CHILDREN'S NECESSITIES!!



Children Need:

Appreciation, for all they bring into our lives

Balance, somewhere between too little and too much

Commitment, it’s the little things we do each day that matter

Dreams, to touch the future

Empathy, remember what it was like to be a child

Family and Friends, everyone needs someone to love

Guidance, actions speak louder than words

Healthy Habits, to nurture body, mind, and spirit

Inspiration, to explore beauty, wonder, and mystery

Joy, sprinkle laughter and happiness daily

Kindness, to learn to care for others as they are cared for

Limits, set boundaries and consequences

Mentors, to give wings to their aspirations

Nature, to delight in rainbow butterflies and shooting stars

Opportunities, to discover what truly makes their hearts sing

Play, the “work” of childhood

Quite Time, to recharge their batteries

Responsibilities, to build self esteem and self-confidence

Security, feeling safe is essential for growth

Traditions, keep family tree alive and sprout new branches

Unconditional Love, for who they are not for what they do

Values, live yours and encourage them to find theirs

Words of Encouragement, you can do it, I believe in you

XOXOXO’s, hug and kiss them each and every day

You, your presence more than your presents

ZZZZZZZs, a good night’s sleep

-Written by Meiji Stewart-

Viewing Children Holistically

When considering a commitment to viewing young children holistically I believe a child’s biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial development should be considered and measured. These three aspects form the basis of child development and affect the continued development as a teenager and adult. In viewing children holistically, biosocial development should be assessed with regards to brain development. Special attention should be give to the child’s selective attention and automatization abilities. Selective attention is the ability to concentrate on some stimuli while ignoring others, and automatization is a process in which repetition of a sequence of thoughts and actions makes a sequence routine, so that it no longer requires conscious thought. Selective attention and automatization are key components in early school competence for children. Cognitive development should be assessed with regards to the information-processing theory which is a perspective that compares human thinking processes, by analogy, to computer analysis of data, including sensory input, connections, stored memories, and output. Information processing theory includes two major components, sensory memory and control processes. Sensory memory is a system in which incoming stimulus information is stored for a split second to allow it to be stored Control processes are mechanisms that combine memory, processing speed, and knowledge to regulate the analysis and flow of information within the information-processing system. These two components are critical to process by which a child processes, retains, and memorizes information learned in school. Psychosocial development should be assessed with regards to a child’s experiences with stress and his or her resilience. As with adults, the physical, mental, and emotional abilities become hindered in children who encounter frequent experiences of stress. This could affect a child’s ability to learn and retain information in school without the development of resilience. Resilience is the capacity to adapt well to significant adversity and to overcome serious stress.

In researching ways in which school-age children are assessed in other parts of the world, I chose to further explore the assessment of school-age children in Africa. The Department of Education in Africa created a National Curriculum Statement which included eight learning areas such as languages, mathematics, natural sciences, technology, social sciences, arts and culture, life orientation, economic and management sciences. Each learning area has assessment standards and learning outcomes which are created from critical and developmental outcomes. The learning outcome describes what the learner should know, be able to do, and demonstrate at the end of each appropriate period. The assessment standard describes the extent to which the learner should be able to do the task and the way they can demonstrate the task.

