When I Think of Child Development

Quote: “Infants and young children are not just sitting twiddling their thumbs, waiting for their parents to read and to do math. They are expanding a vast amount of time and effort in exploring and understanding their immediate world. Healthy education supports and encourages this spontaneous learning.” David Elkind I ran across this quote while researching one of the assignments for this course, and have feel in love with it every since. I gave it to my director and she admire it so much that she printed it, laminated it and place in on parent board in the infant room. I believe this explains the philosophy of what all child care programs should offer young children. I am more than excited that I was given this course to complete. This course has provided me with a large amount of new knowledge, information and resources that I will definitely utilize in the classroom as well as share with my fellow co-workers, and parents. Now I am aware of the physical development, cognitive development, psychosocial development, and various theories used to explain many of the questions I had designed before entering into this course. I would like to than my fellow colleagues for the suggestions, comments and positive words of encouragement, in which I would take and used in time of need. I would also like to thank the professor, for provided me suggestions, feedback, insightful sources and assistance in which I was able to take and better myself to aide both my students as well as my own children. I would also I to thank God, and family for providing me with words of encouragement and strength in order to complete assignments when times got a little ruff. Lately I would like to thank my 2 children, for putting up with mommy, and allowing me to complete assignments when it was really their times (It was hard at times, but I did it). I would like to wish everyone a Safe, Blessed, and Happy Holidays, and good luck with the next course.

When I Think of Child Development

Quote: “Infants and young children are not just sitting twiddling their thumbs, waiting for their parents to read and to do math. They are expanding a vast amount of time and effort in exploring and understanding their immediate world. Healthy education supports and encourages this spontaneous learning.” David Elkind I ran across this quote while researching one of the assignments for this course, and have feel in love with it every since. I gave it to my director and she admire it so much that she printed it, laminated it and place in on parent board in the infant room. I believe this explains the philosophy of what all child care programs should offer young children. I am more than excited that I was given this course to complete. This course has provided me with a large amount of new knowledge, information and resources that I will definitely utilize in the classroom as well as share with my fellow co-workers, and parents. Now I am aware of the physical development, cognitive development, psychosocial development, and various theories used to explain many of the questions I had designed before entering into this course. I would like to than my fellow colleagues for the suggestions, comments and positive words of encouragement, in which I would take and used in time of need. I would also like to thank the professor, for provided me suggestions, feedback, insightful sources and assistance in which I was able to take and better myself to aide both my students as well as my own children. I would also I to thank God, and family for providing me with words of encouragement and strength in order to complete assignments when times got a little ruff. Lately I would like to thank my 2 children, for putting up with mommy, and allowing me to complete assignments when it was really their times (It was hard at times, but I did it). I would like to wish everyone a Safe, Blessed, and Happy Holidays, and good luck with the next course.

Testing for Intelligence

I thought this is a difficult topic to discuss since all children are capable of learning but may require various learning styles and techniques. As a 3 year old educator we are required to assess students every quarter. These assessments are provided by the company and are designed to measure a small portion of each child’s growth, such as cognitive development, gross motor development, fine motor development, and social development. I think that these areas should be observed and assessed more than just quarterly. I am a firm believer of Vygotsky, and his philosophy which is through play and interaction children learn from their peers, parents, families, teachers and surroundings.(Berger, 2009) With that said I believed that younger children’s social development should be measured more than any other area, because the majority of the day younger children that are in childcare facilities are participating in free play. In Japan education is viewed as very significant, and like United States they are required to assess middle age students with standardized test. Educators are made to teach to the test like many other countries. Many children, parents, and educators have developed stress due to this matter. “It is not only the students who are having a difficult time; the teachers are too. Many have to take time off work due to stress, while others create a life of drudgery for their pupils. Many Japanese seem to have lost their love for education and learning once they enroll in junior high school. Indeed, too much test-taking may result in shallow learning and a negative feeling toward school.”(Burns,2010) Not only is standardized testing during middle ages a welled discussed topic in the United States but in Japan also. Students, parents and educators are fed up with these assessments causing their students if becoming nervous, and having anxieties the weeks before being provided with the test that most children do not perform well. Most students tend to do well in the classroom when mastering skills, but if they are like me they are so worked up that they can not focus and do their best when the time comes. Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Burns, Kevin(2010). Japan and its standardized test-based education syteam(Japan… wwwjanpantodayk.com/…/japan-and-its-standardized-test-based-educational…

