Saturday, December 7, 2013

My Supports

In my daily environment, I have support from my husband. He encourages me in so many ways. He can automatically tell when I have had a bad day. He knows that in choosing to go back to school that it is a challenge and he does all he can to support me. He sends a daily bible verse via text knowing that words of encouragement are so important and uplifting. This type of support is fulfilling and helps to keep nurturing me to want to succeed. I never take support for granted because it is so important.

My daughter supports me as well even though she is only 11 yrs. old. She knows that her mommy works hard and deciding to go back to was a difficult but needed decision I had to make. She ensures that she does her chores and helps out around the house. She keeps me grounded and focused on what my goals are. We do our homework together, she understands that getting an education is very important. I am so thankful she likes school and enjoys learning.

Having this type of support helps me to keep going and moving towards this career in early childhood. I sometimes feel overwhelmed and frustrated especially since I have no prior experience in this field but it is my passion and I know if I preserve I will find employment in this job sector. I have felt so full and have enjoyed interacting with the children. They love to explore, learn, sing and dance. I feel as though I would be a great contributor to early childhood education. My goal is to be an advocate for early childhood and their families.   

It would be very difficult for me to exist without these supports, I would not know what to do without having the support of my family. If these supports were gone tomorrow. I do not know how I would go on without their support. It would definitely affect how I would continue on in my life because we have created an everlasting bond of support for one another. I did not have a great deal of support in my early childhood growing up, so it was important for me to create a support system when I became a mother and wife.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

My Connections to Play

Play quotes

"Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity." ~ Kay Redfield Jamison (Professor of Psychiatry)

"Play builds the kind of free-and-easy, try-it-out, do-it-yourself character that our future needs."~ James L. Hymes Jr. (Child development specialist, author)

I was supported with play in that my father built me a play house in our back yard allowing for me to be imaginative, playing house, a teacher who had students, pretending I had a kitchen and cooking. Everyone loved to come to my house and play in my playhouse it was different and unique. I can remember feeling like I had accomplished something great by pretending to be a teacher and instructing my friends to do their school work. I would pass out paper for them to draw and create pictures. I also had a sandbox my dad built it was fun creating sand castles and pretend searching for treasures.

Play today is very different than when I was growing up technology has taken over how children play today. They don't engage in outside play as they did when I was a child. I grew up in the 70's and we had no technological games then, all we had were games to play outside. We would play hopscotch, double dutch, red light , green light, skating, hand games, bobby jacks (my favorite) and kickball. These were fun interactive games where we all would play at once not like video games where a limited number of people can play. I hope the young today are introduced to more play activities especially outside games where they are interactive and moving. I think the first Lady's "Let's Move" campaign is a great initiative.

Throughout my life we were made to go outside and play the minute we said we were bored. I can remember begging my mom to go outside and ride my bike in the hot summer months and she would say "it's to hot to go outside wait until the sun goes down." I would cry because I wanted to just ride my bike. I can remember just feeling free when I rode my bike.  The role of play is very important throughout childhood and adulthood. Play allows you to continue to  build social skills and stay active as you grow older. Play allows you to continue to use your motor skills, water play , bowling, bike riding are great ways for families to interact.  









Saturday, November 9, 2013

Relationship Reflection

Relationships and partnerships are important to me in that having positive relationships are very helpful with nurturing you as a person, having a form of relationships that are encouraging when you may feel vulnerable. I think that having a genuine relationship of trust and having a confidant to go to and feel comfortable within your relationship with a person to be able to go to them about everything and anything. When you build relationships especially positive and encouraging it makes you as well as the other person feel safe, loved and cared for. I think that as you grow into adulthood those relationships that you have built along the way especially nurturing and encouraging from childhood you learn to appreciate and be grateful of those relationships.

My relationship with my husband is a growing and positive relationship we have been together for thirteen years. We have grown up together and built a relationship learning about each other along the way. We encourage each other by being supportive, positive and listening to each other. We have built a family and relationship on trust, respect and love. This relationship is one that has developed and continues to be stronger with time.

