My Connections to Play

Quotes

"Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn. ~O. Fred Donaldson~.
Retrieved from- http://www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes.

"Almost all creativity involves purposeful play" ~Abraham Maskow, American Psychologist~.
Retrieved from- http://www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes.


My essential play items when I was younger: Where ever I went as a child I always carried my coloring/sticker books and dolls.

My family supported play when I was younger by providing options.  I enjoyed playing with dolls, outdoor activities and coloring/drawing.  Because these were some of my favorite play activities my family encouraged more of these types of activities.  I remember having a toy box specifically for my dolls and I had several to choose from.  I had a specific area in my room where I could find all of my coloring supplies and art materials.  When my parents took me outside they made sure the play area was big enough where I could free play and/or swing, slide, and do other playground specific activities.  In parks is where I mastered how to ride a bike. When I colored and drew is where I discovered my talent to draw and create shapes and stay within the lines when coloring.  Play allowed me to master simple and basic concepts in regards to fine and gross motor skills.

I can appreciate how technology plays a huge role in children’s play today. Today many children are restricted to video games/computerized tools.  I have witnessed children sitting in front of a television and/or computer for hours at a time.  When I was younger we experienced more outside play and hands on centered activities. I hope that parents today provide their children with options and more free play.  Children should have several opportunities to explore and use their imaginations.

The role of play never ends from childhood throughout adulthood.  Play does change as a person gets older.  Children and adults should have extracurricular activities; individuals should always indulge in activities that they find pleasurable.  Exploration of the mind should never cease as we become older.  As we get older the things they we’ve mastered trough play as children should be enhanced on higher levels as adults.  For instance, I love the arts; I take time to attend art shows, concerts, and plays.  

Reflecting on Building Relationships

Relationships are important to me because they help shape who I am.  Relationships help me advance in my career and my personal life.  As we go through life we experience good and bad relationships including professional ones.  I believe this helps us understand what we essentially want in life whether it’s being in a committed relationship, career, parent to child relationship, etc.

I must say over the past years I have had to eliminate some toxic people in my life.  I had to realize who was helping and who was not. Today I love the people who are in my circle.  We are all supportive of each other.

My mother is my best friend.  We both have experienced so much and we have still managed to keep the mother- daughter bond.  She is the one person I can go to when life trials and tribulations feel as if they are going to take over. My mother keeps me grounded and she is an awesome “counselor”.

I am thankful that my Dad is a positive influence in my life.  He always pushes me to strive for the best.  He knows my passions and always influences me to succeed in all that I do. Our bond is cherished and I am grateful that he has such a positive influence over my life.

I must say it’s not easy maintaining good relationships with parents, friends and others.  There are so many challenges placed upon people and we all have different views on things.  I feel that when two people sincerely care about each other’s well-being no matter what, that bond will never be broken.  I always treat others how I want to be treated.  I can’t always verbally express how much I care but I show it in my actions.  I show people that I am dedicated to our friendship/relationship and I that I can be trusted.

In working in the early childhood field my relationship experiences will help me be the best I can be in building effective relationship with parents.  I think in experiencing different relationship over the years gave me the tools to develop and maintain professional

Testing for intelligence?

 There is so much pressure placed on students in order to prepare for state testing. In my opinion, standardized test do not assess what student(s) has learned during a school year. Some students are not good test takers. There are several ways educators can assess a students knowledge other than a written test. During my years of teaching, I gave several projects and had my students give verbal presentations; this helped me assess what I taught.

Children in China appear to be well educated. They are very savy in their intellects. It is said that children in China lack pratical skills. The education system in China teaches by memorization, so these students are taught to memorize and little to no attention is placed on applying what is being taught. China's main goal is to prepare students to pass standardized testing not so much to apply the knowledge. "Chinese students excel in memorizing great amounts of information, but when the time arises for them to demonstrate something else, something that goes a little bit outside they are use to, they encounter serious difficulties, such as a lack of discipline, imagination, curiosity and lack of learning by their own. For this reason, they fail to prepare them for higher education and the knowledge economy" (http://www.africanaonline.com/). I dont like this idea, whats the use of teaching children if they cant apply the information. In my opinion, thats setting a child up for failure.


