My Supports

I have many supports in my life.  The most important one is my family.  Without my mom and dad in particular, I can't imagine what my life would be like.  They have always been there for me emotionally and finacially.  We have such a great relationship, and recently it seems that it is getting stronger.  My life has been very stressful the past 6 months, that I have really had to count on them.  They have never disappointed me, and my mom is great at giving that tough love speech!

Another support I have are my friends.  Unlike my parents, I can tell my friends all the intimate little details that happen in my life.  I share so much with them, and they are great for lending an ear when I need one.  We have all been friends since 6th grade, so we know each other very well. 

The last support I have is my church/faith.  I feel that my faith has really carried me the past 6 months.  My church family has really been there to pick me up when I felt alone.  My parents live 2000 miles away, so I depend on the church for emotional support.  With the help of them and my belief in God, I know that there is nothing that I can't handle.  I have learned to take everything with a grain of salt and to take everything day by day. 

My Connections to Play

                                                                                                                                                         

Famous Quotes on Play

It is a happy talent to know how to play.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson, philosopher, poet, essayist

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning....They have to play with

 What they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they

 learn in new forms of play.

--Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Play is a major avenue for learning to manage anxiety. It gives the child a safe space

 where she can experiment at will, suspending the rules and constraints of physical and

 social reality. In play, the child becomes master rather than subject.... Play allows the

 child to transcend passivity and to become the active doer of what happens around her.

--Alicia F. Lieberman, author, The Emotional Life --

of the Toddler

When I was growing up as a child, I was always on the go!  From the time I woke up until the sun went down, I was outside running, riding my bike or playing group games with cousins and friends.  I was encouraged, along with my peers, to be creative and imaginative.  I still remember my favorite game to play was kick the can.  It was hide and seek with a twist.  In fourth grade, my best friend and I had imaginary friends.  We would talk to them all the time.  Adults didn’t think we were crazy or that we had problems, they went along with it.  It was a healthy developmental stage that children go through.  I remember my brother and I loved the show Lost in Space.  We would watch an episode, and then go outside and throw a Frisbee (representing the spaceship) and then act out scenes from the show. It was fun!

Unfortunately, play today lacks imagination.  Video games and technology has robbed our youths of this important concept.  Children struggle now to find ways to occupy themselves if there is a power failure – what no TV or computer???  Children are also becoming so obese because of the lack of exercise.  Children don’t go outside and run and jump like they use to.  They complain because it’s too hot and they want to stay in the air conditioning.    I love to see children outside riding bikes in my neighborhood – I give them credit because I know how easy it is to stay in and play videos.  I also give the parents credit for making them go out and be physical.  I hope that these children will keep these habits up in life.  I worry about school budgets being reduced because sports are usually one of the first things to get cut.  We really need these programs for kids.

I strongly believe that my being active as a youngster has greatly contributed to me being a physically active adult.  I still ride my bike and would prefer the outdoors to the inside.  I hope that I set an example to kids by being an active person; that they realize just because we get older doesn’t mean we sit in front of the television.

                                     

Loved board games!                                                            Played school/house all the time!

                                                                       
                                                                      

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me because I feel that it is a necessity to a healthy life to have people that know you and care about you as an individual.  It's nice to be able to contact someone and discuss issues that you are both familiar with.  The person/people you have a relationship with knows you as a person; they know everything about you and what is important to you. 

I have so many people that I have positive relationships with.  To start with are my parents.  They have always been there for me, been supportive of all my decisions (whether good or bad).  I feel that I can talk to them about anything.  They are the ones that I can count on for that tough love.

My best friend April.  Her and I have been best friends since 6th grade.  We are like sisters.  We make it a point to talk everyday, even if it's just to see how the other person is doing.  Our relationship is very open, we hold nothing back from each other.  She is probably the one person who knows me better than I know myself.

Another positive relationship I have is with my Pastor and his wife.  This bond has just recently developed and it has been wonderful.  The last couple months has been very difficult for (bitter divorce, lay off notices at work, parent illness, my own illness just as a start).  I finally reached a breaking point and my pastor and his wife took me under their wings.  I now have a special relationship that is very spiritual and uplifting.  I know that I can call them and they are there to listen.  I think what makes this relationship so special is that they don't take sides.  They are neutral parties, and they help ground me when things are messed up. 

One of the challenges that I have encountered with developing relationships is that of trust.  I am not one that rushes into things.  I like to really get to know the person and get a feel for them.  I think for a partnership it is important that both parties have a sense of trust and respect for each other.

Another challenge is communication.  Sometimes people are afraid to talk things out or discuss issues that are important to them.  This may be to the fact that they don't want to bother the other person with problems or they don't want to hurt the other person's feelings.  Communication is very important in a partnership.  It goes back to the trust thing.  If you trust that person, you should be able to talk to them about anything.


I think my experiences with relationships/partnerships will have a positive effect on my role as an Early Childhood Professional.  I feel that I am an easy person to get along with, and I have had lots of experience working with people.  I know that it is important at the beginning stage that the other person feels that they are being heard  (especially parents).  Working with children and families, I know that I must be open to their ideas and to honor their beliefs. When building that relationship with families, I give as many avenues to them to contact me.  My parents have my email address, work number and cell number.  They know that if there are any concerns or questions, I want to be available to them to help relieve any anxiety they may have. 

