My Connections to Play

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” Kay Redfield Jamison

“Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” O. Fred Donaldson

   

My mother was certainly an advocate for childhood play and she played a major role in my development with regards to play since I was her only child. She supported me in the area of play by establishing an environment where I could play freely and she offered me the tools necessary to play. In my childhood room, my mother and I would play dress up, have pretend tea parties, and line my stuff animal up so I could play school. I would read books to my mother and she would read books to me. We would play hide the block and she would tell me hot if I would close to finding the block or cold if I was nowhere near the block’s location. My cousins and other neighborhood children would often come to my house and play outdoors in my yard. Play during my childhood year occurred outside more than now. As a friend, I would play hopscotch, volley ball, bade mitten, jump rope, climb tree etc. I find that children in this day and age like to play computer games, video games, watch TV or movies. I find that children now are not as physically engaged in the various forms play activities in general. I am inspired when I see more children involved in little leagues and team like sports/ play activities. As a child play was very important to me especially as an only child. I was able to develop my social skills, and I truly enjoyed using my imagination as well. That is one of the areas of play I wish my son was able to enjoy. Since he has a developmental delay and speech delay he does not engage in pretend play as other children his age do. I find that this was most important for me developmental, because it allowed me to interpret how things were going on in my world in a fun, but meaningful way. 

Relationship Reflection

 

 My Pauls...

The relationship that I share with my husband and son are very significant and meaningful to me for many reasons.  There are many factors that have contributed to developing a positive relationship with my husband of 5 years and my son who is 3 years old.  My husband and I are very responsive to each others' needs in regards to being supportive of each others' careers, aspirations and responsibilities.  He is my best friend. He has proven himself to be a loving, God fearing man and faithful. The best part of our relationship is that we are able to grow together and learn from each other.  One of the initial challenges that my husband and I faced was our differences in parenting styles. It took my husband time to adjust to all the responsibility and care of an infant. It was important for us then to really keep the door of communication open at all times and be patient with each other. As a new mother being patient was difficult, but I managed to surprisingly, because I knew it was in the best interest of my son and husband. If you were to ask my husband what is his main goal in life he would tell you all he has ever desired is to be a great husband and father, (to this day I almost cry when I hear him say this).

My son, Paul, is my pride and joy. He is the reason why I initially sought out a career in the field of early childhood education. He at the age of 3 years old teaches me and refreshes my outlook of the field. My son inspires me, strengthens me, and offers me hope.  He is my biggest investment in life and I believe that he will yield a return so great that will with question encourage a real positive social change.  My son’s developmental delay and speech delay has founded my passion to be an advocate for children with special needs.  This unique characteristic that my son possess has enhances my perspective of the developing child and has broaden my desire to assist other children with special needs. 

My Mother and Grandmother...

 

The relationship that I have with my mother and grandmother are also very important. I truly believe that my mother and grandmother have maintained a relationship with me founded on love, respect, trust and God. The most enjoyable way I am able to maintain the relationship with my grandmother is spending the holidays with her and taking her to the beach, when she comes to visit me. Spending time with my grandmother, talking to her, going for walks with her are ways that we are able maintain our relationship. 

The relationship that I have with my mother is founded on love, trust, loyalty, respect, and kindness. My mother is a very influential person in my life and she was my first teacher and continues to teach. I believe that my mother is a significant contributor to my decision to serve int he field of early childhood education. Similarly my mother was a teacher and she taught children's church for many years. Being able to witness my mother in her role as a early childhood educator did spark my interest in field, although my decision to enter the field came at a latter time in my professional career. 

My Licensing Specialist...

The relationship and partnership that I have with my licensing specialist, Ms. Michelle, is only important to me personally it is crucial to my role as a license Family Child Care Provider. The relationship that I have with my licensing specialist is built on respect and trust. She offers me vital information about the various policies and regulations in regards to my home child care facility. I view the partnership that I have with my licensing specialist as special because she can relate to my professional role since she use to be a licensed Family Child Care Provider and she is always encouraging to succeed in my business and professional abilities.

 The Lower Shore Resources Center...

The local Lower Shore Child Care Resource Center is a very important partner with regards to its commitment to offer affordable and diverse child care trainings to local  Family Provider. The resource center is a great resource for me, as it aids in the developing of my weekly educational plans for the children in my care. I believe that the partnership what I have with the resource center is founded on the common interest of providing quality educational resources for early learners.

 My kiddos...