Tinisha's Childhood Experiences

As a child I was raised in a home that included my mother, father, and older sister. Although my parents appeared to have a martial relationship built upon support, communication, and love for my sister and I, their styles of parenting were extremely different. My father’s parenting style was characteristic of Baumrind’s “authoritative parenting” whereas my mother’s parenting style was characteristic of “authoritarian parenting”. My father set rules and regulations for me and my sister, while maintain open communication, and expressing his forgiveness at times when we may have disobeyed him. My mother’s unspoken motto was “what I say goes with no exceptions”, therefore my sister and I was not allowed to question my mothers rule, regulations, or forms of punishment. There was never communication with my mother regarding me and my sister’s feelings and we hardly ever heard my mother utter the words “I Love You” to me or my sister. Whenever I would disobey my mother or behave in a manner that was unacceptable to her standards I was harshly punished. My mother would become verbally abusive, calling me derogatory names such “stupid” and “dumb”, while also becoming physically abusive. I was hit open-handed and closed-fist, beat with belts while wearing little or no clothes, and grabbed my arms and hair. Often this form of punishment would occur when my father was at work as my father would strictly forbid my mother from punishing me in that manner. Although my father was not in agreement in my mother’s style of punishment, he was unable to avoid her using that form of punishment due to the fact that this type of behavior often took placed in my father’s absence. This type of punishment occurred between the ages of 7 and 15 years old (if my memory serves me correctly). During these years I tended to you my friends, extracurricular activities, and grandparents as forms of emotional support. My friends were individuals that I could confide in and seek emotional support. Extracurricular activities were used as an outlet to escape the uncomfortable and uneasy feeling that resulted from my mother’s return home from work as I never knew her emotional state which directly effected her communication and interaction with me and my sister. My grandparents were the most beneficial form of emotional support due to the fact that they provided me a sense of love, emotional support, stability, and sense of nurturing which were all aspects that I was lacking in my home and longing for in my mother. In researching stressors that impact the development of children in other countries, I chose to further research the types of stressors that impact the development of children in India. The main stressor that impacts the development of children is the effects of poverty in India. Women in India are traditionally housewives, expected to take care of their children, husband, and household chores. These women typically depend on the income of their husbands as they do not posses enough education or skills to earn their own income and contribute to the overall income of the household. A major problem arise when the husbands of these women become absent from the home due to dissertation or separation. In these types of circumstances the household income takes a drastic decrease while leaving the women with the responsibilities of taking care of the children and household. As a result women typically have to obtain employment outside of the home and leaving their children home to take care of themselves. Seeking caretakers for their children is impossible as these women are at a financial disadvantage and cannot afford the cost of caretaker’s services. These women are often left feeling anxiety about the future of their children. To minimize the harm of poverty on the development of children several policy recommendations have been made which include:

1.      Forming self help groups for single mothers

2.      Adequate publicity and initiation of innovative strategies to reach out to needy families in an effort to enlarge the scope of existing welfare services.

3.      Forming programs for the provisions of childcare and other support systems for the mother headed families.

4.      Providing foster care, child sponsorship, nutrition, and day care programs.

5.      Creating flexible workplace provisions and work schedules for mothers.

BREASTFEEDING ROCKS!!!!

Breastfeeding is an important and meaningful public health measure to me because I am the mother of a 10 month old son who is breastfeed. From the moment I discovered that I was pregnant I knew I wanted to exclusively breastfeed my baby for as long as my body would allow. During my pregnancy I read many books and magazines which provided several breastfeeding tips such as the proper position to hold the baby while nursing, particular foods to consume to increase my milk supply, recommendations on the best breast pumps to purchase, and the exceptional benefits that breastfeeding provides to the child. With this information I felt that I was fully prepared to nurse my baby once I delivered. To my surprise I experienced several obstacles in breastfeeding my son when he was born. My son had a difficult time learning how to properly latch on to my breast which may it difficult for him to nurse and receive the amount of milk that his body desired. I also had a difficult time learning how to properly position my son while he was nursing which created some frustration and sense of failure for me. Due to the fact that I was 100% positive that I wanted to exclusively breastfeed my son, these obstacles that I experienced made me feel extremely upset and overwhelmed. Three days after the birth of my son, consistent effort on my part to breastfeed, and an overwhelming amount of teaching and support from the nurses overseeing the care of my son and I; my son finally learned how to properly latch on and I learned how to position my son in a way that was comfortable for the both of us. From that day forward I exclusively breastfeed my son for approximately 7 months. Today my son is 10 months old and breastfeed mostly during the evening hours when I return home from work, in the middle of the night, and early morning before I leave for work. During the hours in which my son is in daycare he receives 2% milk and apple juice (when he desires). Breastfeeding is very important to me because I believe it provides the child with the healthiest source of nutrition while creating an amazing bond between the mother and child.

