Foundations of Early Childhood

In the beginning I had my doubts about understanding the formal research process. While I am an avid reader of early childhood research, I had no aspirations to become a researcher. But I discovered the research process although intimidating, is also fascinating. Learning the procedures of conducting a research study led me to a deeper understanding of how to prepare a research study. Selecting a topic, a subtopic, a design method presenting an opportunity to delve further into how research evolves. My challenges were with mixed designs methods, how, where and when should I employ the mixed method? The dependent independent, and extraneous variables within a study may necessitate the use of this method.   Research has over the course of time enhanced the practices and policies of early childhood research. Early theorist’s findings have led to the current research studies and the improvement in educating the young child. Children were once thought of and treated as minia...

European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) publishes The European Early Childhood Education Research Journal (EECERJ) is one of the most prestigious early childhood journals in the world featuring peer reviewed, scholarly articles based on research which is interested in research which has application. “EECERJ aims to provide a forum for the publication of original research in early childhood education in Europe. With this as its principal focus, it should be emphasised that its definition of education embraces care and that its approach is multidisciplinary, embracing all related fields including psychology, sociology, child health and social work”   (European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA):, 2012) . One topic I found interest was the emphasis on children’s outdoor play. In the most read column there were several research studies concerning the benefit of play and children’s healthy development and learning. There are articles...

The increased focus on early learning standards has resulted in a decline in the amount of time preschoolers’ engage in physical activity. A recent study indicates physical activity in the form of exercise increases preschoolers’ cognitive function. The study examined the impact of acute exercise on preschoolers’ cognitive function. Preschoolers engage in physical activities such as, planned movement programs, recess, physical and center-based activities throughout the day (Palmer, 2013). During the study preschoolers participated in planned movement programs that were part of the curriculum. They were provided opportunities to exercise while developing movement patterns that promote motor skill development. For thirty minutes the preschoolers engaged in a variety of  Activities targeting various motor skills such as, hopping from target to target, throwing, dribbling a ball, were found to enhance executive function more than running, jumping in place, or crawling (Palmer, 201...

`           I have chosen to research poverty’s influence in infant’s stress/anxiety. Stress, both maternal and after birth effects infants development. While stress is a normal occurrence in our daily lives toxic stress during infancy has long-term effects. The child can become hypervigilant or emotionally flat, the results of over production of stress hormones  (Berger, 2012) . There are multiple causes of stress/anxiety in infants one in particular is poverty. I am interested in learning more about how poverty affects the infant prenatal and after birth. I have located several resources on poverty’s impact on both maternal and infant stress. I have a tendency to get absorbed in reading once I find something of interest, so I must focus and stay on task. Berger, K. S. (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

During the past 7 weeks I have gleaned a vast amount of information from the websites, newsletters, podcasts, and colleagues’ posts about issues affecting the well-being of children here and internationally.   Many of the barriers faced by families in the U.S. are shared by those in the international community. Access, availability, and cost are major issues experienced by both communities.   The issue of inequity for girls, children suffering from poverty, and children in conflict and crisis are the consequences I found to be of particular interest. Eradicating the issues will serve to better the lives of all children. One area of improvement is that of the early childhood profession as a creditable medium of learning for young children. The profession is still viewed as one that anyone can step into and do. Even with increased requirements for education, there is usually is not an increase in pay.

As I have not received any correspondence, I visited the UNESCO website. A goal I have is to learn how to best support young children’s learning and development. The UNESCO website contained a variety of topics dedicated to the support of children’s learning and development. The development of the Dakar Framework for Action provides for equal access for all children. Participating countries commit to improving and expanding early childhood care and education especially for the most disadvantaged. One insight I gleaned was the fact that some governments developed policies for the poor, and if resources are limited they reduce state support for the privileged and redirect funds to the poor. The aim of the government is to ensure equitable provisions for different populations, but where there is universal provision for a certain age group while the overall enrollment in other age groups is low, this can result in inequity   (UNESCO, Access and equity, n.d.) . Another insight w...

Sharing Web Resources Links on the Global Fund for Children (GFC) web site led to information about the organizations mission, their grantees, blog, and media links, as well as their impact on solving equity issues for the world’s children. Another link Featured News, is dedicated to the Global Fund’s partnership with Financial Times (FT) MBA Challenge. The MBA Challenge is a program consisting of nine teams of business school students working with charities to develop plans for spending the grant money allocated by the GFC. Additional links to geographical regions of the world where and the Global Fund’s investments in the futures of young children. The Fall 2013 edition of the newsletter contained a link to the recently released “Grassroots Manifesto” which outlines the organization’s approach to excelling in in efforts of change. A story focusing on girl’s rights to education drew my attention. Saanya Ali, a high school senior holds a fund raiser every year in honor of the Musl...

