When I think of child development today...
Testing for intelligence
I think that it is important for educators to get to know each one of their children individually, identify their needs and design and implement curriculum accordingly. In order to do this, educators need to assess each child individually and over a period of time. I feel assessment should be done through observation and by talking to and working with each child individually. Since every child learns differently, using a paper test isn’t necessarily the best tool for assessing ones understanding.
China has been known to have a long history of providing tests and examinations for assessment. The scores of various tests are used as the sole determinant factors for promoting students into higher grade levels of education. In China they have term examinations and final exams to assess ones learning. This is true for all grade levels.
My husband’s grandmother, known as his Obachon, grew up in Japan where she experienced many wars as a child. She was a teenager when World War II began. During this time she didn’t have access to much and had very little food. She had to leave behind many of her possessions. Obachon is 91 years old now and lives in a retirement home. She has dementia and she is constantly hoarding everything she sees, afraid that it will be taken away from her. Her nurses are always finding tons of items packed away under her bed and hidden around her room. They find food, toothbrushes, toilet paper, toothpaste, and much more. It’s apparent that what she experienced definitely affected her body and soul. Seeing my husband’s grandmother act in this manner and hearing my mother-in-law talk about it, makes me think about all the stressors that children of war encounter. It makes me think of the war in Afghanistan and the many stressors that the children endure each day in those areas. Children there witness death regularly and often see loved ones die. This definitely has psychological effects on a child and such violence could also lead to violent behavior by the children as well. “The average Taliban and Northern Alliance soldiers are a product of the same cycle of violence and social upheaval experienced from early childhood” (2011).
Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta. Children of war: the real casualties of the Afghan conflict. Retrieved on November 25, 2011 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1122273/
Child Development and Public Health
I strongly believe in the benefits of breastfeeding and providing education about its benefits to all mothers to be. It seemed strange to me to read that breastfeeding is uncommon in the third world countries because I thought it would be something their cultures would embrace for many reasons including the fact that it s natural and, inexpensive and easily accessible. The decline in breastfeeding is one of the leading causes for malnutrition. Breastfeeding is challenging in third world countries such as Africa and South Asia due to their lack of education and proper nutrition. Many mothers in these countries do not realize the importance of strictly breastfeeding for the first six months and are unaware that the water they are mixing their child’s formula with is unsanitary. Breast milk has nutrients that cant be found in formula and often times the bottle the mothers feed from are unsanitary as well. I do understand that some mothers have complications producing milk and are unable to nurse, but I definitely think it is something everyone should at least try before ruling it out completely. Breast milk provides an infant with antibodies to help prevent diseases and as a result breast fed babies aren’t sick as often and the risk of asthma, obesity and heart disease is decreased.
Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Childbirth-In my life and around the world!
When researching births and customs from around the world, I found out about many different and interesting traditions and beliefs. When reading about pregnant Chinese women, I read that there are many taboos regarding food and what a pregnant Chinese woman should eat. Some of the taboos consisted of eating pineapple because it may cause miscarriage or making sure all food is cut up and mashed or the baby will have a careless deposition. The Chinese also believe that pregnant woman should refrain from having construction in the home during pregnancy and pregnant woman should refrain from hammering because it could cause deformities. The Chinese also do not believe in naming the child before he or she is born. After the baby is born the mother is expected to stay home for the first 40 days in somewhat of a confinement. I found the Chinese traditions and customs to be very interesting and some of them were very similar to my birthing experience and beliefs. First of all, I remember when I was pregnant many people told me about various foods that I should and shouldn’t eat with different beliefs about what could happen if I did eat them. All though I didn’t truly believe all of the advice I was given, I still followed what I was told because I didn’t want something to be wrong with my baby when he was born and I would blame myself for not listening to what advice was given. I remember not chewing come for nine months because someone told me it was bad for the baby. I also chose to stay at home with my son for the first 2 months after he was born because I was told that it would allow him to build up his immune system. However, unlike Chinese women, I did name my child before he was born and I think this is the case for many American women.