I research breastfeeding practices among Urban and Rural mothers in New Delhi India and discovered some surprising statistics.  As a global public health recommendation, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) should be practiced for the 1^st 6 months of a baby’s life to achieve optimum growth, development, and health. Breastfeeding in India is almost universal but the EBF rate is low. The Third National Family Health Survey from India reported an EBF rate of 46.3% at 5 months postpartum. A longitudinal study was conducted in New Delhi and Ballabgarh India which showed that 21% of urban woman and 35% of rural woman initiated breastfeeding within 1 hr of giving birth. The EFB rate at the time of discharge was 38% for urban woman and 57% for rural women. The EFB rates in India are low and fall progressively during the first 6 months.

Reading this information inspired me to become and advocate for breastfeeding. I believe woman who are less educated about the benefits of breastfeeding, techniques to aid in the adjustment of breasting for the mother and baby, tips for working mother who chose to breastfeed are less likely to attempt breastfeeding or continue breastfeeding beyond their discharge from the hospital. An increased amount of advocacy, support, and education will increase the number of breastfeeding women which enhances the growth and development of babies in the present and future generations.

MY PERSONAL BIRTHING EXPERIENCE

On December 19, 2010 I entered into the maternity ward of Riddle Memorial Hospital in preparation to have my labor induce. As the nurse assisted me with registration and began my IV I instantly became fully aware that I would be holding my newborn son within the next 24 hours.  My induction began with a dose of medication in an effort to “jump start” dilation. Typically this medication is followed by a dose of Pitocin should dilation not progress. In my case Pitocin was not needed as the medication began dilation and caused a steady progression of labor. Approximately 7 hours into labor I was given an epidural which eased the pain and discomfort of my consistent contractions enabling me to rest comfortably for a few hours. Approximately 10 hours into labor I awakened from my sleep feeling rested and slight relief from the pain of my contractions. As my labor progressed my contractions became more intense and at times they felt unbearable. At this point I was given second epidural because I was not receiving any pain relief from my original epidural. The second epidural slightly reduced the pain of my contractions but I felt an extreme amount of discomfort and pain in my lower abdomen with very contraction that occurred. Approximately 16 hours into labor my oxygen levels began to drop and my son’s heart rate became irregular. The doctor warned me should I not dilate to 10 cm. or the heart rate of my son continues to drop she would request a C-section to be performed. Approximately 17 hours into labor I was examined by my doctor and informed that I was 9(1/ cm. dilated but the heart rate of my son was in danger. At this point my doctor requested an emergency C-section. I was immediately transferred to an operating bed, prepped for surgery, and transported down the hall into the operating room. In the operating room the doctors began to quickly provide me with anesthesia while the nurses assisted the doctors in preparation for surgery and the delivery of my son. After 19 hours in labor and approximately 10 minutes of surgery my son was born on December 20, 2010 at 3:55pm, weighing 8lbs 9ozs, and 21 inches long. I chose this experience because the birth of my son because is the most rewarding and joyful experience of my life. The birthing experience of a child impacts the child’s development particularly during the period of 0-12 months. This period is crucial to the physical, mental, and emotional development of a child. For this reason it is important to make every effort to have and or promote a calm, supportive, and safe labor and delivery for the mother and child.

I researched the birthing experience of woman in South Africa in reading an article titled “Woman Experiences of a Vaginal Delivery Conducted by a Private Midwife”. Similar to my birthing experience, most births in South Africa take place in a hospital under the care of a medical practitioner. Unlike my birthing experience many South African woman feel dissatisfied with their birthing experience, disempowered, loss of control during labor, sense of abandonment, and lack of involvement. As a result there are an increase number of women who prefer to have a midwife perform the delivery of their child. South African woman who had a midwife perform the delivery of their child reported feeling safe, secure, and in control which helped them enjoy the birthing process.

Thanks to Everyone!!!

I have enjoyed the information I have learned and dicussions I have had with all of my classmates. I wish everyone the best of luck in their future courses and careers. I hope to have future discussions with all of you in my future early childhood studies courses.

