My Supports

As I was thinking about my supports, I thought at first that I didn't have many.  But then I realized that I do have a few, and didn't realize how much these people did help me, even in little ways.  My major support is God.  I try to spend time everyday praying and just listening for God to talk to me.  Reading scriptures helps me as well, and I plan on putting up stickies with scriptures around to help me stay positive.

I have my best friend Lisa, who lives in GA.  We have been friends for about 9 years now.  Although we no longer live real close to each other, I know I can always count on her whenever I need to talk.  I also have another friend, Denise, that is a mutual friend of ours, who is a teacher, and so I enjoy talking to her about my class, and what my son might be doing to get another viewpoint.

I didn't really think of my neighbors as support, but they actually are.  With it just being me and my son (and our dog), I really don't get any adult interaction.  Usually after work, my neighbor is outside with his grandkids, and we end up talking about whatever, and it is good to just have another adult to talk to about whatever.

All these are great supports because they are just there for me, even if they don't know it.  They are also positive supports.  I have learned to get rid of those people that bring negative energy and attitudes (except family, of course).  If I didn't have these supports, it would be very tough for me, especially being a single parent.  I am looking at other ways of building a little more support, such as joining a MOPS group, and getting more involved at church.

I can't really imagine a specific challenge.  Honestly, if anything happened to me, that in itself would be a challenge.  I would need as much help as possible, and I would pray that nothing so horrible would happen that my ex-husband would end up getting my son, because I could not take care of him.  I guess you could say that would be more of a fear, so I try to not think of that.  I just use the supports I have, and I pray that I am a support to others as well.

When you get to your wits end, you will find, God lives there.  ~Author Unknown

My Connections to Play

I remember when I was younger, my brother and I used to like playing spy games.  So I would pick a wooded area that we could run and hide around in.  And we did not have a lot of toys then, so we had to use our imagination and what we had around the house...

a stick to use as equipment:

rope, to tie up the bad guys:

and a walky talky, in case we needed to call back for help:

I can't really say that people supported play when I was younger.  It was more like, go outside and play and get out of the house.  I definitely look at play a lot differently with my own son.  Even before I really knew the great benefits, I looked at it as a time to bond, and I love watching him play and explore new things.  

Play today is more based on technology, I think.  Kids don't go outside as much as they used to, for different reasons.  That is why it is so important that physical education and play be incorporated into children's lives, especially in school.  

We can definitely learn a lot by watching children play.  We learn to take things one day at a time, and to stop and enjoy the little things in life.

“It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” Leo F. Buscaglia

“Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good” Lucia Capocchione

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” George Bernard Shaw

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important because I feel that you need people in your life that you can count on, that can be there for you.  When I was first reading this assignment, I was thinking, I don't really have any relationships, except with my son, my best friend, and if we count pets, my dog.  :)  But then I really started thinking, that although those are my main relationships, I have a relationship with my ex-husband, my son's teachers, and a few other friends, even if I don't talk to them often.

I have a positive relationship with my son, of course.  My dog actually helps us to relieve some stress by just being there, we take him for walks, and watching my son play with him makes me happy.  My best friend is always there when I need to talk to her, and she's been a pretty positive influence for me.  I have known her for about 8 years now.  A few weeks ago, I probably would not have put my ex-husband on here as a positive influence, but lately, it's been positive because I've been trying to make it positive.  The whole situation has really made me look at who I am, and ways I can change myself.

What makes these relationships so positive and important is that we are there for each other.  It is hard to find people that you can really count on to be there for you.  Especially being a single parents, I know it is important to build relationships with others, and I try to be for people what I would like for them to be as well.

I think just knowing how to build relationships will help with being an early childcare professional because you know how to see what people are looking for in their relationships, so you can try and help them to find resources to point them in the right direction.

Thank you for another great semester!

You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again. ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762

 I thought this quote was so true. We worry so much about our children's future, and how they will be doing in school, and what will they be when they grow up, that we forget to just enjoy them now, in the moment. I think we could learn so much from children, especially to live life in the moment. I know my son reminds me of that every day.

 Thank you to everyone in this class! It was a joy reading your discussions and interacting with all of you. I look forward to continuing our journey together!



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Assessing Children

I was actually talking to a friend of mine, who has a ten year old. He was going through so much stress because of a test he had to take and pass in order to make it through to the next grade. Personally, I don't remember having to take any kind of test like that, at least not until high school. I think giving children at such a young age, these kind of tests, do not really help to assess where they are at. All it does is stress them out. Some people are just bad test takers. Yet if they fail, then they are not allowed to go to the next grade.

I do understand the reason for some assessment tests. Yet I only believe these tests should be only used to figure out where the child is academically, and how they can be helped, if they need it.

I looked at the German school system to see how they assess children. All children go to the same type of school, until the age of 10. At the age of 10, they are assessed to determine which one of four different tracks they will go into. Each track then determines where they will go from there, whether to a university or a trade school.

I think there is too much pressure on school aged children, especially at such a young age. Also, I wonder if parents sometimes put too much pressure on their kids to do exceptionally well, so they do better in assessments. Doing these types of tests do not necessarily do a good job of assessing the child as a whole.

http://library.thinkquest.org/26576/schoolpage.htm

Nutrition/malnutrition in infants/toddlers

I chose this topic because I think nutrition is such a vital part of a child's growth and development. I feel in this country, we have children, to include toddlers, that are already obese because of the lack of proper nutrition and diet in the home. Around the world, children are not developing properly because of malnutrition. No child (or any person for that matter) should be out there starving. It's a shame when we have one country where children are obese because of all the food that they consume, while others are going hungry and can't even get the bare minimum.

