Global Children's Initiative

I think I have decided to give up on establishing communication with another overseas professional.  It has now been almost 6 weeks and I have no updates at all.  The idea behind the assignment is great however, I think if the university had connections with certain groups or organizations where they knew students would be contacting them, I may have gotten a little farther in my communication.  So from here out, I will do the alternate assignment.

I explored the Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, and more specifically the Global Children’s Initiative.  I was amazed to see that the center established a center solely on educating, supporting, and collaboration within ECE, countries around the world.  My first thought is that the United States is not completely selfish and about the development of our nation, well at least not in terms of Early Childhood :@).  I read some interesting things about various programs happening all over the world:

• The initiave has 3 major focuses: early child development, child mental health, and children in crisis and conflict situations.  Within each area, strategic steps and projects have been implemented to address various needs.  Under early development, the center is analyzing ECE programs and environments globally, creating collaboration among global schools, and improving the quality of preschool in Chili.  Under mental health, mental services in China are being assessed; programs have been created to support maltreatment and mental health in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname. Within children in crisis, collaboration from a science and public health perspective are being generated to support assessment and management of children and their well-being during natural and man-made crisis.
• The Zambian Early Childhood Development Project was established in 2009 to address the lack of information available in early childhood development in sub-Saharan Africa.  An assessment tool was created to measure effect of child development due to the anti-malaria campaign. The tool, which is separate for children and parents, ask questions about home life, school, social emotional development, and education of parents.  The test for children assesses many skills including fine motor, vocabulary, expressive language, attention, and letter identification.
• Nucleo Ciencia Pela Infancia, a projected launched in Brazil in conjunction with leaders, politicians, and scholars works to create and implements policies and programs, based on health and children development, which will benefit young children and their families.

Resource: http://developingchild.harvard.edu/activities/global_initiative/

Web Resources Pt. 2

This week I returned to the National Black Child Development Institute website and I was slightly disappointed.  I signed up for the newsletter but I have yet to receive one.  I went directly to the initiatives tab and was disappointed when there was little information available and the only recent information was about the National Head Start Conference held in June.  I clicked on other initiatives thinking it would have more recent information but it did not. 

Every time I visit a professionals organizations’ site I explore professional development opportunities; this site mentioned information regarding the annual conference.  The conference, which will be held in October, is offering 2 seminars that I would professionally benefit from; Strengths-based coaching and early childhood educators as advocates for change. Unfortunately, I will not be able to afford to attend the conference.  This week my exploration was limited and slightly frustrating.  I will check back next week in hopes of receiving a newsletter by then.

Update on professional contacts: No change from last week.  I have not gotten a response back.

Resource: http://nbcdi.org/blog/category/early-childhood-education/ 

Web Resources

The National Black Child Development Institute (http://nbcdi.org/) was born during the late 1960’s, during a time when people began to rally together to create social change.  Incorporated in 1970, NBCDI began work to improve the life of the black child (History, 2102, para. 1).  The mission, “to improve and advance the love of black children and their families through education and advocacy”, has remained foremost, as the institute focuses on early childhood education, secondary and elementary education, health and child welfare (NBCDI History, 2012, para. 2).  NBCDI, provides direct services to education professionals, families, and specialist including social workers and other professionals (History, 2012, para. 3-4).  There are core programs which the institute focuses on that accomplishes their vision and promotes nationwide attention: Love to Read, The Parent Empowerment Program, African American Parents Project, SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids, Entering the College Zone, and the National Affiliate Network (NBCDI History, 2012, para. 5). 

This week we focused on changing demographics and diversity and in Dr. Graces’ interview she mentioned that curriculums may need to be adjusted to address the chaining demographics (Laureate Education, 2011).  NBCDI has also begun to address this issue by developing a Cultural Competency Improvement Tool (CCIT) (Home, 2012).  This tool can be used to review the cultural competence in health and nutrition curriculums used for all aged children.  Why is this relevant? The changes in population include increases in Latino, African American, and Native American children and families which have reached epidemic rates for childhood obesity (NBCDI, 2012).  As educators prepare for increased diversity, we must not forget cultural components such as nutrition, food, and nutritional habits that will affect children and families. 