 The relationship with the children I have and their families are so very important to me as a early childhood educator and as a business owner. I value the relationship that I have with my parents and their children. The relationship that I have with my children and their families primary based on trust and respect. I care a great deal for my children who are often in my care between 8 to 10 hours a day. I am very appreciative of the good partnerships that exist between I and my parents. I find that the relationships that I have with my parents are very special and allow me to do things in my program at a higher success rate, ( i.e. field trips, career day, parent night out, etc.). I strongly believe that my parents and their children play a huge role in my ability to maximum my leadership skills and be able to manage a successful business. In order to maintain a great, healthy and appropriate relationship with my children and their families it is so very vital to maintain the lines of communication and respect. A challenge that I have learned overtime with my parents is establishing boundaries. Many of my parents are also friends or good acquaintance or want me to be their friend because I care for their child. I firm a believer of having set boundaries and I find that it is easier to explain to parents that although we are friends and their relationship is important to me, I obligate to be professional and act professional at all times and I required to respond to certain issues/situation professionally and in a business like manner.

Uplifting Child Quote and Give Professional Thanks

"Even if you find yourself in a heated exchange with your toddler, it is better for your child to feel the heat rather than for him to feel you withdraw emotionally.... Active and emotional involvement between parent and child helps the child make the limits a part of himself."

-Stanley Greenspan

I would like to extend a special thanks to all of professional colleagues in this course! I am so proud to have been a part of this cohort. It is my belief that each of you have added to my professional development but sharing and birthing your on experiences in this course. It is my hope that each of you continue to passionate about the field of early childhood education, not just in the classroom, but in life and in your professional careers. Thank you for the adding knowledge and memories to my life as a professional. 

Best Wishes,

Rachel F. Dyson

Testing for Intelligence?

Personal Believes on Assessing Children

 I find it essential to be able to assess younger children's receptive and expressive actions in regards to understanding how they view themselves in relation to the other in their world. Consequently, I believe that it is necessary for professionals to examine what a child understands, response to, imitates, focuses on are very crucial elements in my opinion of understanding how a child is developing. Being able to assess and understand the various levels of how the child see itself in the world allows educators and parents to see the how a child is developing in the following areas: cognitively, psychosocial  and bio-socially. In younger children I believe that it is evident that the best way to assess children is by utilizing observational tools and one-on-one engagement. 

School age children often have to complete various vigorous and lengthy assessment test in order to reveal their level of need and/or academic ability. These test are often set up to capture a child's ability to master a distinct area of study and most school age assessment are not set up to capture the "whole" child. Also most assessment can only capture what a child know at that very moment not information that a child will acquire with in a given period. On the other hand, I do find that assessment if the provided based on what the child has been exposed to and/or taught are beneficial in regards to child development. So often assessments discuss what a child show know, without taking into consideration the child culture, exposure etc. Also I do not believe that written assessment best portray a child ability. Many children are not "good test-takers". For example, there are many school age children who perform well academically, but poorly on standardize test, (i.e.  a child's grade point average, versus  their SAT score).  Although it is important for educators and other professionals to ensure that children are learning, I believe there are less comprehensive and/or less threatening ways of measuring a student's success. The question that comes to mind is how did all of us survive before assessment.

How India Takes a Stand on Globalize Testing

 The article, India Back out of Global Education Test For 15- year-olds by Hemali Chhapia, highlights the extent to how school aged children are assessed in general. The globalized test mentioned in this article compares the performance of students in India to other students in surrounding countries. Some may consider this testing necessary to in order to ensure that children are being exposed to and learning information that is needed to be successful bases on a global view. While other would perceive this type of testing as a ego boost for governmental officials without giving a care to the individual child as a "whole".  I believe that this time of testing should not be mandated and based in the article I would venture to state that I respect India's decision to not force their 15-year-old student to complete such an assessment. Based on the article it appears that many countries including India offer many assessment to their school aged children as a result of their stronge believed that academic sucess lead to better higher education and employment opportunity.

References:

Hemali, Chhapia, (2012). India Back out of Global Education Test For 15- year-old. The Times of India. Retrieved August 4, 2012 from, http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-03/mumbai/33019239_1_india-backs-global-stage-math-and-science

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development: Natural Disaster and Poverty

