Sharing Web Resources

• What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?

          Daddy Factor is particularly relevant to my current professional development because many of the children that I work with are being raised by single mothers and the few that do have a father in their lives, the father's do not participate in the development of the children. Many of them think that it is the mother's responsibility to care for the children and their role is to work and provide for the family. I provide a lot of resources about the important role that father's play in the lives of their children and I try to involve the fathers as mush as I can. I leave activities that fathers can do such as read to the child, play ball, go for a walk, etc.  

          Research shows that when the father is involved in the pregnancy—providing mom with help and support—he is also likely to be involved in parenting later on: reading with his child, performing caregiving tasks, and providing emotional support to the child throughout development.In fact, the relationship between father and child is important for development in all domains, including physical, social-emotional, and thinking skills (Zero to Three.org).

• Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways?

          Early development and well-being- is a topic that makes me think about how important a 
child's early experiences are and how those experiences  whether positive or negative marks
a child's life.

          The first three years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a baby’s development. Learn how the earliest relationships with caregivers can promote healthy brain development, how young children build social and emotional skills, and ways you can support language and literacy development starting from birth (Zero to Three.org). 

          This also makes me think about the important role that parents and educators play when caring for infant and toddlers and how this sets the foundation for learning. It also makes me sad because many children are not experiencing the support that they deserve.

• What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field?

          The website provides a lot of resources and information that talks about advocacy and what professionals and policy makers are doing to advocate for the early childhood field and how we can join the policy action center. It provides articles written by doctors and other professionals that state the importance of development in the early years. 

• What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?

          I have learned ways on how to advocate for children by getting in contact with policy makers through writing emails and letters and about spreading the important information with parents and other professionals. I have also learned that there are many issues and trends happening and that there are many people behind the scenes advocating for our field.

"A child’s brain undergoes an amazing period of development from birth to three—producing 700 new neural connections every second"

"Health and wellness habits begin at birth"

Infants and toddlers don’t have a voice in the public policy process, but you do!

https://www.zerotothree.org