Sharing Web Resources

The information on the site that is relevant to my current professional development is the early head start section and the care and education section. The early head start section talks about how important it is for children to be in an early head start program and what teachers can do to help them. The care and education section talks about child care settings and how to effectively communicate with parents. Reading the section about challenging behavior made me think about issues in a new way. I learned why some children have challenging behaviors and what is done to help them with the behavior. Neuroscientists help support this site because there is a section on the site about brain development and how to get children off to establishing a healthy pattern of life long learning. There is also a section about public policy that politicians support. It talks about different policies that pertain to early childhood development. From researching the site I also learned about early literacy and how to promote it in children.

International contacts

From studying the website I learned that CHIP research is intended to be a resource for policy makers , practitioners and activists concerned about childhood poverty. The site highlights some ways in which CHIP output can be used for policy change in children. It also talks about different countries and the poverty in those countries. The website is very informative on talking about poverty and how it helps try to decrease poverty. From reading the site I learned different policies that help children in poverty.

Sharing web resources

The organization I selected is zero to three and their website is www.zerotothree.org. 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. Their mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers. They provide information on behavior and development, maltreatment, care & education, and public policy from birth to three years olds. An issue from the newsletter that caught my attention was biting. Biting is common among children as they are learning to talk and express themselves. The article posted on the website talked about why toddlers bite, ways to prevent biting, responding to biting, and ways not to respond to biting. Zero to three did not provide any information on changing demographics and diversity.

Week 1: Issue and Trends.

I currently work at a child development center (CDC) on a military base. There are military bases all over the world so I asked my director to give me the phone numbers of two directors or trainers that are overseas. I called them and left a message but no one has returned my calls. I think that I am going to do the alternative option. The website that I decided to study is the zero to three website. I chose this website because I have been to it before and I really enjoyed reading some of the topics they had. I would like to study it further see all that it offers.

Daily Supports

Factors in my daily environment that provide support are my husband, friends, and my kids. They provide me with emotional support. My job provides me with monetary support. My cell phone provides me with practical support because I use it to hold all my numbers in it and reminders. My car provides me with practical support because it gets me to where I need to go. My alarm clock provides me with practical support because it wakes me up every morning for work. My computer is practical support because it allows me to go to school every day as well as complete other tacks. All of these factors are beneficial because they provide me with support to get through my daily life in an easy manner. My life would be different and harder without these supports. Everyday would be a challenge because I do not have the daily support to help make my life easier. Emotionally I probably would not be in the same state of mind because I would not have my family or friends. Without my job I would not have the monetary support, which means I could not buy anything. Like without the practical support would be challenging and harder.

I imagined myself not being able to walk as my challenge. I would need and want a lot of support. Daily support would include a wheelchair. This would be physical support because it would get me where I need to go. I would also need family and friends to give me the emotional support because some days being in a wheelchair will be harder than others. I will still need a job for monetary support. I would also have to have my house modified as physical support. The benefits of these supports are making my life easier. Existing without these supports and not being able to walk will be very difficult. These supports will make life 100 times better. My life would be totally different without these supports. I would not be able to get around and I would be broke and emotionally not in a good place.

My Connections to Play

"It is in playing, and perhaps only in playing, that the child is free to be creative."

-D.W. Winnicott

"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

My parents supported play when I was a child. They made sure that I went outside on a regular basis and played with my friends. They also provided me with toys that I was interested in to play with. When I was a child I loved to play with baby dolls. I had several baby dolls and accessories to take care of them. I also loved to swing so my parents would take me to the park a lot so that I could swing.

I think that play is still similar to when I was a child. Kids are outside playing tag and hide and seek. Children are still playing with dolls and swinging on swings. The only thing that is different than when I was a child is kids are staying inside a lot more playing with videos games now. They are not outside running around or engaging in pretend play.

Play is very important for children. Engaging in play is how children learn about the world around them and how they learn to be creative. It is very important for children to play everyday so that they can grow and develop. Play is a natural part of life.