To All My Classmates: Remember to stay positive, motivated, and dedicated in all aspects of your life!!! :)

Codes of Ethics

Meaningful Code of Ethics

(1)   Appreciate vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults- NAEYC

(2)   To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development that respect their dignity and contributions-DEC

(3)   We shall advocate for equal access to high quality services and supports for all children and families to enhance their quality of life-DEC

These three codes are significant to my professional life as they reinforce my true reason and passion for children, families, and the early childhood. I believe children are 100% dependable on adults to provide them protection, education, and guidance. Adults who have direct contact with children should behave in the up most respectful manner as they provide the first example for children. As a professional working with families and children I attempt to advocate to the best of my ability to ensure that families have the necessary education and resources to provide their children with a safe and healthy home. With useful education and resources parents will enhance their children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.

Course Resources

Position Statments and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/72033/CRS-CW-5691431/educ6005_readings/naeyc_dap_position_statement.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  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. 

Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being 

Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
 

Websites:

• World Forum Foundation
  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
  This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
  
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education
  http://www.omep-usnc.org/
  Read about OMEP’s mission. 
  
• Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/about/
  Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statement

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/

The Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/

Professional Journals located in Walden University Library



• 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

Child Welfare Information Gateway

http://www.childwelfare.gov/

Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center

http://www.eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/

Child Development Institute Parenting Today

http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/

Inspirational Quotes

Major Contributors of Head Start and Child Care

"Only when professionals understand culturally sensitive care and are in close communication with families, can they understand how to work towards positive outcomes for children's identity, sense of belonging, and cultured competence"

                               -Janet Gonzales-Mena M.A.-

"Once we considered education a public expense; we know now that it is a public investment"

                               - Lyndon B. Johnson-

The Passion for Early Childhood: Five Professionals

"I have a passion to create a just and safe world for children"

                                 - Lousie Derman-Sparks-

"We as professionals in the Early Childhood field have the opportunity to shape a child's life"

                                  - Sandy Escobida-

"There is more to life than whats in a child's neighborhood"

                                   - Raymond Hernandez MS. ED-

"It's not all about you; you have to let your ego go and think what is best for the child"

                                   - Renatta M. Cooper-

"My passion is to bring ideas and passion into policy and influence research"

                                    - Leticia Lara LCSW-

Additional Quotes

"All human beings are born with unique gifts; the healthy functioning of our community depends on its capacity to develop each gift"

-Peter Senge-

 "Its not who you attend school with but who controls the school you attend"

-Nick Gioranne-

"Learning is a matter of intensity not elapsed time"

-Tom Peters-

"What we want to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child"

-G B Shaw-

Personal Childhood Web

Five individuals who nurtured and cared for me as a child:

1. ED (my father)
2. CAROLYN (my mother)
3. I'DA (my older sister)
4. MARY (my paternal grandmother)
5. JAMES (my paternal grandfather)

Description of each individual:

1. My father Ed is hardworking and family orientated. He influenced my life as child by instilling his values of education upon me. My father did everything in his power to provide me with the best elementary, high school, and college education. My father nurtured me by allowing me to have open communication with him whenever I needed to seek advice and guidance. My father referred to his advice as "food for thought", as the "food" was the wisdom that my father gave for my"thoughts" which was my concerns. My father's influence continues to impact my present life through the values I have for myself and the values I plan to instill upon my son. I highly value education and will instill  this upon my son throughout his life.
2. My mother Carolyn is caring and giving. She influenced my life as a child by teaching me the importance of self maintenance and the duties of motherhood. My mother made sure I well groomed, had clean clothes and shoes, and received 3 meals per day. My mother nurtured me by providing me with structured home and family. She consistently made sure that the house was well kept everyone within the home ate dinner together. My mother's influence continues to impact my present life through my personal standards and parenting skills. I take great pride in maintaining my personal appearance in addition to ensuring my son has a structured family and home.
3. My older sister I'da is extroverted, determined, and motivating. She influenced my life as a child by taking on the role of my "second mother". My sister providing an open relationship between she and myself which provided me the opportunity to seek advice in her with concerns I had that I was unable to discuss with my parents. My sister nurtured me by providing me with guidance and support regardless of the circumstance. My sister's influence continues to impact my present life through my relationships with family and friends. I often try to have open unbiased communication with family and friends should they seek advice in me.
4. My maternal grandmother Mary is spiritual, nurturing, and caring. She influenced my life as a child by introducing me into Christianity and the church. As a child I would spend the weekend at my grandmother's house which typically consisted of shopping on Saturday and church service on Sunday. My grandmother would often speak to me about the importance of having God within your life and being involved in a Church community. My grandmother nurtured me by providing me with a warm and nurturing home during my weekend visits. My grandmother's influence continues to impact my present life through my spirituality. I value the importance of God and the manner in which he works within my life.
5. My paternal grandfather James is quiet, hardworking, and protective. He influenced my life as a child by teaching me to listen more and speak less. Although my grandfather typically maintained a quite demeanor he often observed his surroundings. My grandfather nurtured me by making sure I got anything I requested during my weekend visits. I remember my grandfather going to the supermarket just to buy the vanilla ice cream I requested. My grandfather's influence continues to impact my present life through my personality. I am usually referred  to as the "quite sister" when comparing the personalities between my sister and I. Like my grandfather I speak less and observe more.