Link to Cultural Competence Improvement Tool:

http://nbcdi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/DRAFT-CCIT-June-2012.pdf

Resources

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). The effects of changing demographics and diversity on children, families, and the early childhood field [Audio].  Issues and Trends in the Early Childhood Field. Baltimore, MD: Author

National Black Child Development Institute. (2012). About: history. Retrieved July 6, 2012 from  http://nbcdi.org/about/history/

International Contact/ Professional Organiation

I was somewhat hesitant in embracing this assignment.  My first thought was that I would have a difficult time connecting with someone who I email out of the blue.  However, I thought about the endless possibilities of being connected to other professionals across the world and how I could greatly benefit from it. I have to be honest… my first rational for choosing professionals to contact were locations that I am interested in visiting.  My next “filter” in deciding who to contact was whether they were male or female.  My reason for contacting females over males was the cultural component of communication between men and women across the world.  I have attempted to contact Mrs. Bimno at the Ajoke International School in Nigeria, and Jane Lim of the Association for Early Childhood Educators in Singapore.  Although I have not received emails back, I am hopeful I will be successful in my attempts to establish a relationship.  It has been one day since my initial email, and if I do not hear back from either Mrs. Bimno or Ms. Lim by next Tuesday (7/3) I will choose the alternative to complete.

            Of the list of organizations posted, I was aware of a few of them both nationally and internationally.  As I scrolled through the list I was immediately attracted to the National Black Child Development Institute and the Association for Childhood Education International.  I was unaware there was an organization, that was dedicated to the development of African American children.  I have decided to select this organization to following because I currently serve and support African American children in my work position, I am an African American who is dedicated to providing the best education and support for my community, and it has an affiliate group close to me.  Although, I will not follow the Association for Childhood Education International for this class, I will add this to my list of sites to check frequently and as possible membership option. 

How are you, my colleagues, feeling about reaching out to other professionals worldwide? Did you have the same hesitations as I did? What is your plan to create a long lasting relationship?

Tip: some of the emails are being bounced back.  There are some professionals that have common email servers (yahoo.com) that I tired that have not bounced back. Check the websites that are linked to the address to make sure they work before you send. 

My Supports

There are many supports in my life.  The first support is God, as without him nothing is possible.  Another support is my boyfriend of 4 years.  He listens when I need ears, he encourages me, he calms me down, and he loves me for who I am.  Another support is my mom and dad.  They support me in decision making and help with navigating this thing called adulthood and life.  My friends are emotional support, especially since I embarked on a lifestyle change to lose weight and finish my master’s degree.  Aside from people, I have supports that help to keep me organized that are truly helpful.  I use post it notes daily for everything.  They helped to keep me organized.  Post its also help to prioritize my daily and weekly to do's.  My planner is also a great support in keeping me organized.  My cell phones, both work and personal, hold all of my contacts and emails which is very helpful to have access to immediately.  There are certain apps I use that support me in my quest to maintain a healthier lifestyle such as live strong and Nike training app.

All of my supports are very important to me and without them I feel lost and unorganized.  I almost lost both my mom and dad last year within a day apart and it was the worse feeling I felt in my life.  It would be hard to lose the support of my friends and loved ones.  If it were to happen, I would cherish the advice and support I received over the years; knowing their voices would speak to me at the right time.  If I did not have my planner or cell phones I would use the older method of keeping an address book and creating list on sheets of paper.  It would take longer and would require more organization but, would serve the same purpose. 

If I had to imagine a disability, it would be losing the function of my legs and having to use a wheel chair.  I would really need the support of my family and my boyfriend.  I would have to have modifications done within my home to enter the house and also to gain access to the kitchen to cook and bedrooms upstairs.  I would need supports in my car to help me drive without the use of traditional breaks.  I imagine I would need support of a physical therapist to gain strength to move and adjust to my new lifestyle.  My boyfriend would have to support me in getting dressed and bathing.  Without supports from people and modifications made to my environment I would probably become very depressed. I we all people have challenges and although some are more difficult than others, with the support of family and friends, a spiritual being, and belief in yourself anything can be achieved. 

