My Connections to Play

 As a child going outside to play was the norm. We would go outside and could play all day long.  My cousins and I would sometimes make up things to do outside.  We would play in the dirt, making mud-pies (which was my favorite)! We would jump rope and hula hoop. Our parents encouraged us to play outside. Sometimes they would come outside and join in on all the fun! The difference in play today compared to when I was growing up is children today have access to tons of electronics which we didn't have any access too.  With access to video games, I-pads, tablets, cell phones,etc. children have the tendency to stay inside.  That's when I feel parents or guardians should step in and encouraged the children to play outside.
There's nothing wrong with having electronics.   The key is to have balance between the two.  

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me because its knowing that you have someone who loves you and have someone you can trust and depend on.  The relationship I have with my mother is amazing.  She is my best friend.  Although we live 3 hours away from each other not a day goes by that we don't call or text one another. She is the first person who taught me the true meaning of having a positive relationship.  Since I was her little girl she has always taught me right from wrong.  She has always been honest with me.  By watching her I've learned how to become an amazing wife, mother and a friend.  Through her teachings I've learned that compassion is a contributing factor to being an effective early childhood professional.  She taught me happiness, compassion and empathy.  Which are all beneficial in the classroom.  

My husband who is an amazing provider and protector taught me about hard work and never giving up.  The love he has for our family is extraordinary.  He exemplifies what a true leader is.  He goes above and beyond to make sure all our needs are met.  Through his leadership I've learned this is also a contributing factor to being an effective early childhood professional.   As an educator, being a leader in the classroom teaches children to complete tasks and to maintain positive and effective relationships.

My children who are my pride and joy have taught me about love and patience.  Being a mother has taught me about selflessness and unconditional love.  I have learned that each child is different and learn differently.   Being an early childhood professional it is important to know that each child you come in contact with is not the same.  Meaning they have different backgrounds, cultures and  upbringings.  This means the way they learn things may be different from others.  It is vital as an educator to be able to  accommodate each child's needs in each area of strengths and weaknesses.  Being able to teach diverse students and maintaining a positive relationship with them and their family are also beneficial in the classroom.

When I Think of Child Development

                 This video describes the importance and benefits of early childhood development.  
                                                     
                                                   Early Childhood Development
                                                           Investing in the Future

Published on Sep 22, 2014

Early Childhood Development (ECD) spans from the moment of conception until the beginning of primary school, and includes physical well-being, and cognitive, linguistic, and socio-emotional development. Investing in ECD leads to happier children, more equal societies, and prevents higher costs further down the road.

Quotes on Children

Testing for Intelligence?

A child’s academic performance should be measured by their ability to perform in the classroom.  I am and have always been against standardized testing. I believe these tests put a lot of pressure on our youth.  Some children may perform poorly on standardized test due to testing anxiety.   I believe that a test should not be the basis of their academic ability.  All children learn differently.  Each child’s learning ability cannot be revealed through testing.

France

French primary school education remains tightly focused on facts and basic skills. Spot tests are common, especially dictations to check a child's knowledge of French grammar and spelling.

However, formal testing is relatively sparse. All children are given a national test of basic skills and knowledge at about eight years old. The test occurs – crucially – at the beginning of the third year of primary school, not at the end. There is, therefore, little pressure on the children. The main aim is to check the standard of the school.

Otherwise, most primary schools have internal tests, or contrôles, in maths, French, geography and history, and English at the end of each of the five short terms that make up a school year. A child who is struggling can be asked to redoubler, or go down a year. A brilliant child can sauter, or go up.

There is no national examination to move from primary to secondary education, simply a recommendation by a conseil of teachers and parents.

Cassidy, S. (2011, October 22). Our children tested to destruction. Retrieved from         http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/our-children-tested-to-   destruction-779790.html

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

I remember working with this beautiful 7 year old girl a few years back.  She was placed in foster care due to abuse by her mother.   The child was exceptionally smart for her age.  She would cry if she felt she done something wrong or something that she felt others would not be please with.  For example she was in the foster parent’s house and she asked the foster parent could she help make the bed.  She assisted the foster parent but then she began to cry uncontrollably.

We later figured that she was only trying to please the foster parent and she was afraid that if the foster parent was not happy then she would be reprimanded by getting a beating like her mother would give her.    She began receiving outpatient therapy and intensive in home services.  During these services she was taught coping skills to learn how to deal with her feelings of anxiety.  After several months of treatment her demeanor began to change and she was more unafraid. 

