The Positive Effects of Research on Children and Families

I do not have an uplifting story to share regarding the research that benefits children and families, but I do believe that there are research studies that benefit families in many ways.  Research can bring about positive impacts and outcomes such as, improving parenting skills, poverty, and education.

Final Post

The consequences of learning about the international early childhood field: I have a broader view as to how other countries handle the issues and politics of the early childhood field.  In addition, I have learned to collaborate with other international early childhood professionals by sharing information regarding the issues and trends of early care.  Furthermore, I have a newfound wealth of international website available for me to foster my professional and personal development.

My one goal as it relates to international awareness of issues and trends of the field; is to keep and build on the spirit of collegial relations, by utilizing the international resources, websites, and communicating with my international with contacts.

Getting To Know My International Contacts Part 3

The Issues of Quality and Professional Growth: Holistic (Sustainable Development)

After exploring the website UNESCO”s “Early Childhood Care and Education website, I explored the link that discussed the issues of quality.  The article used the term “holistic development” This subject/issue is what I am most interested in exploring “the development of the whole person, learning from the environment.  The article’s information regarding “Quality” states to have quality childcare, “Early childhood care and programs should focus mainly on the holistic development of the whole child and continue throughout the child school years”.  In addition, more so the focus should be on the children from disadvantage backgrounds.  A positive holistic development promotes all of the developmental domains for school readiness.  After exploring more, I studied information concerning the holistic development of children living in Bangkok.  The article focused on educating teachers of Bangkok on the concept of sustainable development.  The ideal of a holistic sustainable development originated from the worldview that our behaviors have a lot to do with actions and response to one another; recognizing one’s self, wishes, and desires. Furthermore, in order for teachers to foster sustainable development in children they must teach children self-learning, self-awareness, and concerns of being part of Mother Earth.

Getting to Know your International Contacts Part 2

The article that I explored from “The Global Children’s Initiative” website titled “Zambian Early Childhood Initiative Project” is what I would like to share; because it gave me new insight and about Zambian, early childhood system.  The Zambian Project (ZECDP) was a collaborative effort to measure the effects of a ongoing anti-malaria initiative measured the development of Zambian children. The article spoke little about the “Anti-Malaria Initiative (campaign)”. To mark the full effect of the anti-malaria iniiative, the ZECDP created a tool for assessing children’s physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development before and throughout their educational years; this was the first assessment tool in Zambia.  Zambian Child Assessment Test (ZamCAT) used  combination of child development measures with current developed assessment tools in order to provide a clear assessment of preschool children in Zambian. Although there has been countless studies, research, and data that investigates the impact of early childhood experiences in developing countries; there is practically no evidence available regarding the development, health, and educational outcomes on early childhood in Sub-Saharan Africa.  There were 1,686 children born in 2004 assessed between July and December 2010 with successful follow-up.  In 2011, another successful follow-up occurred with 1,250 of those children, follow-up scheduled for June-August 2012.  The beginning stages of this project demonstrate that comprehensive child assessments are possible within standard population-based household surveys”.

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2010). Global children's initiative.            Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/

Sharing Web Resources

 World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP-USNC)

This website gave specific information regards to my current professional development, were as I am learning and studying about poverty, investing, and supporting children, families, and the Early Childhood Field.  The OMEP-USA website is part of an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose members are in over sixty countries.  Their members include, teachers, parents, lawyers, grandparents, policymakers, researchers, social workers, and students.  The goal of the OMEP-USA is to ensure the well-being, rights, and education of children ages 0-8, here in the United States and abroad.  There is specific section on the website called “events and activities” where you can find information regarding international meeting, relief funds, and projects.  This website gives one hope for the effort in trying to sure the world of poverty.

Childhood Poverty In Japan

I have not yet received a reply from my international colleagues or podcast.  Therefore, I will share information regarding childhood poverty in Japan, from the website: http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/.  After studying this website, I have learned that although there was a decline in poverty in the 1990’s there is still a high increase in, low life expectancy, a large number of the population over the age 15 cannot read, and healthcare is poor.  This is because of a family’s economic status.  The insight that I have gained regarding this website; is that China is struggling to ensure that their children receive a safe and nurturing childhood, as with other struggling countries in this world.  I wonder if child poverty will ever be cured in one’s lifetime.  L

Getting Ready—E stablishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

This blog assisgnment has been somewhat intriguing, I have emailed a couple of Professional, one from Singapore and one from Spain. I have not yet got a reply from these professional. I am interested in communicating with these professional about their roles as early childhood professionals.