Adventures in Early Childhood Studies

Testing and Children

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 22:18:00 +0000

There are many instances where testing does not allow one to gain a full picture of a child. I do believe that cognitive testing is important. I think that it allows professionals to determine where to start in regards to materials and activities that are appropriate for a child. But I don't believe that children are just a score. I think that their personalities and interests should also be considered. There are honestly so many protocols for various aspects of development and other areas, it can be difficult to decide which is right for any particular child.

Much of the information that I found for Brazil involved the overall testing within their educational systems. This is much like state testing in the United States. In Brazil, these tests are given every two years and helps to disseminate funds for particular areas of education. These tests are also used as incentives to help teachers make their students better learners. According to Bonamino and Sousa (2012), these tests tend to measure certain cognitive elements in regards to math and reading. It doesn't allow a total view of a child or the school that the child is taught in.
I personally think these tests are very limiting. There are more important things in education than testing results.

Bonamino, A., Sousa, B. 2012. Three generations of assessments of basic education in Brazil: interfaces with the curriculum in/of the school. Retrieved from http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=s1517-97022012000200007&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en

Stressors and Child Development

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 05:06:00 +0000

There are many stressors that can have a negative impact on a child's life. These sometimes uncontrollable stressors can disrupt the everyday lives and overall development of children. I have experienced some of these stressors as a child. One of these particular stressors was a hurricane. I lived in southern florida when Hurricane Andrew hit. Many of my family members lost their homes or had to endure poor living conditions for months. My education was put on pause and at times did not have very much interaction with other children because being outside was dangerous until debris was removed. I do remember the feelings of worry that I had until things returned to normal.

Some other very prominent stressors that effect children are racism and poverty. I discovered a report that discussed the ways in which both were linked. In many countries, a person's race can be linked to their level of success (income, education level, opportunities). Brazil is one of these countries. According to UNICEF (2010), 62% of children who are not attending school are of African or Indigenous decent. Brazil developed a campaign to promote racial equality, especially for children. This is a great idea but very difficult because many do not believe that there is a racism issue in the country. André Lázaro who is the Secretary of Continued Education, says the biggest problem as far as racism in Brazil is concerned lies in fact that Brazilians don't see themselves as prejudiced, making it difficult to sensitize them around the issue.

I do believe that raising awareness is very positive. But more opportunities need to be available. Schools and other resources should be available in the areas that need them.

http://www.unicef.org/about/annualreport/files/Brazil_COAR_2010.pdf

Immunizations

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 06:50:00 +0000

Immunizations are important in the defense of certain diseases. Polio, Smallpox, and Measles are a few of the diseases that have been combated due to vaccines. While this is very positive, there are some issues that stem from vaccines that have been causing many concerns in recent years.
Many of these issues have to do with reactions to vaccines and also the safety of so many vaccinations in early childhood.

This is a very hot topic in my work place. Many of my coworkers have recently had children. Many questions are thrown around:
"Why do my kids need way more shots than I got?"
"Why can't certain shots be separated?"
"Who's your doctor? Do they let you pick your shot schedule?"
"How are you handling vaccines?"

I must mention that my coworkers and I have been working in special needs populations for many years. When you hear that many children that you work with were fine until they received a certain vaccination, it may create some concern in regards to our own children.

Many of my coworkers have decided to space out vaccines instead of having their children receive multiple doses at once. The concept of spacing out vaccines is based on a book written by Dr. Sears. The book is titled "The Vaccine Book". Dr. Sears is a pediatrician who explains why certain vaccines are given, the contents of the vaccine, the risks of certain vaccines, and offers an alternative vaccine schedule. This book is very controversial but it can be an option for some parents. I do believe vaccinations are important but I will take the time to research multiple aspects once I do have children.

I will link some addition information about vaccines below, these support both sides of the issue:

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/vaccines

http://www.generationrescue.org/resources/vaccination/vaccine-ingredients-and-side-effects/

http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/safe/autism/overburdening.cfm

Adhering to vaccine schedule is best way to protect children from disease

Fisher, et al.

AAP News 2009; 30:4
http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/_issues2012/2012_vaccinations.html

Child Birth Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 01:26:00 +0000

I haven't been involved in many birth experiences. The few that I have been apart of have been all the same. Family and friends get a phone call and everyone heads to the hospital. We all play the waiting game. Once the baby is born we all get to see the baby through a window and eventually visit the new parents and family at home. The hospital is usually a clean and sterile setting. The healthcare professionals treat women and their families respectfully. They ensure that the mother and child are healthy and do not have any complications. I do have one friend that did have her baby at her home with a midwife. She had her daughter in a small swimming pool without medication and without doctors. This isn't very common amongst my friends and family.

After some research, I selected South Africa to use as my example of a birth experience outside of North America. Women can have children in a hospital setting but it os not always the best of situations. According to Nordqvist (2011), women in labor are treated horribly and in many cases ignored and sent home. This results in a high infant and mother mortality rate. Women are also subject to abuse from the hospital staff. This is an excerpt from a woman who is HIV positive:

"My uncle advised me to call the ambulance when labor started but
I did not want to go to the hospital. I was scared of how I would
be treated. I hear the nurses are very rude and they are too
rough. After giving birth I developed serious problems. I was
bleeding too much and I couldn't breathe properly. Luckily the
HIV treatment center took me to hospital, and eventually I got
treated (Nordqvist,2011)."