 The podcast I listened to was another in the Beyond School Books series. This podcast focuses on education in emergencies. World Teacher Day is October 5 th . This day honors teachers working to build a sustainable future with children who are changing their communities and the world around them. Mariam Khalique, a teacher form Pakistan, explains the importance of education for women in Pakistan. In Pakistan education improves the lives of girls and young women. Working women with good literacy skills earn 95 cents more than women with weak literacy skills. Ms. Kahlique had problems attaining an education. Her immediate family supported her decision, but there were other members of the family who were against her. In the Pashtun society, Ms. Kahlique’s home, it is not proper for women to come out of the house, but the women take the risk because they know how important an education is. Another issue is the lack of proper training for teachers. Teachers lack the resources to do the...

As I explored the UNICEF web site I discovered a link to a podcast ‘Beyond School Books’ series,  featuring Wayetu Moore, founder of One Moore Book, books that speak to young readers through characters and situations within their own culture. Ms. Moore, came to the U.S. at 5years old. Thinking about her experience as a child, decided to develop a tool to help children from Liberia and Haiti in teaching them fundamentals of the English language in a context that is familiar to them. Some of the books are trilingual or bilingual, uses phrases in the native languages to help children relate to their lives. When something is written down, it is internalized as an ideal of the standard of beauty and culture,” she continues. “The power with this project is that when a child sees himself in the literature, they realize the permanence of their culture; they realise that they are important, too, that they are definitive   (Vojvoda, 2013, p. 1) . According to Wayeto, the...

My previous request for information from the professor in South Africa was answered by her daughter. She informed me her mother passed away recently. And I have not heard anything for the Mali organization. The links for the World Forum radio podcast was not accessible, but I was able to find some interesting information on the UNICEF website about Africa’s plight on poverty and early childhood. South Africa’s Child support Grant. The Child Support Grant, approximately 32US dollars per child has been instrumental in reducing poverty and vulnerability on children. An impact study contracted by the Department of Social Development South African Social Security Agency and UNICEF, and carried out by the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI), showed children receiving the grant at birth were more successful in school they also were less likely to experience stunting, and have their health monitored by a health care professional. A principal feature of the grant is that it is larg...

Sharing Web Resources Early Childhood Development Initiative Our Mission To bring our vast experiences and proven methods to support the education goals of Governments and work with community stakeholders to promote a knowledge base which equips communities and parents, teachers and other education professionals to meet the on-going learning needs of children and ensure successful holistic development (Early Childhood Development Initiative, 2012).   http://ecdinitiative.org/the-company/ The Early Childhood Development Initiative((ECDI) is an international non-governmental organization of qualified child development and education professionals dedicated to working with governments, education ministries, school boards, and education practitioners in Nigeria to foster positive learning strategies and environments that promote development of the whole child. Professional Development for Teachers includes workshops on learning through play, early...

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources  My initial request has not produced any response as of yet. I am hopeful that I will hear something in the coming week. If not, I will pursue the alternative assignment.  I requested correspondence form an early childhood professor in South Africa at the University of Limpopo, and I also emailed an organization in Mali for information on their early childhood issues and trends. I am eager to compare the differences in approaches as well as the areas that are similar. Since I am familiar with several of the organizations listed in the resource section I wanted to find one that I wanted to learn more about. I chose to explore is the Global Fund for Children (GFC). The site contains a variety of information from all over the world concerning children’s well-being. The GFC invests in and supports grassroots organizations that enabled the world’s most vulnerable children to succeed. I also subscribed to the news...

Factors of supports My faith, and family are key factors in my support system. There are words of encouragement to push me on in times of challenge. Their compliments on my accomplishments are another source of support.  My experience in the early childhood field and education are other supports I have.  Economic conditions caused the closing of my job, but I had several job offers before the last day of work. My association with other early childhood education professional is also a support. Whenever I am met with a concern about young children’s well-being I have reliable sources of support in m y former and present colleagues in the field. Not having these supports would present challenges for me. While my educational aspirations are personal, my family is a part of my personal desire to have the skills and knowledge to secure beneficial employment. The support of other early childhood professionals helps motivate me with the challenges of working with young children a...

                                           My Connections to Play    “A child loves his play, not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard.” ~ Benjamin Spock (pediatrician, author) “ Close observation of children at play suggests that they find out about the world in the same way as scientists find out about new phenomena and test new ideas…during this exploration, all the senses are used to observe and draw conclusions about objects and events through simple, if crude, scientific investigations.” ~ Judith Roden (lecturer, Canterbury Christ Church University College) As a child I enjoyed being outside playing with my sister and friends. Although, I am an asthmatic my parents insisted I go outside because the fresh air was good for me. I am so glad they did, playing outside gave me opportunities to develop physically as well as intellectually. Play in the ...

