Sharing Web Resources

I chose to look at the area of brain and development on the zero to three website. I then chose to look at the topic of challenging behaviors. Teaching in a classroom of 16 four year olds, all the children have different personalities. This year I ended up with a difficult group that is full of many different challenging behaviors. They have made progress, but they still have a long way to go socially yet. I read a journal article about aggression.

A controversial topic in the article that I read about aggression talked about spanking. Spanking is a controversial topic. Some people believe that children learn from spankings and others are against spanking. The article I read was against spanking. " Avoid spanking.  Think about the very real disadvantages of physical punishment for your child. Children often arouse anger in adults when they provoke, tease, behave stubbornly, or attack others. If your practice is to hit or physically punish your child in some other way for such behavior, you need to think very carefully about what he learns from that" (Zero to Three, 2012).

Economists, neuroscientists, and politicians support the early childhood field. In the website under the policy section, it mentioned that "Given growing awareness about the needs of very young children stemming from neuroscience and child development research, child welfare agencies have a long way to go in aligning policies and practices to ensure that the unique needs of infants and toddlers are met" (Zero to three, 2012). This shows that neuroscientists does research in the early childhood field. I would also say that they help with grants, form policy, and provide resources by browsing the topics under the policy section.

I gained new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field from reading about aggression in children. I learned that aggression is a part of healthy development in children. The second year is when a child becomes aware of being angry and can behave intentionally.

References

Zero to Three. (2012). Changing the course for infants and toddlers: A survey of state child welfare policies and initiatives. Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/policy/changing-the-course-for-infants-and-toddlers.html

Zero to Three. (2012). Helping young children channel their aggression. Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/social-emotional-development/helping-young-children-channel-their-aggression.html

Getting to Know Your International Contacts Part 1

I had trouble getting the links to work for the World Forum Podcasts and the Childhood Poverty website. I chose to do the alternative assignment because I have not received any responses to any contacts I have sent. I chose to view a video from the World Forum website on poverty. I also listened to a podcast from Global Fund for Children.

The video I watched was Poverty and Children by Sakeena Yacoobi. Sakeena Yacoobi works with the World Forum Organization. She works with the children and families in a refugee camp in Afghanistan. The program provides services for the families that will enable them to be more knowledgeable about their life and help them make better choices for their families. She mentioned providing the services under tents, with each tent having a different service. These include health care, education, life skills, etc. She mentioned that families in Afghanistan had no electricity, water, limited work and schools. I learned the extent that some families will go to just to provide food for the family. I knew poverty was bad but I never thought about families going to the extent of the family that she mentioned. She told of a family that sold their child for 2 bags of wheat so that the rest of the family could eat. This really hit hard about the reality of some families in poverty.

The Podcast I listened to was Philanthropy by Victoria Dunning. Victoria is the vice president for programs at the Global Fund for Children. I learned from the podcast about what the program does. The program provides financial grants to community based organizations  that can become international organizations. She mentioned that children need to succeed: learning, safe place, healthy mind and body, enterprise (life and workplace skills). I have also learned about the education that some parents give their child without knowing what the school really does. The podcast mentioned children going to school to recite songs that they learn for money. They have a master that they give the money. If the master considers the money not enough, the master will beat the child. This left me wondering how parents could not know about the education they are sending their child too. Also in Bolivia and Nepal, if parents are sent to jail then the child is also sent to jail too.

References
Yacoobi, S. (2011). Poverty and Children. World Forum. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UIt2NNrK3UE
Dunning, V. (2012, June 5). Philanthropy Chat: Global fund for children. Retrieved from http://grantspace.org/Multimedia/Podcasts/Philanthropy-Chat-Global-Fund-for-Children-2012-06-05

Sharing Web Resources

Zero to three
http://www.zerotothree.org
The organization provides information for families, professionals, and policy makers on children ages birth to three years of age. 

I chose the current issue of national paid family and medical leave insurance program. The article discussed the benefits to having paid medical leave.

"Time at home with newborns, infants, and toddlers gives parents the time they need to breastfeed, attend well-child medical visits, and ensure that their children receive all necessary immunizations. Studies show that paid family leave yields higher rates and longer periods of breastfeeding, which reduces the rates of childhood infections.

 Parental time off facilitates the early detection of potential developmental delays at a time when problems can be most effectively addressed and interventions identified to minimize them" (Zero to three, 2013, p. 2). Family leave time would benefit workers, families, and businesses.

"Provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of paid leave for their own serious illness; the serious illness of a child, parent, or spouse (including a domestic partner); the birth or adoption of a child; the injury of a family member who is in the military; or exigencies arising from a service member’s deployment" (Zero to three, 2013, p.2).

"The Need:

Public policies that promote time for parents and caregivers to care for and bond with their very young children, without jeopardizing the ability to pay for basic necessities" (Zero to three, 2013, p. 1).
I have learned that different areas provide leave to employees with pay. In Russia, I learned they allow paid leave. In the center I work at, three months can be taken but it is without pay.
References
Zero to Three. 2013. The child development case for a national paid family and medical leave insurance program: the family leave act. Retrieved from  http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/pdf/pfl-fact-sheet-final.pdf
 
 

Getting Ready Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

I researched different early childhood organizations that did global work. I went to the contact us tabs of the sites I was interested in and submitted an email to them. I have not received any emails back from either site as of yet. I do not know at this point, if I will have to choose the alternative assignment. I chose to select zero to three website to study during the course.