According to the world food program, 65 percent of the world's hungry live in only seven countries: India, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Ethiopia. Also, hunger kills more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. I'm not sure how to even begin to try and change these numbers. Volunteering and donating can be a big help, but still will not make the huge difference it needs to. How can we stop children from starving, especially in the developing countries?

http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats

My Birthing Experience

I'm choosing to write about when I gave birth to my son, because it was just a couple years ago, and that is my only experience about giving birth! I remember being in labor for quite a while, about 12 hours. I had my own labor room, and afterwards, we were in a 2 person room in the hospital. I was able to use a ball and a tub to try and help with the labor pains. My midwife helped me stick to my birthing plan as much as possible. I had to push for about 2-2.5 hours.

Overall, considering it was my first child, my pregnancy and birth was good. I do think that birth has an impact on child development. For one, if something goes physically wrong, then that right there could affect physical development. I have a friend who thinks her daughter seems angry all the time, and she told she wonders if it is because she herself was so stressed during pregnancy and while giving birth. So things that we may not think would affect a child at such a young age, may have more of an impact than we thought. So it's important to keep in mind all the decisions we make, because it could affect our children in more ways than we realize.


I looked into the birthing experience in Turkey. I was surprised at some of the things that they did in the past: Unfastening the woman’s hair, Opening locked doors, chests and windows, Feeding birds, A woman who had earlier had an easy labor would rub the back of the pregnant woman, Shooting in the air, Putting the woman on someone’s back and shaking her, Making the woman jump down from a high place, Making the woman lie down on a piece of cloth and rocking her. Now, they do the same thing that we do in the US. Women give birth at a hospital; for those in remote areas, licensed mid-wives help those pregnant give birth. I couldn't find much information about how the hospitals are in regards to giving birth. However, on one website it was stated that there are a few cities that have new, modern hospitals, that are up to date and have international accreditation. But there are still others where it is recommended that the pregnant woman be evacuated to another hospital when it's time to give birth. http://www.turkishculture.org/lifestyles/ceremonies/birth/birth-traditions-216.htm?type=1 http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1046.html#medical

Thank you!!

Thank you to all my classmates!  Good luck in your future classes, and I look forward to working with you again, and keeping in touch through the blogs!




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Ethics and Guidelines

We shall demonstrate our respect and concern for children, families, colleagues, and others with
whom we work, honoring their beliefs, values, customs, languages, and culture. (Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/63694/CRS-CW-5364583/educ6005_readings/dec_codeofethics.pdf).

To work through education, research, and advocacy toward an environmentally safe world in
which all children receive health care, food, and shelter; are nurtured; and live free from violence in
their home and their communities.  (Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/63694/CRS-CW-5364583/educ6005_readings/naeyc_codeofethicspdf.pdf).

To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.  (Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/63694/CRS-CW-5364583/educ6005_readings/naeyc_codeofethicspdf.pdf).

Let's Move!

I just thought this was a great website.  I'm going to look at ways I can get involved with this.  Matthew is a little chubby, but still young, but I want to make sure he knows how to stay healthy!  And I need to as well.

http://www.letsmove.gov/

Additional Resources...

http://rec.ohiorc.org/default.aspx

This seems like the resource center for resources.  It has quite a few interesting articles, ideas, etc.  I like looking around the internet for ideas on activities to do with Matthew. 

Another couple of websites I enjoy are the VeggieTales, Nick, Jr. and Disney, Jr. websites.  They have some great ideas as well.

I also like reading Parenting, the Early Years, magazine.  Even though I know I am not the only one going through things, like the terrible two's (:)), it is nice to read how other parents are handling some of the same siturations. 

Personal Childhood Web

I actually cannot think of 5 people that made a huge impact on my life growing up.  I can think of a few.  My grandmother would be my biggest one.  Her name is Elfrieda Sorey.  I remember that she always used to be there for me, especially since my mother and I did not get along.  I always thought her and I had a special bond.  She is the one who taught me how to cross stitch, helped me to speak German, and we always shared a special treat, 3 Musketeers bars, just the two of us, whenever I went over to visit.  I still look to my grandmother for wisdom, and have much respect for her.  She still makes me laugh, and still has plenty of life in her, something I plan to have as I get that age.

Another person who had an impact was my best friend at the time, Rebecca Pendleton.  She was actually the only person I was able to hang out with my last couple of years at high school.  We briefly stayed in touch, then lost touch for about 12 years, and just recently got back in touch, thanks to Facebook.  It was just good at that time to have someone to call a friend, and be able to hang out with, and discuss things, someone who wasn't family.

And though I can't remember their names, unfortunately, I have had a couple teachers during my high school years who were great.  My German teacher, who I had for 5 years, and actually pushed to have a German 6, even though I was the only student.  And my Economics teacher always believed in me, and always gave me advice when I asked for it.

Hmmm...

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. ~Franklin P. Jones


Patience is definitely not something I was born with.  But dealing with a toddler has definitely made me think twice before I lose it.  Mainly because I want Matthew to learn how to deal with stressful situations without losing it.  Children look to adults for many things, including how to deal with everyday life.  I want to be his best teacher for that.

My reason for early childhood education...

is posted right above.  I think if I didn't have the passion and motivation I did to learn all I could about Matthew and  his development and what I could do, he wouldn't have turned out the way he did.  It makes me want to learn more, and to reach out to others so they too can get motivated and excited about their children.

First Week

This is my first week as a student at Walden University. A little nervous to be taking these courses, especially at this level, but at the same time, excited to learn something new. I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues and learning all I can able early childhood education.