When I Think of Child Development

Thank You........

Being in this class, has been such a great learning experience. I got to meet and learn about some extremely wonderful  people. In addition, I also learned a lot from my classmates as well. I am sorry this course is coming to an end. I didn't want to thank just two of my colleagues because so many of you have impacted my learning. I want to say  Thank you to my classmates for helping to enrich my learning.

Testing for Intelligence.

 If you are looking at the holistic child, you need to assess the developmental (bio-social, cognitive, and psychosocial) domains of the child. It is pertiant to assess how the child learns an dthe pace at which they learn. I think it is also important to assess what they child already knows. Therefore, as educators, we are able to undestand the child as a whole and can cater lesson plans and assignments to meet the needs of the indivdiual child as a whole.

In Singapore, they are taking measures to ensure that children are assessed holistically.

Each child is provided with a portfolio and over the course of the school year, they are assessed in different areas such as math, public speaking and grammar. Parents are able to view the portfolio and better track their child’s strengths and weaknesses as each subject is broken down into various topics.

Violence

I choose Violence. I remember when I was younger, my aunt's fiancee had his two nieces move in with us temporarily until family services came and took them and place them in a foster home. Their mother was jailed for child abuse. The two girls who were older than me were placed in foster homes. I remember coming home from school and crying because they were gone. Eventually, their mother married and had another child. She never got custody back of the girls. Then she went to prison for killing the last child she had. She hung the two year od on a door knob by his suspenders and beat him with a belt buckle. The child died from wounds received during that beating.

I am not sure how they coped with being in foster care. However, I knew when they came to stay with us, they were always sad and crying. My aunt tried to do things with them to cheer them up but they were extrmely sad.

Many Asia children refugees have experienced events related to war or persecution that may affect their mental and physical health long after the events have occurred. While in their countries of origin refugee children may have experienced:

• violence (as witnesses, victims, and perpetrators)
• war
• lack of food, water, and shelter
• physical injuries, infections, and diseases
• torture
• forced labor
• sexual assault
• lack of medical care
• loss of loved ones

Breastfeeding

The topic I chose to write about is breastfeeding. All of the topics are important to me however, I breastfeed my son and am expecting now. Breastfeeding is really healthy to the wellbeing and development of infants.

In Mexico, breastfeeding is based on income and education. People with lower incomes and that are less educated breastfeed longer than 2 years since moms don't have money to buy formula or to provide for their children. Moms that are more educated and have better finances breastfeed for only 6 months since they believe that breast milk starts losing its health benefits after the age when babies start solids. Some woman will breastfeed up to 12 months just for bonding but after that babies are weaned gradually. The ability of buying healthy foods compensates for the lack of use of breast milk.

Birthing in the US and Japan

When women in Japan have babies, they have to have their babies in hospitals and their husbands are not allowed in the delivery room for a vaginal birth unless the husband has taken prenatal classes with the mom to be. If a Japanese woman has to have a c section, the husband is not allowed in at all. It is also a custom that japenese women give birth with no painkillers. There is a belief among Japanese that labor pains act as a kind of test that a woman must endure in preparation for the challenging role of motherhood. This centuries-old belief endures despite the fact that a growing number of doctors in Japan are recommending epidurals for their patients, suggesting that they create a more peaceful birth experience. Although more women are beginning to exercise this option, centuries of tradition still keep many others from considering the procedure.
Also the hosiptal stay for giving birth is five days for a vaginal and 10 days for a c-section.
When the mom and baby leave the hospital after their stay, the mom and baby must stay at the mother's parents house for a month and must stay in the bed with the baby for 21 days.

In the US, birthing is very different. Woman have the right to decide if the baby will be born at home, hospital, or birthing center. Husband do not have to attend any prenatal classes although they are offered and they probably should take them!! The fathers are allowed in the room when a c-section is performed but only at the head of the mother. Painkillers are up to the mother's descretion. If a mother wants painkillers, she has has the right to receive them. The hospital stay for a vaginal birth is two days and up to four days for a c-section and that is with no complications. When leaving the hospital, the mother may return to any home that she feels comfortable going to.

Course Resources

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/74759/CRS-CW-6136827/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

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/

• 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

Addtional Resources:
National Black Child Development Institute-
NBCDI’s mission is to improve and protect the quality of life of black children and families.  Their vision is a society that embraces the commitment to a successful future for every child.

South Carolina Early CHildhood Association - The purpose of SCECA is to work on behalf of young children and their families.  In particular SCECA will:  1) increase awareness of the needs of children birth through eight by providing opportunities for better coordination among parents, teachers, health workers, religious and social workers, and others concerned with the childbirth through eight; 2) aid teachers by promoting workshops and conferences; and 3) establish health and education standards for nursery schools, kindergartens and other child care centers

South Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children-
The purpose of the South Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children shall be to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights, and well-being of all young children, to encourage the study, interpretation, and improvement of their education and general well-being, to cooperate with other groups having compatible purposes, and to support and promote local SCAEYC chapters.

Words of Inspiration and Motivation....

No government can love a child, and no policy can substitute for a family's care. But at the same time, government can either support or undermine families as they cope with moral, social and economic stresses of caring for children............Hilary Clinton

When I am talking about "It Takes a Village", I'm obviously not talking just about or even primarily about geographical villages any longer, but about the network of relationships and values that do connect us and binds us together................Hilary Clinton

If we invest in our children now, money will be saved for costly services down the road....Lyndon B. Johnson

We have entered an age in which education is not just a luxury permitting some men an advantage over others. It has become a necessity without which a person is defenseless in this complex, industrialized society. We have truly entered the century of the educated man.
Lyndon B. Johnson

From Week 2
I have the passon to make sure akk children are taught in an environmentand in ways that nuture their ability to grow and develop to their fullest potential..... Louise Derman Sparks

I am not here to save the world. I am here to make a difference in my community.... One little spark will make a difference............Raymond Hernandez