Connetions to Play

Quotes about play

Play is hard to maintain as you get older. You get less playful. You shouldn’t, of course.

Richard Feynman
American physicist
1918–1988

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

George Bernard Shaw
Play was a huge part of my life as a child.  What I most remember is playing dress up with fabulous coats, dresses and big shiny jewerly my aunt left when she died.  I loved Barbie dolls and when I wasn't in the house, we were at the beach playing in the sand and flying kites or in Rock Creek Park riding bikes.


        
Both my mom and dad encouraged play, providing my sister and I lots of space, materials, toys, and time to play. I played daily as I was not allowed to watch TV during the week and we did not have gaming systems.  Play was very important as I learned how to work with others, fostered my imagination, and dreamed of going to other places and becoming whoever I wanted to be.

I feel sad when I think about the current state of play.  TV and video systems have replaced play and spending time outside.  When I was a child I was told to stay outside until the street lights came on.  Now, many children come home and sit infront of the TV or play video games until its time to go to bed.  In school, play time has drascally decreased, if it occurs at all.  It is my hope that parents,educators, child care providers, and caregivers learn and recognise the importance of play.  I hope that children find joy in pretending, will one day build cities with whatever they find, and create, imagine, and enjoy being a child.

Relationship Reflection

I have learned over the years the importance of true friends and the value of having authentic relationships with friends and family.  Relationships, of all kind, I have come to believe support  who you are at the core.  Relationships are not meant to comply but should compliment a persons beliefs and values.  I learned your real friendships and relationships keep you humble, encourage growth, and love hard.  My most successful relationship has been with my girl friend Danielle.  We have been friends 19 years in August, truly my longest friendship ever (I'm 28 so its almost my entire life).  Danielle and I do not always agree be we have learned to respect our differences, we challenge each other when we think we should, we question each other especially when it comes to decisions about health and men, we support each other even when we disagree.  She loves hard, tells the truth when you don't want to hear it, and will ring the alarms when its time to handle business.  I have learned that a true friendship supports, loves, are is truthful 100%.  My other best friend is a guy named Reggie.  He is my right hand.  We have known each other for 11 years but have been very close for 6.  He helps me to see things differently and challenges me to be better, especially in regards to my relationship with my significant other.  With Reggie, I also learned the value of truth.  But more importantly, I learned that real friends accept you for you and not for what you can do, will do, or should do. 

Currently I am in a relationship with a great man, Kullen.  Kullen and I have been together for almost 4 years.  This is the most difficult partnership I have ever had.  Although we are in a relationship we are also in a partnership as we both help to successfully raise a child and run a home.  Communication is the biggest challenge in this partnership as it took, and it still taking, us a long time to get it.  We found that we have to work hard to ensure the other partner is digesting the information in the meaning we intended.  I have learned the power behind my tone of voice and I am learning to have better control with it.  Within this parentership there is a lot of compromise and sacrifice which at times is difficult.  The difference between friendships and partnerships is the degree of compromise and Scarface. Kullen and I are working toward forever goals and although my friends and I will always be forever, the work to maintain each relationship is different. 

Aside from the boyfriend and best friends I have an awesome relationship with my dad and mom .  I have learned through all of these relationships that it takes two for a relationship to flourish and survive and it requires work.  Within my relationships, I have learned the importance of self reflection and the power of honesty and real love. My friendships and relationships all challenge me to be better and advocate for me.  Having someone always in your corner, supporting you, cheering you on, and just being their is an indescribable feeling.  Just as important it is for adults to have that person, whether family member or other, children also need that person, and sometimes that person is the teacher.  ECE professional should understand the value of creating relationships with young children as it helps to foster positive self image and creates an environment for trust.