 

A Competent Communicator

       When I think of someone who demonstrates competent communication within a particular context, I would describe my grandmother, who is a devoted and a loving pastor, Eldress Mary Henderson.

 Her behavior allows her to shine so bright because she is truly knowledgeable in the things that she says and represents; as well as, displaying the type of lifestyle that is parallel to her beliefs. She talks on a level that allows her to be understood and she never places herself so high that she cannot understand others. My grandmother’s passion guides her ability to be transparent in the things that she says in regards to Christ; and due to her faith in Christ, it provides her the confidence to preach about who God is. My grandmother has the ability to retain the attention of others when she preaches because her love for Christ sparkles through as she delivers her message and/or sermons.

I would greatly want to model some of my own communication behaviors after my grandmother because when she speaks, she speaks in order to reach out to others; which kindles her passion for God. She enjoys preaching and she is happy to be an example for Christ. She has shown me and has taught me to stand strong in the things that I truly hold dear to my heart and believe.

 

 

 

Professional Hopes and Goals

               One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds will be that diversity will be conceptualized and experienced positively. We all hold value and worth within ourselves; however, I hope that one day we can refrain from marginalizing a group of people in order to ensure the gain of another.

“As competitors in this race, we can win only as much as others lose; to ensure that there will always be someone behind us, we divide humanity by race and accord some groups more power than others” (Ramsey, 2004).

We can all be considered “winners” in society; but, we must address and improve our way of thinking in regards to family diversity. Programs must be created to ensure inclusiveness and a fair chance for all children. We need to be open to the fact that people are different from ourselves; however, it should not be viewed as being indifferent or abnormal.

          One goal I will like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is that no child feels alienated due to their race/background. I would like to ensure that all cultures receive the same recognition of importance in order for all children to feel comfortable and free to express themselves. We must come together with love and with a willing heart to offer a peaceful moment to the world, because love is the greatest gift of all.

Thank you

             I will like to say thank you to all of my colleagues for your support, thoughts, and dedication. As we continue this journey, I hope that our hearts continue to expand with the desire to make a difference in young children’s lives. Nevertheless, let’s continue to change ourselves for the better, so that we will be able to lead by example in regards to making this world a better place.

 

Reference

Ramsey, P. G. (2004). Teaching and learning in a diverse world (pp. 3–6). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Welcoming an Indonesian Family

“As an early childhood professional you will encounter children from diverse backgrounds whose families may have come from many different countries.”

I will like to welcome a family from Indonesia into my childcare center. My mission is to make sure that the family feels comfortable and welcomed as they enter into their new educational journey. I know nothing about this culture; however, I am preparing myself to welcome the child and her family, so that they feel respected and included. Luckily for me, I am enrolled in a course about diversity and I have learned that in order to support families who have immigrated, I need to know more than surface facts about their country of origin.

My Preparation

First, I will prepare myself to be receptive to the things that are new and/or different from me. However, remaining unbiased and opened minded that the family may not share similar customs or remedies.  

2^nd, communication is key; therefore, I will conduct a research on language in order to prepare whether or not I will need a translator to adequately conduct the meeting between the family and myself.

3^rd, I will ask relevant questions in regards to the family’s culture, values, and/or beliefs (pertaining to their educational desires for their child).

4^th, I will ask the family to state their expectations, so that I will be aware of what the family expects from my center, and the different type of learning techniques that the family may believe will help their child to learn.

5^th, after obtaining needed information about the child and her family, I will discover if the family is willing to be partakers (family participation) in their child’s learning process. And if so, I will discover ways to include the family without being too pushy or demanding.

I am expecting that these preparations will benefit both me and the family in order to work together to ensure that their child is receiving high quality education. I hope that a relationship and trust will be formed, in order to continue to partner together to make certain that the family’s educational needs are met and that the child and her family feel important, visible, and respected.