Racism

Racism My father who is now 65, used to always tell of the story, of when he was a little boy, living in the south was not easy for any African American especially when going downtown on Saturday’s shopping with his grandmother and grandfather. He explained that he grew up in the south during segregation, and African Americans were always mistreated for the color of their skin. He used to always remind us of the story of one Saturday he was sick, didn't feel good, and felt very weak on a hot summer day, and his grandfather took him on his horse down town to get some medicines. He said he went into the Pharmacy and they had a lunch counter where only Caucasians were allowed to seat and eat their purchased, while he was waiting for his grandfather to purchase some things, he told us that he got hot and weak and sat down in the last chair at the counter and put his head down at the counter. He stated that a few minutes later a waitress came by and said hey boy what are you doing you can’t seat her, and by the time he was getting up he say his grandfather coming around the corner, apologizing to the waitress saying sorry, I am so sorry it will never happen again. He said his grandfather scolds and fusses at him the entire way home. He stated he hated every time he was made to go there with his grandparents or for his grandparents. To the fact that once he turned 18 he moved to Virginia where he met and married my mom, but returned to his home town in Plymouth, North Carolina to assist with caring for his grandfather. He to raised his family in the small town of Plymouth, and due to the fact that this long time family own Pharmacy was the only one in the town, he would always drive 20 minutes away to Williamston to get all of his prescriptions filled. My classmates and friends parents would always take them there and they would tell us about how good their hand scooped ice cream was. My sister and I would always ask if we could go he would always say take us other places to get ice cream. it was like he was making us suffer for something that happen to him over 40 years ago. Not only did this affect by father mentally but emotionally as well. By the time I turned 13 my mother had to sit him down and tell him look you can not hold a grudge on that one lady, and hold your children against it, they did not have anything to do with it. She told him that he would have to be the bigger person and the person who said that to you probably doesn’t even work there anymore. So I will never forget on Sunday after church, my dad took us to this store and brought the family ice cream. We were all shocked and amazed but were glad that my dad was able to forgive. A couple of years later my dad help to open a farmers market, and this family mostly the older members were some of my dad’s most faithful customers every week, they brought produce from my dad. In India In India the children there also faces Childhood racism, discrimination with child labor. Many children in the lower class or minority are forced to work long tiresome hours, in unsafely working conditions with little or no pay. Mostly poor boys and girls the ages of 5-14 are placed to work in mines, gem stone polishing, brassware, agriculture, plantation, carpet industry, and fireworks industry. “Many children face physical, mental, sexually and emotionally abuse. Young girls are easily targeted in Delhi and NCR who have been physically and sexually assaulted while young boys are physically attacked and many are suspended from jobs without prior notice or reason.” It is really difficulty for these children to escape this horror due to the fact that they are born in this caste system, and usually the cast system you are born in is the one you will die in due to religion. There is a group of people that are advocating assisting children with their rights, and to aid them with becoming educated, healthy and better living conditions.