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans, Louisiana and affected many of the surrounding states in the U.S.A.  Consequently, members of my family were directly affected by this natural disaster.  Many people would describe hurricane Katrina as “living nightmare”. Although forecast as a severe threat, no one, I knew could really fathom the devastation that would occur as a result.  My cousin, Mike Scott, and his family were directly affected by the natural disaster. My cousin was 7 years old at the time.  The hurricane forced my cousin and his family to relocate. They lost their house, cars, and many of their personal possession. The services that assisted my cousin and his family during their transition came from the American Red cross, FEMA and the Washington, DC school district (where Mike and his family relocated). He was able to enroll in his appropriate grade level and was offered in school therapy sessions and a mentor.  My mother would tell me after having conversation with Mike’s mother, (Aunt Pat) that Mike was starting to wet the bed again and that he would wake up in the middle of the night crying. For a short period of time before moving to Washington, DC Mike and his family lived in a shelter staff by the American Redcross, this was a very difficult experience for my cousin Mike to adjust to. Mike was born and raised in New Orleans, LA and did wasn’t really aware to the extent of his parents how devastating hurricane Katrina was to the community at large. Once Mike adapted to his new home, school and supportive services, he began to flourish and is now performing at a higher level of that of his peers academically. His transition wasn’t smooth; nonetheless, he was able to cope with the change and was able to obtain the necessary support from, family members, friends, school teachers and governmental resources.

In the article, Child Labour among Working Children in Ogun State, Nigeria, by Akinola Dosunmu and Babajide Abidogun, the authors highlight how poverty is one of the main contributing factors in regards to children being forces to entire the workforce.  Children in Nigeria with poor parental background often engage in working instead of continuing school. Consequently, working children are then latter offer low paying jobs, which inevitable fosters the cycle of poverty. Many children and their families are homeless in Nigeria. Therefore children enter the workforce as a part of survival and employers find that child labor very attractive, because they are able to pay them substantially less than an adult, (Dosunmu &Abidogun , 2011). Dosunmu and Abidogun, (2011) recommend that “parent should be recommended of the adverse effects of child labor and that  The government should by providing a favorable economic environment for Nigeria because it has been identified that poverty is the cause of child labor in developing countries (Nigeria inclusive),” (Dosunmu &Abidogun , 2011). Dosunmu and Abidogun, (2011) survey/research concluded that the majority of child workers do not want to enter the workforce, but feel obligated to in order to help supplement their family’s income.  Although poverty is an endless issue in Nigeria, the Unites of America and around the world, I find that it is most vital for authors like Dosunmu and Abidogun to create awareness on the poverty epidemic crisis to the general public and politicians/world leaders in order to generate movement towards decreasing the effects of poverty on children in general. It is evident that the effects of poverty certainly trickle down to younger generations and play a role to the development of children and the field.

References:

Dosunmu, A. and Abidogun, B., (2011) Child Labour among Working Children in Ogun State, Nigeri. European Journal of Social Science, (25)3, p411-417, 7p, 2 Charts.  Retrieved July 21, 2012, from Academic Search Complete.

Child Development and Public Health: Breastfeeding

Prior to me giving birth to my son who is now 3 years old, I was committed to the idea of breastfeeding him from birth until 1 year-old, ( I am was able to for 10 months). It is customary in my family for a mother to nurse her baby until the age of 1 year-old. I discovered through research, child birthing classes and during discussions with close family members that breastfeeding was one of the best things that I could offer to my baby in regards to his health and in terms of developing a close knit bond with my baby. I also discovered the multiple health benefits it offers to not only to the infant, but to the mother in general.

I found it extremely informative and interesting to learn about the breastfeeding practice among medical professional women in the country of Nigeria. Sadoh A. E, Sadoh W. E and Oniyelu, (2011) conducted an experimental analysis of 36 Nigerian medical professional women who breastfeed their infants. This article highlights how the Nigerian women, as medical professional, were in fact knowledgeable of the healthy benefits of nursing their babies; however, do to their work responsibilities were unable to do so past 6 months. May women opt to pump their milk or formula feed. A bottle was the most used method in, which they used to feed their babies and soon after six months cereal was introduced. According Sadoh A. E, Sadoh W. E and Oniyelu, (2011) many of the women did not know that it was recommend for an infant to be breastfeed until 2 years old.  

As an aspired center Director, one of the ways I hope to enlighten my parents on the benefits of breastfeeding is through monthly newsletters. I also envision setting up a parent resource board as I have one now in my family child care setting. I believed my personal experiences and this assignment will enable me in the future, to be able to connect with my parents in a very meaningful yet appropriate way in regards to the research surround breast feed. I also envision having a private room in my child care facility where mothers can come in before drop off or during their lunch break or right before pick to nurse their infant. I also believe that breastfeeding has deepened my understanding about the topic, secure attachment.

References 

 Sadoh A. E, Sadoh W. E, Oniyelu P., (2011). Breastfeeding Practice among Medical  Women in Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Journel (52)1, 7-12. Retrieved, July 6, 2012 from Academic Search Complete.

Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World...