 

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

When I was a small child I can recall one memory of an incident when I experienced bias behavior. I remember always been made fun of and being questioned whether or not I was truly an African American. I was teased and made fun of due to my light sandy hair and my light skin complexion. Other kids treated me unfair at times and I always wondered why. It was not until my mother explained to me that some view a black person as not having healthy hair and only being dark in color. I appeared different from my siblings; therefore, my being was questioned on several occasions. I can remember being asked “are you adopted?” as well as being questioned by my own race.

This specific bias diminished the state of equity because I was treated unfair and the behavior insinuated that blacks are not viewed as being privileged in their outer appearance. Some people have tunnel vision and have a fixed opinion on how a black person should appear, behave, etc.

It will take for everyone to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity. Everyone will have to change their perception on things that appear different from themselves in order to all to experience equity in the world.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Often times, some US citizens are being alienated in their own land and are being treated indifferent due to appearing “different from the norm.” At times, people are blind to their own biases and prejudices due to the fact that their intentions may not be purposed to cause another to feel inferior or less than being adequate.

 I can recall a time when I walked into a clothing store and was not greeted while I entered the establishment; and shortly after, another person from a different race made the same entrance and received a warm greeting. As I finished accumulating my items I stood at the counter for checkout. The same person who I mentioned above walked and approached the same store counter; and then she was asked “ma’am are you ready to check out?” I felt invisible and disregarded at this point, because clearly I was being treated as unimportant, insufficient, and devalued as well.

I felt as though the other person was being considered a more valued customer, and that I was seen as being lesser than. Even though the lady never verbally expressed her microaggressions, the body language that I received spoke louder than words.

I have realized that some individuals are unaware and unconscious of their own behaviors and may not intentionally mean to cause harm, but harm is being done to others. I am learning how to overlook a lot of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes. People will only improve if they are willing to learn in order to become knowledgeable about things that seem different from themselves. The main key is to  remain conscious of our own behaviors.

                                                                                                      

My Family Culture

The idea of becoming a victim of a major catastrophe that completely devastated the infrastructure of the USA would be threatening and mortifying. Nevertheless, if I was informed that I may only bring three items along as my family and I evacuated to another country; I would be lost in knowing what small items to bring. However; I would bring three items that I hold dear and that represents my family culture; for example, a photo book, music, and bible.

 

Pictures hold memories of why our families are vital in our lives. My family is not only important, but they are my everything; and the photo book that I would bring along will remind me of the great memories that we once shared together.

                                                  Music is important in my culture because it brings us together and allows us to reunite in order to have a fun time as one.

 

                                            

My family believes that while measuring the things that matters the most in life, our faith is number one and family follows after. We walk in a light that we are not afraid of our beliefs and we value the things that we believe is right and wrong.

I would experience a feeling of hopelessness and incompleteness if I discovered that I would only be allowed to carry one personal item and forced to surrender the other items that I brought with me, and I would probably put up a fight in the thought of having to leave behind important pieces of my life.

 

FINAL BLOG ASSIGNMENT- When I Think of Research.......

 

I have learned great insights about research from taking this course of study. Research develops a guideline system in order to solve and/or understand different problems. It begins as a search for finding answers to questions in order to make better sense of a subject. Research is an extensive investigation into a matter in order to discover facts and truth.

My ideas about the nature of doing research have not changed; however, it has broadened and expanded throughout the period of completing this class. I believe that it is important to implement a starting point, so that further investigation may be completed. In my opinion, I feel as though research is very compatible in regards to young children, their families, and people who care about their well-being. Research provides new knowledge and understanding to issues that exist in the world today.

It is crucial to develop needed information in order to refrain from making the research extremely flawed. Following a guideline in order to plan, design, and conduct research in the early childhood field is vital. I have learned that research is more effectively achieved once facts and/or data is collected. Researchers must stay away from making assumptions or having negative views about individuals and/or groups before gathering accurate facts, because may cause the research to lose its validity and value.