Relationship Reflection Relationships are an important aspect of feeling connected. I have great support from my family, friends, and professional colleagues. It is easy to share joyous times, heartaches, ideas, and concerns with someone you have a connection. My best friend is my husband, we will celebrate 40 years of marriage this month. He is always in my corner, encouraging me to pursue my dreams. We have three wonderful children and two adorable grandchildren. My parents always encouraged me to pursue my dreams. I have two sisters and a brother who I am very close to. We have always been close to one another. As young children we had disagreements but, they never interfered with our bond with each other. I admire them for their perseverance through the good and not so good times as well.  I am blessed to have such warm and compassionate siblings. My family cheers me on when the times are difficult. During my thirty plus years working with young children I have met an...

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won’t wait while you do the work.                     ___ Anonymous                               The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every children; it is whether we afford not to.             ___Marian Wright Edelman,                      U. S. children’s rights activist       10x Inspirations-Quotes . (n.d.). Retrieved from NAEYC.org. Thank you for your  response and questions on the discussion board and the blog. I have gained new perspectives and knowledge fro...

Testing for Intelligence Continuous assessment affords the child and teacher an authentic view of the child’s strengths and weaknesses, thus providing an opportunity to implement experiences to facilitate and enhance these areas. Assessing children’s learning is necessary for planning experiences to expand a child’s learning and reinforce skills already mastered. All children learn in a style of their own. There are seven documented learning styles; visual, aural, verbal, physical, logical, social, and solitary  (learning-styles-on-line, 2011) . Some children learn using only one style and others use a combination of styles. According to Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory, the use of I.Q. testing results are limited in accurately assessing a child’s ability to learn comprehend. His theory states there are eight different intelligences that are found in adults and children  (Multiple intelligence, 2013) . Children who learn through different intelligences are s...

Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development: Natural Disasters.  May 27, 1997, there were a total of 20 tornadoes in the Central Texas area where I reside. I was at work when the sirens sounded. We immediately began our severe weather plan, getting the children into the safe areas and waited while the storm passed by. As one warning ended another began, which made for a long afternoon. The pressure that comes tornadoes produces a very eerie sensation. The air is very still and the air pressure is heavy and your skin feels as if it is going to burst. The rain was coming down heavily and the force of the wind seem to shake the building. Anytime there is a severe weather bulletin the memories of that day return and the emotions and feeling I experienced are present in my mind. Oklahoma Tornadoes Tornado activity as late as last night in Oklahoma have resulted in deaths of children and adults. This can be a stressor in the lives of young and old. With the frequency of the...

Childhood Immunization at Record High Childhood immunizations have risen over the past decade but there are 24 million children still immunized. UNICEF, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization   report that one in five children are not receiving routine immunizations against preventable diseases like measles, tetanus, and diphtheria. Recent declines in child death rates are a direct results of higher immunization rates. Worldwide measles deaths declined by 74 percent between 2000 and 2007 due to higher immunization. This improvement will not continue without continued attempts to vaccinate children around the world. Immunization is an issue that we face here in the U.S. and globally. Here in the U.S. reasons include lack of information, access to affordable health care, personal and religious preference, lack of funding is a primary reason in other countries  (Immunization state of the world's vaccines: Childhood immunization at record high, 2009) . The r...

Childbirth Here and Around the World Being a part of my grandson’s entry into the world brought me a tremendous amount of joy. My daughter has wanted a child for a long time and she was blessed with a perfect son.  Her pregnancy was categorized as high risk due to her age and prior to her pregnancy she was diagnosed with high blood pressure which required medication during, the pregnancy her blood pressure was perfect, she was instructed to discontinue her medication. She erred on the side of caution and chose to have the genetic testing done to assure the pregnancy was going well. Her test results were those of a twenty year old- she celebrated her 40 th birthday this past November.  The doctor’s visits, two each week one to her primary obstetrician and the other to the high risk clinic to monitor the baby as the pregnancy progress caused a bit of apprehension but her healthy lifestyle and the excellent prenatal care she received, her  healthy 8lb.1oz. son was de...

 NAEYC Code of Ethical Ideals NAEYC Ethical Responsibilities to Children  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. Improving the lives of children is my primary goal as an early childhood educator. Ensuring the child’s physical, cognitive, social and emotional development in an environment that reflects the child’s culture and language require the program to base curriculum on the use of best practices. NAEYC Ethical Responsibilities to Families I-2-7- To share information about each child’s education and development with families and to help them understand and appreciate the current knowledge base of the early childhood profession. Helping families understand the practices we use in educating their child is an important aspect of the school to home connection. Often time parents are confused abou...

Position Statements 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, 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. ...