Child development and public health

The topic that I chose to research and write about is SIDS. This topic is very important to me because everyone needs to be educated on SIDS. As a caregiver at a child development center everyone is educated and trained on SIDS. We take classes once a year so that we are updated on the newest information related to SIDS. Parents should also be aware of SIDS and know the appropriate and inappropriate ways to lay their baby down and other ways that SIDS can be prevented. I chose to research New Zealand and find information on the topic in this country. New Zealand believes that SIDS occurs from toxic gases that can be released from a baby’s mattress. A scientist in New Zealand says chemical compounds containing phosphorus, arsenic and antimony have been added to mattresses as fire retardants and for other purposes. A fungus that commonly grows in bedding can interact with these chemicals to create poisonous gases. These heavier-than-air gases are concentrated in a thin layer on the baby's mattress or are diffused away and dissipated into the surrounding atmosphere. If a baby breathes or absorbs a lethal dose of the gases, the central nervous system shuts down, stopping breathing and then heart function. These gases can fatally poison a baby, without waking the sleeping baby and without any struggle by the baby. There solution to solving the problem is wrapping mattresses in a gas-impermeable cover made from high-grade polyethylene and ensuring that bedding used on top of a wrapped mattress does not contain any phosphorus, arsenic or antimony. During the 11 years that New Zealand has been campaigning this they have not had any SIDS death reported from babies who have slept on the covered mattresses. I do not think that the information that I have learned with impact my future work. The USA believe that SIDS is caused from other factors so that is what I am going to stick to.

http://www.healthychild.com/toxic-sleep/has-the-cause-of-crib-death-sids-been-found/

When I think of child development

"Children are our most valuable natural resource"

-Herbert Hoover

I love this quote because it is very true. Children are our most valuable natural resource. They are our future and it is important for us to help them grow and develop.

Testing for Intelligence

I believe that children in school should be assessed on academics. They should be tested on how well they do in each subject as well as their reading and comprehension. If a child is having a hard time in a certain area then the test will show what they need extra help on. In Germany one of the standardized test that students take is the Abitur. The Abitur is taken after grade 13. Students choose four subjects in which to be examined on. The exam consist of open ended questions which usually require essay responses. Some exams are oral while others consist of performances or demonstrations. In Sweden assessments consist of both marks and standardized. In elementary school standardized testing is voluntary for the school and /or teacher. Only about 80 percent of teachers use them. In upper secondary school standardized test are mandatory and must be given in each subject.

www.princeton.edu

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

From the list of stressors that we has to choose from I have personally never experienced any of the stressors. I know that my grandmother had experienced racism while growing up and when she was alive she never talked about it so I do not know how it affected her.
A country that I chose to write about that is experiencing a stressor right now is Haiti. A lot of people are dying in Haiti from cholera. Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by contaminated drinking water or food. The symptoms of Cholera are diarrhea and vomiting. Children are dying from this preventable and treatable disease. Save the Children is an organization that is in Haiti education children and their families on cholera. They are providing them with information on washing their hands with soap, boiling water, and seeking medical support at the first sign of illness. They have also set up cholera treatment units, distributed chlorinated water to schools, trucking water to camps and distributing chemicals for water treatment.

www.reliefweb.com

Child Development and public Health

The topic I chose to write about is malnutrition. This topic is meaningful to me because I hate to watch TV or hear about children who are starving because they do not have food to eat or do not have enough food to eat. It really makes me sad when I think about it. Every child to be able to get enough food to eat so they can grow and develop. I look at my children everyday and I am thankful that I can provide with all the healthy food that they can eat.

I chose to research malnutrition in African and I learned a few things.
-1 in 10 infants die within the first
-1 in 5 children suffer from chronic malnutrition
-More than 12 cases a month of marasmus and kwashiorkor are seen in a clinic in Alexander
-50% of children have calcium, iron, and zinc deficiency
-More than 1 in 5 children are physically stunted due to malnutrition.

www.food4Africa.org

The information that I have learned will motivate me to educate others about malnutrition in the Africa or right here in the United States. People will be able to make the decision if they want to help or not. If I am ever in a situation financially that I can help then I will help.