My relationship with my daughter is a very positive relationship she is only ten years old but very wise beyond her years every day she amazes me with what she has learned. I have built a relationship with her of trust, encouragement, nurturing, live and life long lessons. I know that she is reaching the age of middle childhood where these can be the challenging age of childhood. I plan to be supportive and a good listener still providing that love and mother nourishment she will need to bring her into adulthood.      

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Children's Quote

While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about ~ Angela Schwindt

Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury . Play is a necessity~ Kay Redfield Jamison

www.quotegarden.com

These quotes are true and heartfelt in my opinion. They are an expression of what I feel about children.   

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Assessing Emotional Intelligence

This weeks blog is about assessing young children. I have decided to research the emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence has been described as the ability to perceive and express emotions to understand and use them, also foster personal growth through controlling emotions. (Salovey, Bedell, Detueler and Mayer, 2000,). Through social intelligence you should be able to perceive, appraise and express emotions. Access and generate feelings when they facilitate understanding. Understand affect-laden information and make use of emotional knowledge. Regulate emotions to show intellectual growth and well being. Emotional intelligence affects performance, physical health, mental health and relationships.  I feel teaching a child emotional intelligence will be the responsibility of the parents as well as the teacher assisting in the assessing.

South Africa

In South Africa the government there has begun what is called an "Action Plan to 2014: Towards the Realization of Schooling" it is the government's newest strategy for turning around education in that country. They have created a new curriculum which its main focus is literacy and numeracy. The program Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) will provide particular guidelines to streamline what is taught in schools the goal being to close the divide between well resourced and poor schools. They are also going to use standardized assessments of grades, third, sixth, and ninth to better track its progress, placing an emphasis on early child development.  


www.southafrica.info

www.helpguide.org

www.education.com

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Stressors in Early Childhood

Racism

I personally have not experienced any of the stressors in this week's learning but I know of someone who has experienced racism as a child. He stated that he was very confused about not being able to go to certain places and not being able to interact but with children of his own race. He stated that it was very hurtful to see signs that stated "whites only". He could remember being bussed to school and his ride taking a long time due to the location of the school, he would often fall asleep on his ride home.  To cope he said his mother was very religious and they prayed a lot. He stated that they knew that if they had faith eventually times were going to change and that their lives would be better.  

Haiti
"Hunger worse than ever, children especially vulnerable"

The town officials in the town of Mabriole fear that death is in the near feature for these children in this town if Haitian authorities and humanitarian workers do not assist more to deter these hunger issues. Malnutrition is growing rapid for babies, children, and youngsters. Since the earthquake three years ago many were killed and international donors had made promises to help build Haiti the hunger problem has gotten worse.

Today 67 percent of the population in Haiti goes without food some days and cannot afford a balanced diet or has limited access to food. There are as many as 1.5 million people who suffer from malnutrition and other hunger related problems. The newly elected president Michel Martelly plans to initiate a plan to end the number of people suffering from hunger by 2016 and ending hunger and malnutrition by 2025.

The goal is to create a school food program where approximately 2.2 million children are supposed to participate. About 60,000 mothers are to have received cash transfers for encouraging their children to remain in school to obtain an education.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/11

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Breastfeeding

Week 2 Childhood Development

This week the topic to discuss is about Public Health areas of concern. I have chose breastfeeding.

This topic is meaningful to me in that when I had my daughter. I attempted to breastfeed her because I knew that was the best milk and would be a way for me to bond with her. I tried in the hospital but she would not latch on. The nurse advised me that the hospital had a pump rental and so I decided to rent a pump I did that for a few weeks. Since she was not latching on I decided to see a la leche nurse to help me with the technique but my daughter for some reason did not like the breast milk. That frustrated me but I was not going to force it, you definitely need patience and time when deciding to breastfeed. We still had (have) a great bond even though it did not work out with the breastfeeding. I found out often boys do latch on better than girls.