Before completing this course, it was challenging to understand what parts of a research article could be skipped over and what needs to be studied in order to understand what the article is about. Once I discovered and learned a proper way to read research articles, I found it easier to read and understand the information and I was able to conserve time spent on the information obtained as well.

My perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course. It is vital that we become persistent learners; because the field of education is forever changing, and one great way to stay aware of how children grow and thrive is discovering facts through research. I believe that research will provide an opportunity for educators to master new skills in order to better serve young children in the educational field.

As this course comes to an end, I would like to thank my colleagues for their support, comments, and encouraging words throughout this course. Your professional groundwork and commitment has shaped and embedded my success in this field of study. Thank you and good luck to you all.

 

Research Around the World

                      

           I chose to research Early Childhood Development Virtual University, (ECDVU), in Sub-Saharan Africa.  It is transparent that early childhood research is being conducted worldwide, and the common goal is to improve the quality of life for children and their families. ECDVU seeks to accomplish this goal by working with other leaders from across the globe.

Some of the current international research topics that grasped my eye are;

-Development of a Model Framework for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in their Early Years in Ghana

-Assessment of Interaction and Stimulation in Single-Mother Low-Income Families in Malawi

-Improving the Quality of Childcare through Parenting Enrichment and Training of Trainers: The Eritrean Model

-Involving Fathers in Early Childhood Care and Development in Nigeria

         I researched the article by Rosemary Hua, Involving Fathers in Early Childhood Care and Development.  I was surprised to learn that men have little to do with young children. Nyerere (1998) reported that cultural norms that affect fathers’ participation in childcare practices could affect development and the general well-being of children, including the quality of family life. The objective of this study is to investigate the current roles of fathers and explore ways to increase the involvement of fathers and other males in childcare (ECDVU).

This fact is surprising to me because I have gained great insight in regards to the need of father’s taking an active role in their children development as well. Society views it as the women’s responsibility to care for a young child; however, this situation is being created by cultural norms. When both parents bring up children, they thrive better (Hua, 1986).

 

Reference

Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/majorreports.php

Hua, R. (1986). Involving Fathers in Early Childhood Care and Development.  A Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of masters of Arts in the School of Child and Youth Care, Faculty of Human and Social Development. M.Ed., University of Jos, Nigeria, 1986.

                                                    

 

Research that Benefits Children and Families- Uplifting Stories

                                                       

Research has positive and negative effects on children and/or families. Quality research requires knowledge, skills, and experience. However, not all research is accurate or precise. Research may be difficult due to the way individuals view the world; however, if the research is transparent and well designed, it can make positive differences in the lives of children (Naughton, 2010).

One positive example of the effects of research on children and/or families is that research allows us to advance in our knowledge in regards to human development. My niece was born with a rare birth defect; which lead to her having a hole in her lung at birth. She was transported to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas Texas for further medical treatment. This center is dedicated exclusively to care for and to meet medical needs of children. Research has proven that this issue stems from something going wrong with the development of a baby’s lung throughout pregnancy. Research offers new knowledge in order to discover the cause of the problem, its symptoms, and/ or treatments to reduce the effects. Without quality research we could not effectively work with children or alleviate the issues/problems that they face.

Without searching for answers and solutions to situations that occur in the world, we would not be well informed in order to understand children and their families.

 

Reference

          Mac Naughton, G., Rolfe, S.A., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing early childhood research: International perspectives on theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

 

My Personal Research Journey

           As a child, I can recall enjoying and being passionate about working with young children. The innocence on their faces and the love in their hearts has always drawn me to this age group. I have always known that many aspects in a child’s life will affect their development. However, I have recently realized that providing high quality education and care is vital in order to ensure that all children are given an equal chance to succeed in school and in their lives. I strongly believe that lessons begin at home and there is a need for parents to become more involved in their children’s learning and development. Adequate and excellent teaching is needed for children to stay ahead to ensure that they are reaching their full potential.

           While providing high quality education and care, I also want to discover more information in order to implement skills and to provide children with tools to survive and maneuver outside the classroom. Education is now focused on academics alone; however, I have gained great insight on the importance of looking at a child holistically instead of having a side track vision on only academics.