When I Think of Child Development

Children are inclined to learn from television [because] it is never too busy to talk to them, and it never has to brush them aside while it does household chores.

National Commission on Causes and Prevention of Violence on the influence of violent television

If a child is given love, he becomes loving ... If he's helped when he needs help, he becomes helpful. And if he has been truly valued at home ... he grows up secure enough to look beyond himself to the welfare of others.

DR. JOYCE BROTHERS, Good Housekeeping, Aug. 2010


From these quotes, we can see how important it is to take time for our children.  I have learned so much from these past 8 weeks. 

Testing for Intelligence

I think that assessments are necessary in school.  These tests help parents and educators understand the needs of the individual child.  Today, so many students need to be on Individualized Educational Plans (IEP’S).  These plans are based on the child’s needs and what is going to be best for their education.  These plans and the tests required help teachers to differentiate lessons, modify teaching tehniques/strategies that will benefit the child.  We need to remember that children are different and we all learn in different ways.  In the school I work, the teachers use to have Phonic Ears in the classrooms.  These were worn by teachers and the helped students with hearing and language deficiencies.  Unfortunately, with budget cuts, these were the first things that were removed from the classrooms. 

In Japan, there are schools set up for children with disabilities.  These special schools are designed for students with specific disabilities such as visual, hearing or cognitive.  The disadvantage of these schools is that students are not with non-disabled students.  The mainstreaming would be beneficial for these students.

I also learned that every school is also set up with a special needs committee and the team is required to visit mainstream schools when necessary.

Childrens growth and development are measured at 4 months, 8 months, 18 months and 3 before entering school.  These evaluations have proven to be beneficial in detecting disabilities at an early age. 

 For more information check out these websites:

http://www.childrenwebmag.com/articles/education/the-special-needs-education-system-in-mainstream-japanese-schools

http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2005/material/resume/1022_school.html

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Poverty is certainly on the rise in the world.  Working in the school system, I see so many children living in poverty.  I am drawn to one child in particular and her struggle for survival.  This little girl lived with her mom only.  Mom had many issues that she was dealing with, drugs, legal problems, drinking just to name a few. The little girl was 3 years old at this time.  She bascially had to raise herself.  She had no bed to sleep on, went days with no food and had horrible living conditions.    Eventually the mother was put in jail. At this point, dad received custody of the child.  She moved in with dad who lived with his parents, siblings and their children.  In all their were 10 people living in this house.  The child had never used a utensil before, so at the age of 4 she was learning to eat with a spoon and fork.  When she would get hungry, she would rummage through the garbage looking for food.  This was just a norm for her from living with her mom.  She didn't know to look in the fridge or cupboard for food. I have her in my class now, and she still picks food up off the floor and eats it.  She steals food from the other kids.  I try to give her more so she doesn't have to do this.  In short, this child has had a very difficlut life.  She is now almost 6 years old, and she has so many trust issues and behavior issues to deal with.  She is a very angry child.  I feel so bad for her, I know she has a long ways to go.  I fear she is scarred for life and wonder if she will be able to have a happy normal life.

POVERTY IN BRAZIL

I chose to look at the poverty situation in Brazil.  What I found is that 2.6% of the population lives in poverty. 42% of the children live in poverty and 150,000 children under the age of 5years die due to hunger.  Many children lack education, health care and nutrition.  Many families cannot afford to raise their children and therefore many are abandoned and live on the streets.  These children often turn to drugs, crime and prostitution in order to survive.  The Ministry of Social Asstistance is a program setup by the government  to help fight poverty and starvation.  In order to survive, children are pushed into the workforce instead of education.  There are no child labor laws in Brazil, so this leads to a breeding ground for malnutrition, viloence and sexual exploitation.   

To read more on the poverty situation in Brazil click on the following link:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Poverty-in-Brazil

Child Development and Public Health

The public Health topic I chose is on breastfeeding.  It seems that more mothers are breastfeeding their infants and steering clear of formula.  Research shows that breastfeeding has many benefits.  The child is receiving all the important nutrients and vitamins from the mother.  They also receive the antibodies to help fight off infections and illnesses.  It's proven that children who are breasfed are healthier and spend less time at doctors offices. The contact that comes between mother and child helps build a secure attachment.  It also helps the mother lose weight after childbirth and helps the uterus to get back to normal size.  I don't have children, but if I did, after researching I am confident that I would breastfeed because of the benefits.

As I was reseaarching, I discovered an article about breastfeeding and mothers of Yemen.  It appears that this phenomenon is not very popular in Yemen.  Doctors recommend that for at least the first 6 months of life, infants should be exclusively breastfed.  This mean they only consume human milk, no water or juice is allowed.  In Yemen, the mothers feel that this is not sufficient for a baby.  They will breastfeed for short periods of time but not the entire 6 mos.  yemen, is a country that has a very high malnutrition rate.  The mortality rates of infants due to malnutrition has not changed for several years.

After doing the research, I understand now why my student who is of Yemen decent was so sickly.  Even though mom was American, dad was Yemen and did not believe in breastfeeding and had very strict dietary requirements.  I think this information will help me in the future if someone wants my opinion about formula or breastfeeding I can give accurate data and help them be informed.

To read more about The Yemen's lack of breastfeeding , go to the following website:

www.yobserver.com/sports-health-and-lifestyle/10012767.html