Breastfeeding in West & Central Africa

-The duration of breastfeeding is 20 months
-The percentage of exclusive breastfed babies only is about 20 percent
-It is deeply rooted in the tradition and practice of countries, communities, and caregivers
-West and Central Africa has the highest infant mortality rates and lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates worldwide
-Unicef, local governments, and non-governmental organizations have helped to increase early initiation, and the duration of breastfeeding

I have learned that breastfeeding is an important source of nutrition for an infant and the benefits of the milk from the mother are great. I know that having a bond with your child can and will be created in many ways not just through breastfeeding. I feel that sharing my experience with breastfeeding could help someone who was experiencing difficulty and was frustrated. It is ok if it does not work out you can still bond with your baby. The important thing is at least you attempted to breastfeed.

http://www.unicef.org/


Sunday, September 8, 2013

Personal birthing experience

First week in Childhood Development:

My personal birthing experience is the birth of my daughter. I remember the joy and the excitement of her coming into the world. We were both nervous and so excited. I remember the hospital staff being so nice and helpful. We had taken Lamaze classes so that helped with my breathing techniques. I just remember the contractions becoming so intense and the breathing strategy I lost it after a awhile (lol). My poor husband was so scared. I had to have an emergency C-section due to my daughter not coming down the birth canal.  We were new parents and our families lived in another state so we did not have family who could be there with us

I chose this example because it was one of the happiest moments in my life I had always wanted a "little girl".

I feel that the birth of a child and the development can be affected in that if they did not get the proper nutrition or if they were exposed to harmful drugs while in the mother's womb that can delay their development when they are born. The affects are that they can be born prematurely and suffer from developmental delays in learning.

Child births in Japan

Women in Japan strive to give births without painkillers.
They believe that labor should be experienced without medication testing their preparation for motherhood.
Japanese women deliver in hospitals the father of the child may only be in the delivery room if acting as a labor coach and can only be present at the birth if he has taken prenatal classes with the mother. If the mother has to have a C-section he has to go to the waiting room.

Hospital stays in Japan are longer than the U.S., for a vaginal birth the stay is 5 days, for a C-section delivery the stay is 10 days.

The mother and baby stay a the mother's parents home for a month or longer after leaving the hospital. The culture tradition is that women stay in bed with their baby for 21 days . Friends and family greet the new baby they join the family in eating a celebration dish of osekihan (red rice with red beans).

Japan is similar to the U.S. in that they require the father to wait in the waiting area if the mother has to have a C-section. My husband had to wait in the waiting room since I had to have this procedure as well. A woman who has had a C-section in Japan stays in the hospital for 10 days in the U.S women can stay approximately 3-4 days, I was released in 3 days . A vaginal birth in Japan the hospital stay is 5 days in the U.S. the stay could be 2-3 days then a mother can be released.

I think that not taking any painkillers could be very risky. Everyone's body may not be able to handle the pressure or the affects afterwards that the body could experience. I personally would want my birthing experience to be as comfortable as possible. I know that not taking painkillers is a part of some cultures.

www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth





  












Friday, September 6, 2013

Thanks to Classmates


08/24/2013 23:21

Thanks to all of my classmates and Professor for your insight, knowledge and encouragement I wish you all much success in your career's and future endeavors.

CODE OF ETHICS


08/16/2013 22:53


NAEYC-

"To encourage and support continual development of employees in becoming more skilled and knowledgeable practioners." This code of ethic is meaningful to me in that I feel that by starting my career in education I would definitely need continued development ad would like to work for an employer who wants their employees to succeed and encourage you to be more skilled and knowledgeable. I like the idea of continual learning opportunities in this field.

DEC-

"We shall empower families with information and resources so that they are informed consumers of services for their children." This code of ethic is meaningful in that I know that the more you know the more you will grow by providing families with information and resources for their children the families benefit as well as the child. I feel that in my professional journey I would like to ensure that I am passing along to families and children all the information and resources that I can give abundantly.