          As educators, we should not sacrifice the things that children need by solely focusing on academics. Children need tools to develop social skills so that they will grow to understand how to cope in life as well.

          Please feel free to offer any advice or knowledge about this issue. I would appreciate any insight that may be beneficial in my process of completing research on this topic.  

Final Blog Assignment

 

I was unable to reach out to an international contact for this course; however, I gained insight from my colleagues and the podcasts provided throughout the 8 weeks of class. As I look back to review the information that I have obtained in regards to the international early childhood field, my professional and personal development has improved and expanded.

Three Consequences:

1)    The US and other countries are struggling to adequately take action in regards to the reality that children are lacking basic material in their home environments; in which, the deprivation is affecting young children’s school performance and their ability to retain information in the classroom.

2)    Although we come from different worlds, professionals from the US and other countries have similar views about the need in providing children with high-quality education and care, even though implementing the urgent need is not up to par.

3)    The US is doing away with other methods of teaching; such as, play, creativity, exploration, etc. US school systems are now focused on drilling children to obtain information instead of remembering that different forms of teaching can be more beneficial for children to succeed in school and in life.

One Goal:

I plan to apply myself more in discovering ways to stay aware of and bring awareness to others in regards to children who are suffering the most in the world; particularly, the lack of quality care and education, poor living environments, etc.

We must remember that one day we will age and become just as vulnerable in our future as young children are today. If we fail to build up our children toward success, the failure falls back on us. We will be unable to leave the responsibility of the working field in the hands of generations to come, due to the lack of education and/or competency. We will be denying not only our children, but ourselves for a better future.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts- Part 3

Alternative:

I explored the UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” webpage this week in order to obtain information about issues related to international early childhood education. As I visited the site thoroughly, it is clear that there is a need for early childhood care and education for all children around the world.

The site explained the importance for children to obtain education at an early age, particularly from birth to eight years old. This period is crucial because it is the time of remarkable brain growth. These years lay the foundation for subsequent learning and development. As professionals, we must ensure that all young children develop their potential to the fullest. We have to look more in depth into children’s holistic development by attending to their health, nutrition, security, and development.

Learning begins at birth; we must guide our children in order to provide them with direction so that they will be capable of performing adequately and sufficiently in their life ahead. We must provide all children with skills and techniques so that they are developing to become whole.

High quality childcare, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, promotes motivation, confidence, good cognitive and linguistic development and school readiness. Participating countries committed themselves to “expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.” Central governments must ensure an equitable distribution of resources among different populations and especially those who live in the most disadvantaged regions.

Active involvement from parents and communities, and relevant play and learning materials ensure that early childhood services remain relevant to the needs of the children and all other stakeholders and increases sustainability.  Parent and community engagement is vital while working with young children. We must all work together for the good of children in order to reach our goal to improve the quality of care for young children.

 

 

 

Zero to Three

 

The Caring Connections podcast series focuses on the important relationships and quality interactions that support the very youngest children and their families. I have realized that not only do children deserve high quality programs in school; they also need quality living environments as well. Young children need positive messages of security and trust, comfort, belonging, and freedom to move and explore.

This site provides great resources and information in order to fully understand how everything surrounding young children may affect their development, and how we may supply great opportunities for young children as well.

Resources Referred to in this Podcast:

Book:

J. Ronald Lally & Jay Stewart, Infant/Toddler Caregiving: A Guide to Setting Up Environments, (Sacramento, CA: California Department of Education, 1990), 2.

e-newsletters:

Early Head Start National Resource Center, “Learning at Home and Homelike Environments,”

News You Can Use, February 2011: http://www.ehsnrc.org/Publications/nycu_archive/nycu_environment2.htm

Early Head Start National Resource Center, “Environment as Curriculum for Infants and

Toddlers,” News You Can Use, July 2010:  http://www.ehsnrc.org/Publications/nycu_archive/nycu_environment1.htm

 

 

Getting To Know Your International Contacts- Part 2

This week I completed the alternative assignment; Harvard’s University’s “Global Children’s Initiative”

The commitment to global work is to meet the needs of all children in order to invest in the roots of economic productivity, positive health outcomes, and strong civil society in all nations.