Birthing Experience

I am going to talk about the birth of my son. I remember it being a wonderful experience. He was my first child and I did not know what to expect. I remember being scared and happy at the same time.I was in labor for 8 hours and it seemed like 8 days. I just wanted my labor to hurry up so I could meet the person that has been inside me for 9 months. I received an epidural which took away all of the pain. I was numb from the waist down which made it hard for me to push. When he finally arrived words cannot explain the way that I felt for him.instantly feel in love with him.I choose this example because having my son was the first time I have been around the whole birthing experience. I think that the birthing process can have an impact on a child's development because if something goes wrong during the birthing process it could affect the way that the child develops.

I researched the birthing process in Japan and learned some interesting facts. It is not traditional for men to be present during birth. Only a few hospitals offer epidurals. Midwives do all the work up until the baby comes. Women usually stay in the hospital for a week.

There are differences between women having babies in America and Japan. Every hospital in America offers an epidural. Husbands are allowed in the room during the whole process and Women usually only stay about 2 days unless they had a c section.

Week 7

I-1.1—To be familiar with the knowledge base of early
childhood care and education and to stay informed
through continuing education and training.
This ideal is important because you have to stay educated in order to help children and their families.

I-1.4—To appreciate the vulnerability of children and
their dependence on adults.
This ideal is important because children depend on adults and because they depend on us I want to be able to teach them everything I can to help them grow and develop.

I-1.3—To recognize and respect the unique qualities,
abilities, and potential of each child.
This ideal is important because every child is different and this is what makes them special.

Course Resources

Three websites that I chose are:
www.earlychildhood.com
http://www.state.nj.us/education/ece/
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/earlychi/default.htm


* NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap

* 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://www.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/~images/pdfs/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:
o World Forum Foundation
http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage

o World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep.org.gu.se/English/about_OMEP/
Read about OMEP’s mission.

o Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/about/
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/index.cfm

* 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/pages/page.asp?page_id=22807

* 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

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

"My aim is to help people find ways to manage and resolve conflicts

related to caregiving practices so they can make a better match. The more

the adults in babies' lives work at settling disagreements, the fewer

inconsistencies in approach the babies will experience. My theory is that

with adults working hard to manage their conflicts, the children will be

exposed to fewer culturally assaultive experiences."

-Janet Gonzalez 

Excerpt from Young Children

"Preschool teachers can generally be counted on to talk about developmental needs and stages when they discuss children. It may also be meaningful to think of teachers themselves as having developmental sequences in their professional growth."

-Lilian Katz

Excerpt from Developmental Stages of Preschool Teachers

A quote about Passion

"We as professionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better. That is what makes me passionate about this field."

-Sandy Escobido

Personal Childhood Web

Beatrice - She is my mother. She is a very strong independent women who loves and takes care of her family. She is always doing for others and never ask for anything in return. We have a very close relationship.  My mom mom was always there for me. She did everthing that she could to make sure that I was never in need for anything. She showed me unconditional love. She made me feel that I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew. She made me feel special by spending quality time with me. Always encouraging me and being positive. Always being their whenever I needed her.

Jeffrey- He is my father. He is a very smart man who worked hard to provide for his family. He always made sure that we had everything that we needed. He was in the Army and would get deployed one year at a time. Even though he was gone a lot he always still their for us. He would always give me good advice and steer me in the right direction. No matter what I had done he still loved me. He made me feel special by always being there for me. Spending time with me. Just being the greatest dad he could to me.

My mom influence continues to impact me because I am just like her in many ways. I am also very independent.I take care of my kids and show them the same love that she showed me. She taught me a lot and i am still using what she taught me. My dad influence contines to impact me because I am working on my master's because of him. He is real big on education and taught me that I need one to have a successful career.

I have wonderful parents who love and care for me. They have always supported me even when they did not approve. They have always encouraged to go far in life and achieve all of my goals.

A picture of me

Week 2 Famous quote

"A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops."

                                                    Henry Brooks Adams


Love this quote. The influence that a teacher gives can go on and on.

Week 2

The title of a book that I really love reading to the children in my class and my children as well is  The Napping House by Audrey Wood. It is just a fun book to read that repeats itself through out the story. I love that when you read this book children can follow along with you because it does repeat itself.

I love early childhood because I enjoy helping children and their families. I enjoy making a difference in the world.