Wk. 8 Reflecting on Learning

An explanation of your most passionate hope for your future as an early childhood professional and for the children and families with whom you work or will work.
      My most passionate hope for my future as an early childhood professional and for the children and families with whom I work with is to be able to create an environment and relationship that fosters the love of learning. I want to make a positive difference in their lives. The early years of a child's learning and development are the building blocks of which future learning is build upon. I want to give the child I work with strong foundations that will follow them through life. 

A brief note of thanks to your colleagues.
I want to thank my fellow colleagues of these past 8 weeks. It has been a pleasure reading your blogs and discussions. I have learned so much from your posts. I hope to see you in the next class and wish you luck on the continuation of you educational journey.

Brandie

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

Blog Wk. 7

The part of the world I have chosen to focus on is Ukraine. Parts of Ukraine for the last two years have been at war. “Two years of violence has left an indelible mark on thousands of children…more than 215,000 children are internally displaced form the conflicted areas. At least 1 in 5 schools have been destroyed”(UNICEF, n.d.).  Children face many challenges in war torn counties. Toxic stress can have lasting negative effects on children’s psychological health. Children will have a difficult time learning if they are constantly worried about their and their family’s safety.

Children in war zones also exposed to more health issues. Not only can war have negative effects on children psychologically but they are exposed to different disease and disease outbreaks.  In Ukraine they had their first polo outbreak after successfully eradicating the disease from the country many, many years before. Learning and teaching are not a priority because there are other vital risks to worry about. Like staying safe or having enough food and water to drink. In Ukraine the water supply is at risk for about 2 million people on the front lines. War causes many causalities. Not only in loss of life but also for children the loss of innocence and their childhood.

My personal and professional insights gained from this research into a different part of the world makes me feel thankful for where I live and that I have a safe place to raise my children. I believe every child has the right to a childhood and a quality education.

Brandie

References

UNICEF. (n.d.). Two years on, Ukraine conflict affects over half a million children. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/media_90268.html

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

When we are talking about sexualization in early childhood we are not talking about sex, sexualization is not the same as sexuality or sex. “When people are sexualized, their value comes primarily from their sex appeal, which is equated with physical attractiveness. This is especially damaging and problematic to children and adolescents who are developing their sense of themselves as sexual beings” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p. 4). It is sad to see how sexualization effects children’s self-esteem and self-worth. It is vital to teach children that they are wonderfully beautiful unique individuals that have many different aspects of themselves and their worth should never be based solely on someone else’s opinions.

This is a very difficult task because everywhere children look on T.V, magazines, the movies, etc., they are bombarded with these ever changing images on what is “beautiful”, “sexy”, and “acceptable or in”. “Today’s cultural environment bombards children with inappropriate and harmful messages. As children struggle to understand what they see and hear, they learn lessons that can frighten and confuse them. These lessons can seriously harm their ability to grow up to have healthy attitudes about themselves and their bodies and to have caring relationships in which sex is an important part. In the most extreme cases, the media’s incessant sexualization of childhood can contribute to pathological sexual behavior, including sexual abuse, pedophilia, and prostitution” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p. 4). Sexualization of early childhood makes me angry, children should be able to just be children. It is essential to see the negative effects sexualization and educate children and adults about it.

I was surprised that my niece for one got a boyfriend in the sixth grade, age 12 and has had the same boyfriend for the last two years. My friend’s son got a note about how handsome he was and if he would be the note writers boyfriend, her son is in kindergarten. I went to see an end of year talent show with a friend and the songs and dances these little children were singing and dancing to were surprising. We may look as some of these things and think what is the big deal they are cute. But the problem is “Today’s cultural environment bombards children with inappropriate and harmful messages. As children struggle to understand what they see and hear, they learn lessons that can frighten and confuse them” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p. 4). They see and learn things that they may have no idea what they are but repeat it or do it because they think that is they was it is supposed to be

It is essential that “children have direct personal experience being in and witnessing caring and affectionate relationships with family and friends. Ideally, they are nurtured by supportive and trusted adults, who are able and willing to answer questions and clear up confusion about issues such as the physical differences between males and females and the basics of making babies” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p. 5). It is vital to educate children and show them how a relationship should be and to answer any questions truthfully.  

Brandie

References

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

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

Children are so very impressionable and they need loving caring adults so show them how to respect themselves and others. “They need adults to help them begin to navigate and resist the harmful impact of prejudice and discrimination. A person’s early childhood years lay the foundation for a developmental and experiential journey that continues into adulthood” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2012, p. 11). They need adults to help to guide them so that this foundation will be strong and will allow them to flourish and prosper in the intricately diverse world we live in. 

