Getting to Know Your International Contacts Part 2

I read an article on how stress affects the brain. In the absence of a supportive relationship with an adult, children can experience chronic and unrelenting stress which can be toxic to brain development. The article briefly discusses three types of stress.

Positive stress is an important factor pertaining to healthy development. The environment is stable and supportive which helps to restore the response system to baseline.

Tolerable stress is a psychological state that disrupts the brain but is buffered by supportive relationship that stimulate adaptive coping. An example could be death, serious illnesses, divorce, and other circumstances.

Lastly Toxic stress is the most harmful especially in the absence of stable adult support. Some common risks are family violence, physical and emotional violence, severe and maternal depression and other situations.

I have gain detailed insight on how stress can extremely affect children during the early years.  Stress affects the body in many ways which can become deadly. It is so important for adults to provide a safe, nuturing, healthy, environment for children during their childhood. Adults lives affects children future.

 

Reference

Jack P. Shankoff, M.D. (2011) How Stress Affects the Brain retrieved from

http://www.stanford.edu/group/scspi/_media/pdf/pathways/winter_2011/PathwaysWinter11.pdf

Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” website (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/),

Sharing Web Resources

The following articles are the three that I thought were most interesting and important concerning the needs of children and families.

U.S. Department of Education (n.d.). Early learning initiative. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/early-learning

Cauthen N. K., & Fass, S. (2009). 10 important questions about child poverty and family economic hardship. Retrieved from National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) website: http://www.nccp.org/pages/pdf/page_131.pdf

 Children’s Defense Fund. (2010). Ending childhood poverty. Retrieved from http://www.childrensdefense.org/policy-priorities/ending-child-poverty/

I was informed about many other programs offered under U.S Department of Education. Early learning is extremely important for our children future growth, development, and education. It seems as if many organizations’ are taking children early learning more seriously now than ever. Even many preschool programs are leaning more toward children academics.

Poverty among children is very controversial. Poverty has been an issue for many years. I have reviewed many articles on organization doing research on how to end poverty. I believe that some of the organizations are reaching out to children and families in need.

Economists, politicians, and neuroscientists are investing more in early childhood education. People are always looking for more ways to invest. The early childhood field is a great demand and there are always ways to improve young children education.

 

International Contacts

Children and Poverty Research and Policy Centre (Chip) research was very interesting.  Chip research poverty issues around the Eastern Magnolia area. The organization also plan different objectives to reduce poverty.   The Chip’s team had a conversation with some children from Kalkhgol, Sourn in Eastern Magnolia between the ages of 11 and 15 years of age. This particular group of children was not in school. Apparently their house work is more important than an education.

The children also talked about their daily activities such as collecting aluminum, unloading fire word, fetching water, milking cows, and other things. It seems as if the children are like some others years ago.

Poverty has stricken these children of their education.  Some children cannot afford books. Some of the children may start school in the first grade at 11 or 12 years of age.  I learned that education is not affordable everywhere although there are public schools around the world. Poverty affects children and families in so many ways.  Chip’s case study provided a lot of insight of children lives from another country.

 

Reference

http://www.childpoverty.org/index.php?action=casestudy&,d=201

Establishing Professional Contacts

I chose to use one of the links provided in the course for Part 1. I am still trying to make some contacts and hopefully everything will go well with that process. I reviewed UNCIEF Organization which seems to be a great organization. The organization works toward helping children to over diseases, poverty, viloence, and discrimination. I am looking forward to talking with an professional from a different country.

My Supports

My daily environment consist of a support system which include my husband, kids, and my mother. These people have supported me for years in many of my decision making. In fact my mother is the reason for me being in the Early Childhood Field. I have recently relocated to Mississippi. I have been in Arkansas my whole life. This city is very new to me and there is no familiar faces.

I am at home while the kids are at school and my husband is working. There are many days in which I feel alone and sad. My husband tries to cheer me up and our youngest son gives me many compliments. My mother and I have also had a close relationship. She is also very supportive.


Support is a very important factor toward becoming successful in life. I believe that life would not be as fulfilling without support from my immediate family. It makes a big difference just to hear encouraging words sometimes. I truly thank God for placing them in my life. Now more than ever I  must believe that this city will begin to feel more like home. The support has turned into determination. It is left up to me create an inviting environment and to find a job of my interest.

I have recently gone on two interviews and both jobs weren't up to my expectations. I did not feel like this is it. One day I just know it will happen for me!

"My Connection to Play"

“For a small child there is no division between playing and learning; between the things he or she does ‘just for fun’ and things that are ‘educational.’ The child learns while living and any part of living that is enjoyable is also play. ~ Penelope Leach (psychologist and author)

“It is in playing, and only in playing, that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self.” ~ D.W. Winnicott (British pediatrician)

“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” ~ O. Fred Donaldson (martial arts master)

http://www.childsplaymagazine.com/Quotes/index.htm

 

 

 

These items allow children to use their social skills, cognitive development, gross and fine motor skills. Children are also use real life materials which are used in their homes.  The sand and toys allows the boy use his thinking skills to build by recalling his memory about the material.

During my childhood my mother brought toys pertaining to my interest. I mostly recall having a play kitchen, doll houses, and many dolls. I loved to play dress up. I believe back then many people did not associate play with learning. I played with many materials which helped be to use my social skills such as the kitchen and doll house. The different material allowed learning communication among my peers.

Play is very similar today as it was yesterday. Yet there are much more learning materials available to children in terms of learning. There are so many puzzles and games today that require children to think and be creative.

I see play as a learning experience for children no matter what age. There are so many thing children can learn through play that they will acquire in their adult lives. Everybody needs to know how to communicate and be social.  In life many of us have to use our thinking skills on our jobs. Different materials are used in our homes.

 

                                                

 

 

 

 

Relationship Reflection

I believe that positive relationships are important whether it involves children, family, co-workers, or friends. My relationships with my own children and family is ongoing. I have always had a close relationship with my mother.The relationship with my children is most  important especially at home.


                                                              My two boys

 

                                                               My Mother

Positive Family Partnership is becoming more and more demanding in early childhood programs.  A child's relationship in their environment determines their outcome in life. Often I try to make my have feels warm and welcoming for my children as possible. We have family time every week whether its reading, watching TV, playing games, eating out, or talking. A mother's relationship is unlike any other. Parenting involves positive relationships in which challenges can develop. Listening and understanding are important factors concerning relationships.

I have experienced that challenges occur during miscommunication and not being understanding. As educators we must get involved with our students learning, home-life, and their families. I have learned a lot from hands on experience in the classroom. My own recent challenge was making sure that my children are comfortable in all environments. I recently relocated and I was so worried about my children being in an environment with no fomular faces. I imagined how they were feeling constantly. Now I go and eat lunch with them read, books to their class, and try to stay involved.



My work experiences has help me to gain insight on different types of relationships. I have also learned how to build positive and effective relationships with parents. The interaction between a teacher and child is very important in that it encourages the child to talk, develop social skills, and creates a warm and friendly environment. There so many learned experiences throughout my time in the classroom environment. It is a everyday learning experience involving teacher, director, children, and families.