"The Fuel of Elijah"

My passion for the Early Childhood Field is fueled 100% by my 8th month old son Elijah. Once I held my son for the first time in my arms, I instantly knew that he would change my life forever. Prior to the announcement of my pregnancy in April of 2010 and the birth of my son in December of 2010 I was taking classes online to obtain my Master's Degree in Child Psychology. As many first time online classes I struggled with developing a routine to juggle my career and school. Once I became pregnant with my son I continued to take online classes in pursuit of my degree but began to experience new challenges due to my pregnancy such as extreme fatigue and stress. As a result I made the decision to withdrawal from the online university with the intentions to devote the next 9 months to my pregnancy, and return to online courses once my son was born. The first 6 months after having my son was a challenge with lack of sleep, higher levels of stress, and increase in demands. Returning to school was consistently placed on the "back burn" with my various excuses such as "how will i manage school and a infant?", "where will i find the time to complete school work?", and "will i still have quality time to spend with my son?". Once I stop making excuses and came up with a plan I decided to return to school and pursue my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Studies. I chose Early Childhood Studies because I enjoy watching my son develop from month to month his personality, motor skills, communication skills, and emotional skills. I wanted to pursue my degree in a field which will enable me to use the course information and skills learned to apply to my career, my son, and future children.

"A Girl Name Rose"

When I was employed as a counselor I developed a particular bond with a young teenage girl named Rose. Rose was a thirteen year old middle school student, who had unique qualities and a unique presence. I meant with Rose for our weekly scheduled counseling appoints at the public library in the town in which she lived. Rose enjoyed and anticipated our appointments as this was one of her few opportunities to express her emotional feelings, friendships, school work, extracurricular activities, and family due to the fact that she had little communication about these topics with her mother and step-father. During one of our counseling meetings in Early December of 2009, Rose asked me if I could come to her mentor breakfast that was to take place at her school. After receiving the approval from my supervisor and director, I told Rose I would be honored to attend. On the morning of the mentor breakfast I arrived at Rose's middle school, entered the cafeteria where the breakfast was to be held, and was immediately surprised by what I saw. The entire cafeteria was filled with middle school children and their mentors, most of which were the children's parents. I began to realized that the offered extended to me by Rose to attend her mentor breakfast was significantly important to her. Her follow classmates considered their mentor to be an important family member in their life such as their mother, father, older brother, or older sister. The fact that Rose chose me to attend her mentor breakfast and viewed me as mentor and important figure in her life was extremely touching to my heart.

Family Quote!!

"It Takes A Village To Raise A Family"

This quote became important to me once I gave birth to my beautiful son on December 20, 2010. Prior to the birth of my son I would hear this quote often on family television shows, from older adults, in parenting books and magazines. I always understood the implication of the quote but I can't say I truley agreed with the meaning. On that day in which my son was born I  understood that my village consist of my direct family members, and their support is needed to raise my son into a man who is motivated, respectful, and independant. "It Takes A Village To Raise A Family" created a more important meaning for me on that day!!!!! 

TinishaESC: First Post

Hello Everyone!!!

I am new to the "blogging world" but I am very excited to learn this new world of communication for me!!!