• EDUC 6162 Final Blog
  

Three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for your professional and personal development: 


1. I have learned that we experience some of the same issues and trends with other international early childhood professionals. I have learned from my two contacts that they also experience a lack of support, lack of high-quality programs, lack of access to programs, and the issue that many children from poor families are not being cared for in high quality programs due to lack of programs, high fees, or because relatives care for the children while the parents work. 


2. I have learned that there are other professionals that have a love and passion for children and for the ece field. I met two wonderful and passionate educators that take pride in what they do. I learned that both Erissa and Marlene enjoy working with young children and their families and that they to want to see children grow up happy and healthy. They do what ever they can to provide positive and memorable experiences that children need and deserve. 


3. The third thing that I learned through my international contacts is that there are other professionals that are advocating for children and for change. Some policy makers and educators are working hard to help make the ec filed an important part of every child's life.

• My goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations is for our field to one day get the recognition that it deserves so we can work towards solving the issues and trends that greatly affect young children, their families, and our fellow educators all around the world.  

Learning from other educators in other parts of the world and the wonderful work that they are doing in the ec field gives me hope and it helps to remind me why I chose to work with children and motivates me to continue providing excellent work with those whom I work with. 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

Erissa

• What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work?

The issues that are being discussed are:

 1. Ratios: We are discussing having a lower child/teacher ratio so we can provide the quality care that each child needs. 

2.  Material: We don't have a lot of material for the children so we often use the same things over and over. We need more books and developmental material and toys that the children can use. 

3. Teacher qualifications. They want teachers to have completed their teacher practice before being employed. 

• What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?

Conferences and trainings are offered monthly through outside organization and my place of employment also has monthly trainings on different topics.

• What are some of your professional goals?

I would like to continue my education and eventually open up my own center. 

• What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges?

I want to continue learning and working with young children and I hope that the early childhood field continues to get the recognition that it deserves so all children can one day have access to high-quality care.

Marlene

• What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work?

1. The issues that are being discussed are the lack of programs accessible and available.


2. The need for children to be cared for in a safe and nurturing environment (many are being cared by older siblings or family members).

3. Teacher education and requirements. Many teachers only have the minimum requirements.

4. Lack of early childhood educators ( the pay and benefits do not match the work that we do). 

• What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?

There are not that many opportunities available for professional development and the few that are offered by some schools, are being offered during work hours and many of us cannot go, especially me that I run my own home child care.

• What are some of your professional goals?

My professional goals are to continue learning about child development and to continue providing the care that the children deserve. 

• What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges?

My hopes and dreams are to see all the children that I serve grow up happy and healthy and for me to live a long life so I can continue doing what I love to do.

Sharing Web Resources

Podcast: How Partnering With Your Child’s Caregiver Supports Healthy Development.

This podcast discusses some questions and concerns that many families might experience when their child enters a child care center and it gives great tips on how teachers and parents can build partnerships.

"The whole family is affected when the child goes into care; that they’re there to support the whole family that they’re not competing. Something that a lot of parents suffer from is this idea that the childcare provider, or the people at the center are gonna somehow replace them, and that that should not be something that in any way is communicated that you’re not welcome" (Zero to Three, 2017). 

https://www.zerotothree.org

Standing with Immigrant Women and Children

ZERO TO THREE has joined with a group of women from across the country this week to investigate human rights abuses against immigrant women and children in Alabama, in the wake of recent anti-immigrant legislation.

Policies that foster a strong foundation for healthy development in the first three years of life for immigrant children and their families —including access to health care; adequate food; safe, decent and affordable housing; and positive early learning opportunities—can play a key role in preparing these young children to become caring, contributing adults in the future (Zero to Three, 2017). 

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Another website that I visited is:    

Website: http://www.healthyfamiliesamerica.org

This website provides resources and information on:

PARENT EDUCATION

CHILD HEALTH & DEVELOPMENT

HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA 2017 NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

This website shows how high-quality care impacts the children, families, and the communities in a positive way and that when we all work together, the children grow up happy and healthy which  helps them become productive citizens and we all win as a society. It also it also shows how they have impacted children, parents & families, and the communities through their hard work, dedication, and services that they provide. 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

• New insights and information from conversations 

What I have learned this week from my conversations with Erissa and Marlene is that they feel that there is a high need for more high-quality early childhood education programs in their communities, especially for infant and toddlers. Both stated that there is a lack of programs for preschool children, but there are fewer for infant and toddlers. 

Erissa (Bahamas) said that in her community, there are only about 3 preschool programs and that most of the infant and toddlers are being cared for at home by family members, friends, and/or neighbors. 

Marlene (Guatemala) runs a home day care and she stated that she is serving more infant and toddlers than preschool children because there are more programs for preschool children and that many families qualify for financial assistance, but there are not that many for infant and toddlers. 

 

• Additional information about issues of equity and excellence from my international sources

Erissa shared that she recently received her teaching certification, but that it is not mandatory for them to be certified upon hire. They can continue their education as they work and that the assistant teachers are not required to have a certain amount of classes to be able to work with children. They just need to be 18 years and older to be able to work in the classroom. She feels that the staff should be required to continue learning so they can provide the adequate care that children need.

Marlene said that she is certified, but that many other people that care for children in their home are not and that they are not even being monitored or held accountable for the type of environment and services that they are providing. She also said that many care- takers do what they do just to help the working families that need the care in order to be able to go to work and provide for their families. She feels that there should be some type of monitoring system that would help programs follow guidelines, but she also knows that many home day cares are not even licensed to operate as day cares and the staff do not have any early childhood knowledge or experience. 

What the we early childhood educators are experiencing here  in the U.S, other educators are also experiencing all over the world. It is very important for us to continue learning so we can continue providing the necessary experiences that will help shape our little ones into successful, happy, and healthy adults that our society needs.

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