My Supports

I have emotional supports, practical supports, and physical supports. My husband provides emotional support to me. He is there to help me do things around the house. He helps me with our two year old daughter. He provides financial support by working and helping to pay our bills. If I did not have my husband, I would have to do every thing on my own. I would not have the house that I have now. I would not have my daughter. I would have to live with my parents because I would not have been able to afford to have a house of my own.

Technology is another source of support that I use everyday. I use my phone to communicate with others. I use my computer to communicate, pay bills, do my taxes, and school work. The technology that I use helps me to accomplish tasks much quicker than I would without them. I would have to find other ways to accomplish tasks without the use of my computer and phone. Some of these tasks would take much longer to complete and would cost more money.

I chose the challenge of being blind. I chose this because my grandmother was legally blind before she died. My dad has an eye disease that makes it likely that he will become blind later. I would want emotional support from family and friends. I would like practical support such as tools to make life a little easier. A walking stick and seeing eye dog would be nice tools to help me get around better. A ramp would also make things a little easier because I would not have to go up and down steps at my house. Physical support such as family helping me to do tasks around the house. I feel it would be very difficult to be blind without these physical, emotional, and practical supports. Without these supports I would have to find ways to get around by myself. I would definitely feel overwhelmed and would need to rely on my senses of hearing and touch to help me get through many tasks during the day.

My Connections to Play

Pausing to listen to an airplane in the sky, stooping to watch a ladybug on a plant, sitting on a rock to watch the waves crash over the quayside—children have their own agendas and timescales. As they find out more about their world and their place in it; they work hard not to let adults hurry them. We need to hear their voices.
Cathy Nutbrown
Contemporary British educational theorist


Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.

Henri Matisse
French painter
 1869–1954
http://www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes





I was happy if I had a bucket, shovel, dirt, and water.

My parents supported play by allowing me to play with friends in my neighborhood. The only requirement that they had was to know where I was. My Grandma supported my play by playing games with me. I always got bored easily and she would play all kinds of card and board games with me.

I feel play has changed over the years. When I was growing up, I played outside all the time. I played with friends in the yard, in my neighborhood, and in the woods. Play today is usually inside or outside and more in the yard. I wish that children today could play and be free to explore the outside community like I did as a child. Unfortunately, I feel there are too many bad things now to let children explore the community like they used to.

I played for hours in water, mud, digging holes in the woods, swinging on vines from trees,  and climbing in trees growing up. I spent time going on trails and exploring at the power plant. I wish my daughter could have the carefree play experiences I had. I feel as parents it is not safe to let children wonder out of our sight anymore. Monitored play times is the norm now.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are a give and take process in a bond that develops overtime. 
Relationships will become a partnership and lifelong bond if you treat people the right way. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Relationships have made me feel loved and encouraged.

Mom- I spend every Saturday with my mom. We go out to eat lunch, talk, and run errands together. On Sundays, we go to church together, eat lunch, and go to the grocery store together. When I do not spend time with my mom on Saturday, it does not seem like I had a Saturday.

My Brother - I visit him sometimes and he comes to see me sometimes. We like to eat together and talk. He will help me fix things in my house when he comes over. He is very good fixing some things. He has put in laminate flooring for me as well as do other things. I have helped him do some things at his house such as painting and building his building. He lives an hour and 15 minutes from my house. He recently got married.

Dad- Growing up I was daddy's girl. I would spend every Saturday morning with him. We went to yard sales, flea markets, and fishing together, and to Grandma's house. I still see him once a week when I go to my parents house.

Husband- I married my husband October 9, 2010. We met in college at UNCP in the summer of 1999. We stayed friends the whole time, although we lost contact some. He is funny and is one of the few people who can make me laugh. Even when I am crying, he can make me start laughing.
He is very sweet, kind, helpful, and has a big heart for everyone.

Daughter- Born October 18, 2011. She is now two years old. She ended up being my first year anniversary gift as my due date was 10-10-2011. I carried her one extra week. She makes me laugh and smile. I love playing with her and tickling her. 

Factors that contribute to developing my relationships: patience, helping one another, kind, faithfulness, trustworthy.

Insights I have learned over time regarding challenges to developing and maintaining relationships that I have learned from experience: It is good to reflect on your relationships and change yourself where needed. Sometimes the change is things you may want to do, need to do, and sometimes it is something you may not want to do. You can't change other people.

Special characteristics of my relationships: give and take. It takes both people working together to make the relationship work. Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it is difficult.

My relationships have been good relationships. All the relationships I have encountered have made me who I am today. I have learned a lot over the years. Stubbornness can get in the way sometimes. I can use my experience of good relationships to help others in my class. I can be supportive, loving, kind, encouraging, and a good role model to my children in my class.