Zambian Early Childhood Development Project

While a large number of studies have investigated the impact of early childhood experiences on children’s developmental, health, and educational outcomes in developed countries, relatively little evidence is available on early childhood development in sub-Saharan Africa. To address this knowledge gap, the Zambian Early Childhood Development Project (ZECDP) was launched in 2009. It was a collaborative effort to measure the effects of an ongoing anti-malaria initiative on children’s development in Zambia (Global Children’s Initiative).

The Zambian Child Assessment Test (ZamCAT) was created to review children’s development before and throughout their journey in school.

The ZECDP collaborators hope that the data collected will not only improve the understanding of child development, but to help identify key interventions towards improved outcomes in a rapidly changing developing world.

Un Buen Comienzo

Un Buen Comienzo (UBC), “A Good Start,” is a collaborative project in Santiago, Chile, to improve early childhood education through teacher professional development. The idea is to improve the quality of educational offerings for four-to-six-year-olds, particularly in the area of language development. This project is also designed to intervene in critical health areas that improve school attendance as well as socio-emotional development, and it seeks to involve the children's families in their education.

UBC also incorporates a comprehensive evaluation: a cluster-randomized experiment in all 60 schools. This type of longitudinal evaluation in early education has not been carried out in any other country in Latin America and will place Chile at the forefront of demonstrating the impact of a high-quality early education.

Applying the Science of Early Childhood in Brazil

As part of its Global Children’s Initiative, the Center is launching Núcleo Ciência Pela Infância, its first major programmatic effort outside the United States. In collaboration with local experts, this project aims to use the science of child health and development to guide stronger policies and larger investments to benefit young children and their families in Brazil (Global Children’s Initiative).

Reference

Center on the Developing Child. Harvard University: Global Children’s Initiative (http://developingchild.harvard.edu./initiatives/global/initiative/

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

Sharing Web Resources

The information that seemed relevant to my current professional development is the website, The Zero to Three. I have a 17month old son and I also have a passion for working with young children, so this website seemed obvious for me to study more in depth. The information provided me with great insight in order to be able to take care of a person during the early period in life. Even though the website provided sections designed to help individuals in supporting and nurturing the health and develop of babies and toddlers, I devoted my time in reviewing the section; behavior and health, regarding to play. The first three years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a baby’s development (Zero and Three, 2012).

            There’s a lot happening during playtime. Children are busy when they’re playing. And, more than that, they are learning. They are learning key scientific concepts, such as what sinks and floats; mathematical concepts, including how to balance blocks to build a tower; and literacy skills, such as trying out new vocabulary or storytelling skills as children “act out” different roles. Play is the true work of childhood (Zero and Three, 2012). These social-emotional skills give them the self-esteem and self-confidence they need to continue building loving and supportive relationships all their lives (Zero and Three, 2012).

            The information from the website adds to my understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field. These voices are realizing that investing into young children is vital because this is the time were they are learning and are developing a sense of who they are. Through play, children learn problem-solving, interpersonal skills, communication, and other skills integral to success in school and life (Jacobson, 2004). These professionals are seeing that play is vital for young children’s brain development. Different types of play may be beneficial during growth as well; such as, exploring, the use of imagination, physical play, etc. Play aides a child’s thinking because they are so curious about the things around them. As a baby grows he learns to use his body to make new discoveries, transforming into learning to communicate better with gestures, sounds, and words and eventually able to process things and develop problem solving skills.

            Another great insight that I gained from exploring this website is parents are their child’s favorite toy, and perhaps nothing is more essential and rewarding than the enjoyment children experiences from time spent playing with their parents (Jacobson, 2004).