The first years of a child’s life they begin to “notice differences and similarities among the people who surround them. They use these observations to construct their self-identity and their concepts about others” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2012, p. 12). It is vital to understand all “isms” to put an end to them before they get out of hand. Children learn from what they see and hear. If they see me being treated differently because I am a woman, then they are going to believe that it is ok to treat women that way or it is ok to be treated that way.

Brandie

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2012). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Observing Communication

This week I was in the store and I observed a mother and maybe 4-year-old little girl walking around and shopping. The little girl was asking her mom to look at something she saw. She tugged on her arm and shirt and really wanted her mother to look. She said look mom look mom over and over again. The mother replied, “yeah, that’s neat” but never even looked. “Words shape our attitudes, feelings, and thoughts. Yet language is such a part of our lives that we often take it for granted” (Rainer Dangei & Durden, 2010, p. 7).  The mother never took the time to see what the daughter wanted to show her. The mother should have paid attention to her daughter. Built upon what she wanted to show her. It would have validated the daughter’s thoughts and feeling. It could have been a wonderful teaching or mother/daughter moment.

The mother should have first of all paid attention to what her daughter wanted to show her. I know we all get busy and I am a mother of two myself and I have those times when I just want to get in and get out of the store as quickly as possible because I have a million and one things to still get done. But it is always important to remember the little moments that happen in life and if you are so focused on completing tasks and getting things done you are going to miss out on them. The daughter more than likely felt that what she had to say or show her mother wasn’t important, therefore she wasn’t important. No parent wants their children to feel this why and it is unintentional. I know I have been guilty of this in the past. I try to slow down and see the world through my children’s eyes as much as possible. It is such a wonderful vantage point and you can learn so much about your child and how they view the world around them. All it takes is a moment.

Brandie

References

Rainer Dangei, J., & Durden, T. R. (2010). The nature of teacher talk during small group activities. YC: Young Children, 65(1), 74-81. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=db75cb2a-0326-42f1-859a-8dc88af172b9%40sessionmgr4004&vid=1&hid=4112

Creating Affirming Environments

Imagine that you want to open your own Family Child Care Home. Reflect on what your setting would look like, what elements you think you might want to include and for what reasons, and the various ways that you will strive to ensure that every child and family feels welcome and respected.

In my Family Child Care Home, the setting would be inviting and welcoming. The toys, materials, equipment, posters, pictures, books, art materials, curriculum and furniture and the arrangement of the room will be chosen with care. All of these things can influence what and how children learn. I will carefully select these things to make sure they are age appropriate and anti-bias. “An environment rich in anti-bias materials invites exploration and discovery and supports children’s play and conversations in both emergent and planned activities” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2012, p. 43). My classroom will have a unique look catered to every family’s culture.

To ensure that families feel welcome the environment will reflect their cultures. Children need “materials that honor diversity both within and beyond their own identity groups. This includes learning materials that accurately and nonstereotypically reflect all the children, families, and staff “(Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2012, p. 43). with in the program in their daily lives. I want to make sure families whose culture differs from the majority are just as visible within the classroom.

Brandie

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2012). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

What I Have Learned

My one hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds it that I have the knowledge about others and myself to help them feel welcome. I want to provide them with a place where they feel comfortable and a part of. I want to provide an appropriate and safe environment for children to learn, develop and grow. An environment where all families feel welcome and a place that represents each of my family’s cultures. To do this I need to understand myself first. I need to peel away my layers and figure out who I am and how I became the person I am. “No one escapes learning stereotypes and misconceptions…These lessons begin when we are very young, taught initially and most powerfully by our family…all of us still carry inaccurate and negative messages-even if we no longer believe they are true-that can keep us from seeing each person as a unique, whole person fully deserving of our respect” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2012, p. 23).  If I want every one of the families in my care to feel excepted and welcome I need to uncover my personal biases, discomforts and misconceptions.

A goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to educate parents, caregivers and other professionals on anti-bias education. What it is and how you can accomplish it. Every person has misconceptions, biases, and discomforts, no person can say they are free of these things. Many people do not even realize they have misconception, biases and/or stereotypes. Anti-bias educators hope that the “day will come when the ‘anti-bias’ part of that journey is no longer needed because all children are growing up fully nurtured and able to be fully who they are, with no barriers of prejudice, discrimination, poverty, or war. Then learning about and valuing one another’s diversity will be a natural part of growing up” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2012, p. 157). It all starts with ourselves. If more people looked inward at themselves they would begin to stop the perpetuation of biases, stereotypes and misconceptions.  

I would like to say thank you to all of my colleagues. These last 8 weeks have been a very rewarding learning experience from me. I have enjoyed reading your blogs and discussion posts. They have helped me look at many topics from a new perspective. A perspective I would probably never have thought of! Thank you again and I wish you all success in your educational journey for your Master’s Degrees and in life!

Brandie

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2012). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children.