Throughout my pregnancy and even during labor, I felt that it was important to stay calm and patient because my son could sense and feel my emotions and I didn’t want to put stress on him. My son is a very patient and down to earth child and I think it’s because of this. Even today I try not to get too worked up in front of him and I make sure to not discuss disagreements in front of him. I I remember being dilated way before my due date and I remember my doctor telling me that my son was turned diagonal and wasn't head down yet so I had some time. I remember my son was very active and always moving around until I was at my appointments and my doctor was checking me. The doctor laughed and told me I have a baby with quite a personality. My parents were flying in from Michigan to be with me when my son was born. I felt like he was going to come early so I called my parents and told them to hop on a plane. They arrived and 2 days later I woke up with sharp pains. I had been feeling them a lot throughout the night, but wasn't sure if I was in labor. So at about 5am I called my sister and asked her if my pains meant I was in labor. Sure enough I was. I went to the hospital thinking that my son would be born shortly. I knew that I was going to have an epidural if I needed it and I tried for a while to not have it, but I soon gave in. When I was getting the epidural the nurse asked me if I was okay and I remember telling her I was, but I didn't think my husband was. The nurse looked at him as he was about to faint and grabbed him and sat him down. Soon after my epidural I started having some complications. My blood pressure was dropping and my son was still turned and being stubborn. I was not aware, but they were preparing for a C-section. Luckily they were able to turn my son and I was able to begin pushing. My son was born sunny side up a week early at 9:40pm. He weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces. Four years later he is a stubborn little boy with a remarkable sense of humor that reminds me of when he was in my belly. My pregnancy and birth of my son was the most amazing experience and I feel privileged to be able to experience such a magical part of life.
http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/labor_birth/birthing_traditions/article/childbirth-traditions-china/
http://www.4panda.com/chinatips/culture/baby.htm
Throughout my pregnancy and even during labor, I felt that it was important to stay calm and patient because my son could sense and feel my emotions and I didn’t want to put stress on him. My son is a very patient and down to earth child and I think it’s because of this. Even today I try not to get too worked up in front of him and I make sure to not discuss disagreements in front of him. I I remember being dilated way before my due date and I remember my doctor telling me that my son was turned diagonal and wasn't head down yet so I had some time. I remember my son was very active and always moving around until I was at my appointments and my doctor was checking me. The doctor laughed and told me I have a baby with quite a personality. My parents were flying in from Michigan to be with me when my son was born. I felt like he was going to come early so I called my parents and told them to hop on a plane. They arrived and 2 days later I woke up with sharp pains. I had been feeling them a lot throughout the night, but wasn't sure if I was in labor. So at about 5am I called my sister and asked her if my pains meant I was in labor. Sure enough I was. I went to the hospital thinking that my son would be born shortly. I knew that I was going to have an epidural if I needed it and I tried for a while to not have it, but I soon gave in. When I was getting the epidural the nurse asked me if I was okay and I remember telling her I was, but I didn't think my husband was. The nurse looked at him as he was about to faint and grabbed him and sat him down. Soon after my epidural I started having some complications. My blood pressure was dropping and my son was still turned and being stubborn. I was not aware, but they were preparing for a C-section. Luckily they were able to turn my son and I was able to begin pushing. My son was born sunny side up a week early at 9:40pm. He weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces. Four years later he is a stubborn little boy with a remarkable sense of humor that reminds me of when he was in my belly. My pregnancy and birth of my son was the most amazing experience and I feel privileged to be able to experience such a magical part of life.
http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/labor_birth/birthing_traditions/article/childbirth-traditions-china/
http://www.4panda.com/chinatips/culture/baby.htm
Words of Inspiration and Motivation
In the video program: “The Passion for Early Childhood” Sandy Escobido said her passion was to have the “opportunity to shape a child’s life.“ Raymond Hernandez said his passion was to be able to “train teachers how to work effectively with children.” I chose these two quotes because obviously like most people who have chosen to work with children, we all have a passion to shape a child life, however, you don’t often hear people mention that they have a passion to train adults how to work with children so that they are able to shape a child’s life. That quote really stood out to me because I began my professional career thinking I was going to make an impact on children by teaching them directly, but instead I am making an impact by teaching the adults how to work with the children effectively and through them I am able to help shape many more children’s lives then I ever expected.
“Early childhood is and should be a time of laughter, love, play, and great fun.” Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs, 3rd edition, Carol Copple and Sue Bredekamp (1997).
“Not only do you have to consider children as individuals, but you also have to consider children as members of groups with their own cultural identities.”
ECT Interview: Sue Bredekamp & Susan Neuman on Learning to Read By Early Childhood Today Editorial Staff (April 2006).
"Children benefit most from teachers who have the skills, knowledge, and judgment to make good decisions and are given the opportunity to use them." NAEYC, Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8 (2009)
Favorite Book
All though this book has opened up many debates, I am still a big fan. I love this book because it can be interpreted in so many different ways. I like to think of the tree as the mother providing unconditional love. No matter what a mother is always there for their child and will give all they have to make sure their child is happy. If her child is happy, then she is happy.
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