I did research on Child abuse and child exploitation in China.  The country is now addressing emerging dangers to children, such as: violence, abuse, exploitation and trafficking.  Violence against children encompasses physical, emotional, psychological and sexual mistreatment, as well as neglect. Globally, as well as in China, this problem often remains hidden because families tend to view violence against children as a “private issue.” Violence against children may also be considered acceptable. Parents and teachers may justify physical and verbal abuse as forms of discipline, but such violence actually harms children's development and lessens their ability to contribute to society.

Trafficking in children is widely recognized as abuse and exploitation. Both domestically and internationally, trafficking in children is on the rise. Demand for illegal adoptions, marriages, or sex workers drive this exploitation.  Better domestic laws are necessary to protect children, including clearer legal definitions of violence against children and reporting requirements. Relevant government and social organizations need to coordinate more effectively to provide timely help to child victims.

(United Nations Children's Fund) UNICEF collaborates with partners to prevent and respond to violence against children, and to stop child trafficking.  The goal is to identify at-risk children, and to strengthen the protection and care available to them by supporting policies and community services that build a comprehensive national child protection system.  UNICEF assists efforts to improve national laws and policies, including the proposed Law on Family Violence. 

Breastfeeding

I chose breastfeeding because breastfeeding is a natural and healthy.   This is meaningful to me because there are many benefits for the mother and the child.   I did not breastfeed my first son because i was not educated on the benefits of breastfeeding. My youngest child was breastfed and I enjoyed every minute of it.

 Some benefits for the mother is they are

• able to lose weight that was gained during the pregnancy
• less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life 
• less likely to develop ovarian and uterine cancer    

Some benefits for the baby is

• more resistant to disease and infection early in life than formula-fed children
• Breast-fed children are less likely to contract a number of diseases later in life, including juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer before the age of 15

There have been many issues in the United States with women breastfeeding in public.  I am an advocate for breastfeeding.  I feel that those who has issues with breastfeeding moms don't understand how beneficial it is for the child.  Individuals who do not understand something is susceptible to saying something harsh or ignorant.  Now I'm not saying that the mom should just pop out her boobie and feed the baby all out in the open when in public.  As long is she is using discretion and is covered there should not be any issues. 

The country Peru has a high rate of breastfeeding.  Due to its poverty and breastfeeding benefit to the health, the Ministry of Health has taken great measures to ensure that mothers don’t have to resort to buying expensive formula for their infants. In fact, Peru was the leader in breastfeeding advocacy in the 1980’s. Although exclusive breastfeeding has somehow declined since then, the numbers are still high in comparison to many first world nations.  There have been no reports of issues with breastfeeding in public in this country. 

Now and in the future I will always encourage new moms to breastfeed.  I will explain to them the many positve factors that breastfeeding entails.

Child Birth in Your Life and Around the World

I remember 15 years ago I was in the delivery room with a good friend of mine.  I remember her labor progressing rather quickly.  The nurses kept coming in to check to see how much she had dilated and I remember Christy (my friend) saying she was ready to push.  The nurses told her just a few minutes let’s wait on the doctor to get here.  Christy was screaming and said he better hurry up cause this baby is coming.  Well Christy couldn’t wait any longer and the baby’s head was crowning.  She began to push and the nurses were yelling telling her to wait.  Her husband began to get upset cause he felt as if they were trying to push the baby back in (sounds crazy right, but it did seem that way).  By the time the doctor came in the nurses was holding on to the baby and the doctor came in just in time to suction the mouth and cut the cord.  This experience made me wondered what if there could have been complications like the cord around the baby’s neck.  Maybe that is why the nurse wanted her to wait.  I know that many children are born without the assistance of a doctor, but it is vital to a baby’s development that it is born in the presence of a doctor, midwife or other health care professionals in case of any complications or emergencies.

I researched births in South Africa.  I read some of the women suffered from horrific birthing experiences.  Women experience verbal and physical abuse. They were pinched, slapped, and handled roughly during labor. Nurses continuously ignored calls for help. After delivery, the mother and baby are left unattended for very long periods.  Women are discharged inappropriately.  Women sent home with no antibiotics or pain medication.  Women in labor women were refused admission, they were not even examined. Women sent home after Cesarean section with no medications, painkillers, antibiotics, etc.

Upon reading this I believe that Christy’s experience wasn’t as bad as I thought it was.   Although I felt the nurses were harsh, she and her child did receive the proper care after the birth.  When she buzzed for the nurses they were there for her.    She received meds as needed and the baby was properly cared for until her release.    The maternal mortality rate is high in South Africa and it is due to the mistreatment of women giving births.