My Birthing Experience

My Birthing Experience When my sister would watch childbirth on TLC and other educational channels, I thought it was disgusting. It was not until I had my first child in 2004 before I began to view childbirth as a miracle. I would have to say that I had a great childbirth, I didn't have any morning sickness, I was happy go lucky, and I was willing to work up until the day I delivered. My sister and mom talked me into having a natural birth without any medications by saying, “If we can do it, we know you can do it.” I can remember it like it was yesterday. My fiancee had just left for work, that morning when I began to feel some pains in my upper legs and lower back. I called my best friend to let her know that I couldn't watch her daughter that day because of the nagging I was having. She replied by stating, “girl you are in labor. “ Then I said, no I am not due until next week, and she said girl look I had a baby before and I know you are having labor pains. She told me to get in the shower, that it will make me feel a little better, and her daughter and she were on their way to the house. I remember jumping in the shower, but I didn't realize that I was in there for 30 to 45 minutes. Once I got out I heard someone banging on the door. As I slowly made my way to the door, I head my best friend and her daughter calling my name as I opened the door, they told me that had been out there knocking and calling my name for 15 minutes straight. I told them that the shower felt so good, that I got out and then got back in the shower. They were rushing me to go to the doctor, but I told them I wanted to wait until 10:00 am because I was schedule for a doctor’s appointment. I arrived at the doctors a little bit early, my friend told me to sit down as she went to check me in and stated that she thought I was in labor. Well that 15 minutes seam like in turned into 3 hours. The pain wasn't really hurting but was nagging, so I finally got into the room, I had to come out so the nurse could test my weight, height, and urine. Then the doctor came in and did the usually check, he stated that I was losing amniotic fluid and the next thing I know they were putting me in the room with another person to take a stress test for about 1hr or 2. I was talking and laughing with my best friend and she would state hey girl you didn’t feel that contraction it is going over the line. I stated what contraction I just feel uncomfortable. Then the doctor came in and said we are sending you to the Women’s Hospital across the street, and I said no not yet I am not due until next week. I called my fiancée who worked 30 minutes away and told him it was time. Once I got in my room the nurse said that I could take a shower and I sent my friend out to bring me some lunch before they had considered me in Real Labor. I was in labor for exactly 24 hours and they had to give me so meds to help with dilating my cervix, because I was having contractions but my cervix was not dilating. In the room with me it was my mom, cousin, my finance and his mom. The nurse couldn’t believe that I went from a 1 to a 9 in an hour. I woke up and asked for the doctor, I said I think it is time. I heard the doctor laughing in the hallway. I told him to stop laughing and to get in here, the baby is coming. I pushed 4 times 2 for the head, 1 for the rest of the body and 1 for the afterbirth. My fiancee was in the corner recording it. It took me 4 years to watch the tape and all you can hear in the back ground is a deep voice saying ill that is nasty! (my fiancee). I had a little boy 5lbs. 15 oz and 22 in. long. He was and still is adorable, my bundle of joy. I could say that I had never experienced anything like that before. It is the miracle of life. Another Region In the World Birth Experience In many parts of the country prenatal care and neo-natal care is not like in the US. I took a look at the sub-Saharan Africa region of the world. These mothers would have their babies at the house with out any prenatal care and usually most of the times an elderly women in the town will deliver the baby if arrived on time. The author of this piece; Otolorin stated that “The integration of family planning and primary health care services is also crucial.”(Otolorin, 1986) Here in a small town a group of outreach members, included doctors, and nurses visited to assist women with complication of deliveries especially women whom had 4 or more births. The also help and trained people to help mothers with becoming aware of danger signs, including anemia, sepsis, hemorrhage, obstructed labor, and eclampsia, as well as covering topics such as oral re-hydration therapy, immunizations, and breast feeding. This was totally different from when I delivered my baby. I was blessed and capable of having prenatal care and a great delivery. I wasn't worried about any complications if so there were doctors and nurses there to assist with early treatment. Before we left the hospital, the nurse made sure that he had his first shot, a pediatrician and appointment all lined up. I have learned that if you are not knowledgeable of something then you shouldn't be held accountable. Otolorin, EO. 1986. Maternity, infant care needs remain unmet in sub-Saharan African. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12267950SimilarShare

Child Development and Public Health

Child Development and Public Health I choose immunizations, because I think it is a vital subject in the early childhood education arena. Due to the fact that younger children are so small their immune systems are very sensitive to every little germ or virus that is floating around in the air around them, especially newborns, and infants. This is a very controversial subject. I always grew up to believe that you have to have all of your shots before entering into school. It was not until a couple of years ago that I began to have 2nd thoughts about immunizations when I heard about it in the media and how they could have a negative impact on some children. I was a little confuse and began to think should I continue to maintain my own children’s’ vaccinations or not. That same year while I was teaching pre-k, there was one little girl that always stayed sick, it seam like if some sneezed, then she would catch it, but it would be worse than other children. I was called in the director’s office and she wanted to make me aware that one of my students did not have any vaccinations. (It was that little girl) I quickly stated is that okay and she replied by saying, yes if it is against her religion, and she had to have a paper that is signed and notarized. That was something new to me because I was always under the impression that all children had to have an updated shot record before entering childcare. I began to I feel as if I didn’t keep my children’s shot records updated then I would be neglecting them because I did not want them to suffer just as this little girl was suffering . In China they too view children receiving immunizations as being very important. Families that could afford vaccinations were certain to make sure that their children received 12 different vaccinations for the following diseases: tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis, and meningococcal meningitis types A and C. With the assistance of WHO, which was designed to finding financial assistance to aid those families who are not capable of affording immunizations for their children; more children are now receiving vaccinations. “What's more, overall reported immunization rates are high compared with other countries: 90 per cent of children receive EPI vaccines, and the rates of many of the target diseases have fallen sharply in the past three decades. “ The WHO is also doing research and trying to eliminate measles, and reduce the hepatitis B infection. The information that I have learned will impact my future by, providing me the motivation of advocating for the importance of childhood immunizations, not only in the US but all over the world. If a child is not healthy then it is hard for them to perform at their best. www2.wpro.who.int/china/sites/epi

Favorite Children's Book/Quote

Hey guys I a little new with this blogging stuff.  I have posted my favorite childen's book, and my quote under my profile.  Still trying to figure out how to get it on the front page!


Janell