Reference

Jacobson, S. (2004). The Power of Play: Learning through play from birth to three. Zero to Three: A national nonprofit promoting the healthy development of babies and toddlers www.zerotothree.org

Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families www.zerotothree.org

 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 1

I have been unable to make contact with any professionals; therefore, I took the route of completing this assignment using the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre’s page. I read about childhood poverty in India, and I will share insight that I have gained from studying the website.

 

India is home to the majority of poor people in South Asia. An estimated 400 million of the population are between 0-18 years. Almost half of all children (about 62 million) under the age of five are malnourished and 34 percent of newborns are significantly underweight. Children lack education due to being forced to work. It has the largest numbers of working children in the world, with nearly a third of children below 16 years working (Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre).

 

Gender biases continue to pervade all aspects of life and particularly limit girls' life chances. The cycle of disadvantage starts at birth and continues through childhood to motherhood and the next generation. Though the reasons for gender discrimination are well-known and are related to a perception that boys are permanent members of a family while girls are only temporary members wide (Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre).

 

I have gained knowledge on the issue of poverty this week. I knew poverty existed in our world; however, I did not realize that so many young children are suffering and are more affected. Children are being born into situation regarding to poverty and are being left to fend for themselves at times. Today's poor children are all too often tomorrow's poor parents. Poverty can be passed on from generation to generation affecting the long-term health, well-being and productivity of families and of society as a whole. Poverty denies opportunities to people of all ages; however, as one of the most powerless groups in society, children often bear the physical and emotional costs of poverty. Tackling childhood poverty is therefore critical for eradicating poverty and injustice world-wide (Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre).

Reference

CHIP: Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/

Sharing Web Resources

There were many great professional contacts to choose from on the list of resources. However, I chose Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families in order to obtain information to assist me in my work of wanting to establish a daycare center; while working with children and their families more effective. Zero to Three mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers. Zero to Three is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.

One of the newsletters from Zero to Three discussed ways to cope after exposure to a traumatic event. Learning to cope with situations is a vital technique that all families should teach their children to become able and be trained to do. Many unexpected circumstances occur on a daily basis; for example, the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary has been especially distressing to families with young children.  This resource is designed to help parents navigate this very challenging time.

The primary role of parents is to protect children. One important way to do this is to prevent their exposure to information they cannot handle. Young children do not need to be told about traumatic events that they have no way of understanding. So it is best to:

 •Turn off TV and radio news reports; don't leave newspapers lying around.

 •Ask friends and family not to discuss the scary event around your child.

 •Maintain your child's regular routine.

 

Behaviors you might see in young children who have been exposed to a scary or traumatic event:

 •Increased clinginess, crying and whining

 •Greater fear of separation from parents

 •Increase in aggressive behavior

 •More withdrawn and harder to engage

 •Play that acts out scary events

 •Changes in sleeping and eating patterns

 •More easily frustrated and harder to comfort

 •A return to earlier behaviors, like frequent night-wakening and thumb-sucking

 

What you can do:

 •Respond to your child's need for increased attention, comfort and reassurance.  This will make him feel safer sooner.

 •Pay close attention to your child's feelings and validate them. Ignoring feelings does not make them go away.

 •Help your child identify her feelings by naming them (scary, sad, angry, etc.).

 •Offer your child safe ways to express feelings, such as drawing, pretend play, or telling stories.

 •Don't discourage your child's play because you find it disturbing.  Young children work through frightening events by reenacting them through play. If your child seems to be distressed by his play, comfort him and redirect him to another activity.

 •Be patient and calm when your child is clingy, whiny, or aggressive. He needs you to help him regain control and feel safe.

 •Answer children's questions according to their level of understanding: "Yes, a bad thing happened but we are keeping you safe."

And critically:

Tune in to your own feelings and get the support you need to cope. Managing your own emotions allows you to exude a sense of calm, and lets your child know that you are strong and in control, which is the most powerful way to let your child know she is safe

Link
http://www.zerotothree.org/