/http://www.africanaonline.com/2011/02/china-students-show-high-test-scores-but-low-practical-ability/

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

"I know poverty because poverty was there before I was born and it has become part of life like the blood through my veins. Poverty is not going empty for a single day and getting something to eat the next day. Poverty is going empty with no hope of the future. Poverty is getting nobody to feel your pain and poverty is when your dreams go in vain because nobody is there to help you. Poverty is watching your mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters die in pain and in sorrow because they couldn't get something to eat. Poverty is hearing your grandmothers and grandfathers cry out to death to come take them because they are tired of this world. Poverty is watching your own children and grandchildren die in your arms but there is nothing you can do. Poverty is suffering from HIV/AIDS and dying a shameful death but nobody seems to care" (http://cozay.com/)

For as long as I can remember poverty has been a major issue for the people in Africa. Children in Africa are faced with diseases, famine and war. Many of the children in Africa have lost their parents, grandparents and siblings and are left to face the harsh realities of poverty alone. In many parts of Africa the production of food is dependant upon labor workers. Being that some areas are destroyed by war and deaths from HIV and lack of food and other diseases; results in the production of food to be scarce. Several families are left to depend on others to give them food in times of need.

"About 50% of the African population lives in slums" (http://cozay.com/). "Slum" houses are normally self built and the people have no electricity, poor sanitation and no water. Because of poor sanitation diseases such as malaria and cholera.  Children who live in slums do no go to school because there are none and if they become ill they don't get medical attention because there are no hospitals.

What is being done to help Africa?

Two organization "African Union(AU)" and "The New Partnership for Africa's development(NEPAD)" are handling HIV/AIDS and helping to minimize and maintain economic growth. These organizations are dedicated to improving peace and security in Africa. Some countries have made progress. "In the last five years, Mozambique has reduced poverty from 70% to 55% and has doubled the number of children in school. In Tanzania, 1000 new schools have been built and 18, 000 teachers recruited. Kenya has introduced free primary education, which brought 1.2 million children back in school" (http://www.food4africa.org/indes.asp?pgid=46)

"Africa means "Beauty" and Africa means "Love". Africa is nature and Africa is life. Africa is "culture" and Africa is "tradition". Africa is blessed with beautiful culture and traditions across the continent" (http//:cozay.com/).

References
http://cozay.com/
http://www.food4africa.org/index.asp?pgid=46

Child Development and Public Health

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has always been an alarming topic to me. SID's is one of the many issues that face families; I will never understand the reasoning behind it. A baby comes home from the hospital and suddenly dies with no known causes of death, that is puzzling to me. I can imagine how traumatic this is to families. Sudden Infant Death can happen to any family, it has no particular prey.

In South Africa the rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is 44 babies to die to every 1,000 born. This rate is high in comparison to other countries. Health professionals feel this is due to the number of babies born with HIV. They also feel mothers do not get the proper pre-natal care needed during pregnancy. Officials have also related premature births to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. While many speculate on the causes of SID's, I believe parents should be educated on precautions measures.

A few weeks ago I read an article in the "Baltimore's Child" called "First Candle Brightens Outlook for Infants and Families". First candle is an organization which supports families who have experienced Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. There are counselors who work with families and help them cope with the loss of their baby. They also provide classes and seminars on how to properly lay babies down when they are sleeping. I found this to be an outstanding organization to help families deal with their loss.

In working with children there are many issues that can arise at any given time. In being knowledgeable about Sudden Infant Death will help me to effectively communicate with families that may have gone through this experience.

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/afp/safricahealthaidschildrenhospital

Birth In Africa

I have not had the experience of giving birth or being in direct contact with anyone who is in the delivery room. I have had conversations with relatives and close friends on their birth experiences. I feel each women has her own personal experience based any many factors that took place during their nine months.

In the past I have heard about the traumatic experiences women of Africa have involving birth. The rate of women dying from childbirth complications is three times higher than women in other countries. This is largely because women In Africa do not get the proper medical care they need during their pregnancies. There have been plenty of women have been plenty of women who have died during childbirth simply because they had inadequate care or no care at all during pregnancy. Midwives have provided care to women in many African countries but have been forced to move to other areas in the nation due to lack of pay. In result, African "healers" in Mozambique have been trained to serve as midwives. Since this, there has been a noticeable drop in infant mortality. Government officials are working on campaigns to get mothers in hospitals and classes during their pregnancies. This will hopefully result in successful pregnancies.

I hope in the future these conditions change. Women all over the world have the right to have adequate care during a pregnancy. I do understand that the living condition in Africa are different as compared to other countries.

In Africa, Overcoming the Risks of Childbirth
By Charlayne Hunter-Gaults
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5628726

Code of Ethics From NAEYC

I-3C.2- To create a climate of trust and candor that will enable staff to speak and act in the best interests of children, families, and the field of early childhood education.

I-2.4- To respect families' child rearing values and their right to make decisions for their children.

I-2.6- To help family members improve their understanding of their children and to enhance their skills as parents.