"We shall be responsible for protecting the confidentiality of the children and families; we serve by protecting all forms of verbal, written, and electronic communication." This code of ethics should be a code of ethics for any profession that involves handling personal information. This information should always be inaccessible except by pertinent personnel. The profession I am currently working holds this sort of information to the upmost of standards. There is to be no information left out in plain view, access to personal information records should be secure at all times, no one should be able to gain access without proper authority.

COURSE RESOURCES




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


·          


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

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations


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

Additional Resources:



Favorite Quotes


07/27/2013 20:45


"My passion is to create a safer more just world for all kids" Louise Derman-Sparks

"People in the Early Childhood Education field have the ability to shape a child's life" Sandy Escobido


—————

07/27/2013 20:43


"Man must search for what is right, and let happiness come on its own"


—————

07/27/2013 20:34


"The teacher when she begins work in our schools must have a kind of faith that the child will reveal himself through work" (Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind) translated by Claude A Claremont.

"A teacher therefore, who would think that he could prepare himself for his mission through study alone would be mistaken. The first thing required of a teacher is that he be rightly disposeed for his task" (Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood) translated by M. Joseph Costello.

Personal Childhood Web


07/20/2013 20:31

PERSONAL CHILDHOOD WEB


Five people who nurtured and cared for me when I was a child


Mother


My mother has played an influential part in my life as a child she was teacher for over 30 years. She taught me to be independent, caring and strong. She provided unconditional love and taught us how to be giving, caring people. I am still influenced by her in that she encourages me to continue to strive to continue to further my education, be a loving, nurturing mother and wife.

Father


My dad was very influential even though he was only in my life for 9 years. I learned the meaning of hard work and dedication. How to be giving of myself to family and friends. He was strong caring and provided for his family. Although he was in my life for a short time I was truly a "Daddy's Girl". I can only hope and pray that I have made him proud. I am still influenced today by his tireless work ethic.

Godmother


My godmother has been so inspirational and influential. We share the same birthday and she was my mother's college roommate. She also was a teacher and to this day still does substituting. She has shown me so much unconditional love and how to be a listening ear. I can go to her for any source of advice and can expect an open minded opinion. She has been very nurturing and so influential in molding me into the person I have become.

Neighbors


My neighbors growing up all around me were very giving people. They all looked out for the children in the neighborhood. They taught us about sharing, being productive citizens to society and helping the community. Even though I don't still live in the same neighborhood they are still influential in that they taught me lifelong lessons in being generous, caring and giving back to the neighborhood.

Teacher


I have had two influential teachers who helped with teaching me and nurturing me as a person. My 12th grade English teacher and my 12th grade Business teacher. My 12th grade English teacher encouraged me to continue my education. My term paper for the end of the year she advised me to use as a guide when I go to college. She said it was so eloquent and thought provoking that I should use it to influence me when I continue to write. My business teacher made a great influence when she taught us about going to interviews and getting a job she advised us on what to wear and to be on time. I have carried that advice to this date I do not like to be late for anything. I take great pride in being on time. I am only late if there is something that is beyond my control.

My favorite childhood book


07/11/2013 21:41


My favorite childhood book when I was little was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. I actually loved most of his books. This book stands out because the words rhymed and I can remember reading this book thinking it was so cute and funny. I tried to write poetry similar to his books. His books help children in learning words, spelling and rhyming. I enjoyed reading them to my daughter when she was little; she loved the emphasis and animation I would add when I would read his books to her.

My favorite childhood Quote


07/09/2013 21:17
My favorite children's quote: "It takes a village to raise a child"
This quote is near and dear to me because as I have gotten older, I truly understand this quote. A child can be raised and influenced by so many different people in their lifetime and not truly understand until they have gotten older. Parents, grandparents, and other family members, as well as teachers can all play a major part in a child's life trying to steer the child in the right direction.

As it Begins


07/08/2013 02:50

I am excited and nervous about beginning this process although I know that it will be a challenge, I will remain positive and continue this path. You can read new posts on this blog via the RSS feed.