 

My Child Birthing Experience …

              On Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 1:36am I gave birth to my first son Paul Anthony Dyson III who at the time weighed 7lbs and 11oz and was 21 inches long. I can honestly say that, that day was one of the happiest days of my life. I arrived at the local city hospital on Monday, April 20, 20 at 8:00a.m. as my OBGYN instructed. I went through the process of being induced, because I was advised that my son was two weeks over due. Similarly, I wanted to avoid having a c-section, since it was estimate that he was already close to 9 pounds. Although I had my concerns about having an induced labor, I wanted to very much have a vaginal birth instead of undergoing a c-section.  

      
             I was accompanied by my husband and my mother throughout the entire process. I instructed to walk laps around the hospital to help intensify my contractions. I was advised that I could not intake any solid food until after labor. I decide to allow my nurses to administer an epidermal has my contraction intensified. The city hospital had recently been remodeled and I was stationed in a labor and delivery suite, which was private and very much like a hotel room.  I was given the option to deny or permit guess while admitted.  During labor my husband held my hand the whole time and was the first person to see our son arrive.  My son at birth was diagnose with jaundice and was stationed in an incubator for approximately four days and I remained with him at the hospital although my health insure did not cover my additional time there since it was not order by my OBGYN that I remain at the hospital. I couldn’t even fathom leaving my son at the hospital let alone having him out of my sight. Quickly, after giving birth my husband and I decided to have our son circumcised.
     
               Consequently, my son latched onto the idea of me breastfeeding him very well on the first day.  After the first day I did struggle with getting him to be consistent with getting him to nurse from me. I had so much support while making an earnest attempt to get my son to nurse from me. I had a main nurse and a breastfeeding coach who was employed with the hospital in order to directly educate new mothers on the importance of breastfeeding their infants. I found her role very enlightening and motivating.  Before I left the hospital I was given a care package all sort of child development and well-being materials. I was also requested to select a pediatrician for my son before discharge.  I was given the chance to have my son’s pictures be professionally take, which I chose to do since I was so elated about having a healthy baby boy. He had all ten finger and all ten toes and he was a happy, healthy and peaceful baby boy. 

Just a Glimpse into the Ethiopia Child Birthing Experience…

After reviewing Ms. Stepahine Urdang article on the morality rate in Ethiopia, I have a sense of gratitude and on the other hand a sense of rage in regards to the provision of medical health care services and/ or lack thereof for mothers and their children. The United Nations video clip highlights the “Dangers of Home Births” in Ethiopia. I discovered through my reviews of Ethiopian mothers that they have a higher risk of maternal death and that the mortality rates of infants are very high. It is evident that socioeconomic and culture play a significant role in the prenatal development within the Ethiopian culture.  Mothers are often conducting rigorous and hard labor jobs throughout their pregnancy. The issue of cleaning drinking water, prenatal care and good nutritious is prevalent as well. The living quarters of mother and their families in the video clip appear to be very poor. Although it appears to be a very common way of living, for most Ethiopian families, dwelling in huts, without running water or electricity, this certainly has a negative impact on the human development in country in general.

       One thing that resonated with me the most from the Unite Nations video clip was how the hospitals are lacking in medicine and supplies and as result there is a fear amongst expected mother of giving birth at their local hospital, (United Nations, 2009). The medical professionals that appeared in the video clip appear to gear their educational resources on contraception of woman then on prenatal care. I certainly understand that contraception education is promoted more than prenatal care as a direct result of the limited medical resource and the morality rate of women and their children. I was astonished by the belief that soon after birth a mother is concern about return her work/field of labor in order to support her family. It did not appear that there much information shared with mothers about the importance of self-care after labor.  

     In comparison to my personal child birthing experience and the Ethiopian woman child birthing experience, there is a great difference in regards to medical health care access, prenatal care/ education, socioeconomic status and culture. Although I make it my responsibility as a professional to be cultural aware of the difference that exist between cultures, I did not know the severity of the inadequate medical services and prenatal development/care that exist in the country of Ethiopia. This assignment has deepened my understanding about the child birthing experience how it varies across cultures.  I also have a better understanding on how opportunity, access and limitation play a key role in prenatal development. I believed that the term advocacy is crucial and necessary in order to amplify social change especially in countries like Ethiopia with regards to bettering the child birthing process for its citizens.  

                                                   Reference:

Stephanie Urdang, (2010).  To Save the Lives of Mother, Infants: Commitment, Money, Innovation Can Reduce High Morality Rates. United Nations,  Africa Renewal , January 2010, pg. 6 Retrieved June 29, 2012 from http://www.un.org/en/africarenewal/vol23no4/drive-to-save-lives-of-mothers-infants.html

United Nation (2009). Dangers of Home Births.  Retrieved June 30, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_vNyi3jKXs