There are some extreme differences in the conditions between the two countries. In North America, women are well taken care of. They are given clean places to give birth and are given great medical care. In South Africa, women aren't treated with respect and are neglected during labor and after the child is born. Women and children are at risk of major complications with the possibility of death or major medical complications. This would not happen in the United States unless there was an extreme case of medical neglect.

I believe that these negative aspects of the birthing experience in South Africa can have negative aspects on development. The neglect that mothers receive can result in the inability to provide a nurturing environment for their child. This can possibly result in the child's ability to meet developmental milestones.

Nordqvist, C. (2011).The Shocking Truth About Giving Birth In South Africa. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232413.php

Ideals and Code of Ethics

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 17:19:00 +0000

The NAEYC and DEC are important organizations that help to promote early childhood education and gives professionals insights into new research, provides support, and provides guidelines in order to be successful in this field.

Three ideals from each are listed below.

NAEYC IDEALS

I-1.2—To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines, as well as on particular knowledge of each child.
I-1.3—To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child.
I-3C.2—To create and maintain a climate of trust and candor that will enable staff to speak and act in the best interests of children, families, and the field of early childhood care and education.

These NAEYC ideals are important to my profession because they support how individual each child and professional can be. They stress how valuable keeping up with current evidence based practices in many arenas can be in provided adequate services for children.

DEC CODE OF ETHICS

1. We shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, and honesty in all our professional activities in order to inspire the trust and confidence of the children and families and of those with whom we work.

We shall honor and respect the rights, knowledge, and skills of the multidisciplinary colleagues with whom we work recognizing their unique contributions to children, families, and the field of early childhood special education.

We shall engage in ongoing and systematic reflective inquiry and self-assessment for the purpose of continuous improvement of professional performance and services to young children with disabilities and their families.

These points are important to my profession because they point to the importance of integrity and self reflection. Self reflection is always important in any job. Learning one's strengths and weaknesses can help to identify areas of improvement. Respecting colleagues is also very important while working on a team. If a a member is constantly disrespecting or undermining the opinions of another professional, it can break down efforts to help a child success.

EARLYCHILDHOOD RESOURCES

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 01:10:00 +0000

POSITIONS AND INFLUENTIAL PRACTICES

NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller

FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.pdf

Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND WELL-BEING

Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
Websites:
World Forum Foundation

http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us

This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage

World Organization for Early Childhood Education

http://www.omep-usnc.org/

Association for Childhood Education International

http://acei.org/

Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

EARLY CHILDHOOD ORGANIZATIONS

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/

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/

Institute for Women's Policy Research

http://www.iwpr.org/

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/

Pre[K]Now

http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067

Voices for America's Children

http://www.voices.org/

The Erikson Institute

http://www.erikson.edu/

JOURNALS
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

BOOKS

Quotes and Inspirations

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 00:55:00 +0000

The quotes below are from some of the many contributors of the early childhood field.

A speech from Art Rolnick about investing in Early Childhood Education:

More Quotes that inspire me:

Personal Childhood Web

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 03:10:00 +0000

There have been many people who have had a positive impact in my life. There are only two people that come to mind as major influencers during my childhood. Those people are my parents.

Mom and I

Dad

My mom and I can easily discuss the day-to-day things that go on. We like the same TV shows and go to plays together. My mom has always told me that I could do anything that I wanted as long as I worked hard and didn't give up. She's not a big talker but always leads by example. She always showed me how special I was by taking the time to hang out with me and knowing the the little things that will brighten up any bad day. My dad is a fun person. He doesn't mind acting silly in order to make me smile. He has an uncanny ability to turn the most boring story into an epic adventure. My dad has nurtured all of my interests (Broadway musicals, books, foreign films, and anything that involved gaining knowledge). He sat through the musical Wicked because I happened to buy tickets for us as a Christmas present from him. He slept through 30 minutes of the show. My dad has always shown me that ALWAYS staying true to myself is one of the most important things that I can do. He even appreciates the stubbornness that I clearly inherited from him.
Both of my parents still do all of these things currently. They have shown me how to be a reliable, lovable, hard working person. They constantly remind me that I'm closer to accomplishing the many goals that I have set for myself and continue to offer support, advice, and are always there to lend an ear.

A favorite childhood book- Oh The Places You'll Go

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 16:18:00 +0000

This book is one of my favorites. I love this book because of the message. In life there are many opportunities. YOU have the ability to go in any direction. You can achieve anything that you want as long as you chose to begin.

Little Me

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 15:11:00 +0000

Favorite Quote about Children

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 15:09:00 +0000

A little about me and some things that I love :)

noreply@blogger.com (Alfton Lashea) — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 22:54:00 +0000

A little info about me :

I've lived in South Florida for most of my 29 years of life. I have been involved in field of early childhood for seven years. I'm currently working as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant in a PPEC with children from birth to 21 years of age. I have also worked in educational and early intervention settings. I have a passion for special needs children and want to continue to work in the field. I'd like to make a career out of helping children and their families gain access to the best education and services possible.

I hope this blog is interesting and informative

- :) Alfton

Random Facts:

- I read for fun

-Im an avid supporter of empowering women and girls

-I'm fascinated with anatomy

-I love popular culture

-Most of my favorite films have subtitles

-I'm the owner of a massive nail polish collection

-I'd like to have a library in my house