Reflecting on Learning

 

              My most passionate hope for my future early childhood professional and for the children and families with whom you work or will work. Is to be well educated on the issues of not just anti-bias education, but early childhood education in general. To be able to give my children and families a quality education with and open positive environment. Every decision that I make, I will think of my children and their families first. “To help children develop the skills, the strengths, the capacities to thrive in this world of ours,  which is so torn apart and polarized right now” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). 

                I would like to thank my colleagues of sharing their experience and their insight throughout this last eight week. I really enjoyed reading blog and discussion post for this course. I thank you all so much for sharing. And as we were nearing the end of this program I wish you all the best with whatever you decided to embark upon with your new degree. 

 

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Your commitment to anti-bias work. Baltimore, MD: Author

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

The country that I choose to learn more about is Central and Eastern Europe. There was no specific reason why I choose this country. In the past when we were asked to choose a country to learn about, I always did ones that I want to visit. But today I went a different route to explore a country that I do not know much about.

One of the biggest challenges that this country having is the refugee and migrant crisis. Over the years there has be many people going to Central and Eastern Europe in hopes of a better life. Many of them come over without anything (clothes, food, documentation, etc.) “Refugee and migrant children and women, especially those migrating without documentation, are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation”(www.unicef.org, 2016).

These children have nowhere to sleep, not food, and importantly no education. The parents are too worried about where their next meal is going to come form or where weather they are going to live, that education is the last thing on their mind. There are a lot of children living on their own in central and eastern Europe. They probably have not even been introduced to school. More than likely they are not developing school wise but they are learning survival. This kind of living can be hard on children emotionally, because they cannot be a child. They have to grow up before their time.

Personally I hate to see children take the role of an adult at a young age. And I hate to see or hear about children suffering. As a children I always said that I wanted to be rich so that I can help the children in these kinds of situations. And not that I am adult and fully understand situations, I am proud that I am in the filed I am in to help families. I may not be rich enough help hundreds of children overseas, but I can start at home with a few families at a time. 

Reference

 www.unicef.org

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

My first reaction to excerpt for the book “So Sexy, So Soon”, was Wow.  Sexualization  is a very important issue amongst children and adolescences.  In this is something I had no idea about until I became a teacher in an early childhood center, and experienced children as young as one displaying sexual activity. You hear about these types of things but it is something that you do not want to believe because children are so innocent, and many times their innocence is stripped away from them. Media and television is one of the biggest reasons why. “Sex sales”, is one of the biggest phrases that I hear too often, and not once have these people stop to think how this is affecting our children.

In 2016 it is not uncommon to her that children ages one and over having a tablet. Most if the time these tablets are not child proof, giving children access to the world wide web, without supervision.  Toddler girls are now in to play make up and this gives them a sense of thinking that they look prettier. Boys are told not to cry or not play with girl toys, this instill a sense of masculinity or that women are supposed to be the ones to do certain things. “boys,  who get a very narrow  definition of masculinity that promotes insensitivity and macho behavior,  are  taught  to judge  girls  based  on how  close  they come  to an artificial,  impossible, and shallow ideal”(Levin & Kilbourne 2009).

Sexualization can have a huge impact on children’s health development. It can cause depression, social issues and identity problems. “ The sexualization of childhood is having a profoundly disturbing impact on children’s understanding of gender, sexuality, and relationships” ”(Levin & Kilbourne 2009).

This week has been a real eye opener for me on sexualization. I am not sure why it has surprised me so much because I see it every day. I have twin cousins that are 3 years old and my daughter is 2 years. The twins are allowed to watch adult movies and know too much about adult things and I am scared that they may share the information that they know with my child. After reading the excerpt for the book “So Sexy, So Soon”, I would like to purchase the book and other materials from the authors.

Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

In the previous course I discussed that the ism that I struggle with is disabilities. I have not worked with a family that was in a wheel chair or for that matter with anyone with a disability. But two years ago I met this family for the first time. I would see the mom every day and interact with her on a daily basis. But the first time I met her son, I knew from that something was not right. I immediately spoke with mom and let her know my concerns. The next day I made a call to early intervention and set up with a meeting for him to get tested. After testing he was diagnosed with autism. Even though I do one on one home visits with the families, this is one of the homes that I would have to say a prayer and mediate before going in. The child was out of control and mom could not do anything with him. Even though I would always expected the worst on the visits with this family, I still stayed professional and walked into the home with a positive attitude. It has not strayed me away from never working with children with a disability, but if I had a preferences I would not. I believe that I need much more training with children with disabilities.  

Affirming Communication—Mindful Listening to and Speaking with Children

This week I observed one of the many time that my child was playing with her grandfather. She loves play doh and cooking. She pretends to cook all kinds of food. This particular she decide to cook hot dogs. She said pa-pa I’m cooking hotdogs for you, and he said to her I don’t want hot dogs. So she ask him “what do you want then”? He told her that he wanted some chicken, and she said, “ok, I’ll make you some chicken”. In the mist of them playing she stated that she was thirsty and wanted some juice. My father told her to come and ask me. I told her no she can have some water. So she folded her arms and walked away. She went back and told my father, “mommy said no, can I have some juice pa-pa”. He told her that she could not have any because I already said no and she began to throw a tantrum and he gave in and gave her some juice.

I feel that my father handle the situation all wrong. Instead of giving into my child when she threw the tantrum he could of tried to calm her and then talk to her. Now she thinks that every time that she wants something all she has to do is cry and throw a tantrum, which is not the right idea. My child is two years old, but she holds a conversation as if she was an older child. I set and talk with her about various things throughout the day. When I explain to her why she should or should not do something she always ask why and I explain to her why and I usually never have the problem again. But my father went against what I said and she will continue to repeat the same thing again.