Reflections on Foundations: Early Childhood

I am now in week 8, the final week, of the first course in my Master's of Education in Early Childhood Studies program.  It has been 8 weeks already??  The time has gone so fast.  I really learned a lot from this course.  Learning online was definitely a challenge at the beginning, but after the first week or two, I got into a pretty good routine that will carry me through the rest of the program. I think the things I learned from this course WILL be the foundations for my learnings in the rest of the program and will make a positive contribution to my career as a early childhood professional.  I am so glad I made the decision to go with this program.  I am looking forward to the next course, Early Childhood Development.

Code of Ethics and Ethical Conduct in Early Childhood Education

The NAEYC and the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children both have position statements which offer guidelines for responsible behavior and professional practice.  Below I have listed three that are most meaningful to me.

1.  We shall demonstrate in our behavior and language respect and appreciation for the unique value and human potential of each child.  (DEC)

2.  Above all, we shall not harm children.  We shall not participate in practices that are emotionally damaging, physically harmful, disrespectful, degrading, dangerous, exploitative, or intimidating to children.  (NAEYC)

3.  In a caring, cooperative workplace, human dignity is respected, professional satisfaction is promoted and positive relationships are developed and sustained.  (NAEYC)

I chose these because my personal code of conduct and professionalism includes respect for all children, families and staff; advocating for children and creating a safe and nurturing environment; and ensuring all staff are happy and productive.

Links:
NAEYC Code of Conduct and Committment to Ethical Conduct: http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

DEC Code of Ethics:
http://www.dec-sped.org/uploads/docs/about_dec/position_concept_papers/Code%20of%20Ethics_updated_Aug2009.pdf

Course Resources

Below are course resources for Walden University EDUC 6005:

Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.

Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
• Websites:
• World Forum Foundation
  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
  This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education
  http://www.omep-usnc.org/
  Read about OMEP's mission.
• Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/
  Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.
• Selected Early Childhood Organizations
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children
    http://www.naeyc.org/
  • The Division for Early Childhood
    http://www.dec-sped.org/
  • Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
    http://www.zerotothree.org/
  • WESTED
    http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  • Harvard Education Letter
    http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  • FPG Child Development Institute
    http://www.fpg.unc.edu/
  • Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
    http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
  • HighScope
    http://www.highscope.org/
  • Children's Defense Fund
    http://www.childrensdefense.org/
  • Center for Child Care Workforce
    http://www.ccw.org/
  • Council for Exceptional Children
    http://www.cec.sped.org/
  • Institute for Women's Policy Research
    http://www.iwpr.org/
  • National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
    http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
  • National Child Care Association
    http://www.nccanet.org/
  • National Institute for Early Education Research
    http://nieer.org/
  • Pre[K]Now
    http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
  • Voices for America's Children
    http://www.voices.org/
  • The Erikson Institute
    http://www.erikson.edu/
  Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
  Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to "How Do I...?", select "Tips for Specific Formats and Resources," and then "e-journals" to find this search interface.)
  • YC Young Children
  • Childhood
  • Journal of Child & Family Studies
  • Child Study Journal
  • Multicultural Education
  • Early Childhood Education Journal
  • Journal of Early Childhood Research
  • International Journal of Early Childhood
  • Early Childhood Research Quarterly
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Social Studies
  • Maternal & Child Health Journal
  • International Journal of Early Years Education
  
  

  Resources I am contributing to this list:

  
  

  www.militarychild.org   Website for the Military Child Education Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring quality educational opportunities for all military children affected by mobility, family separation, and transition. 
  
  http://edweek.org  Online journal focused on current issues in education, including ECE.
  
  www.childdevelopmentinfo.com  Information child development stages.
  
  http://www.brazelton-institute.com and http://www.brazeltontouchpoints.org For anyone interested in infant development and methods.
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

Quotes

The following are quotes from leaders and major contributors in the child development field.

"When we strengthen families, we ultimately strengthen the community. Our goal is that parents "When we strengthen families, we ultimately strengthen the community. Our goal is that parents everywhere work with supportive providers, feel confident in their parenting role, and form strong, resilient attachments with their children. To help achieve this, providers must be responsive to parents, knowledgeable about child development, and eager to see every parent succeed." 

"The message I most often emphasize to parents and caregivers is this: listen to the baby. Babies have so much they can tell us if we just know how to listen." 

 -T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., noted pediatrician 

"This brain research tells us that adults---not just parents, but teachers and providers too, function as either protective or risk factors in children’s development. And that means we must, as a society, do whatever we can to ensure that the teachers and providers who spend their days with children have the preparation, support and reward that allow them to play that protective role in children’s lives."

-Marcy Whitebook, Ph.D., Director of the Center for the Study of Early Childcare Employment, UC Berkeley

"When I think of the word passion and the meaning of the word, what comes to mind are what are my values, what are my beliefs?  What are the ideas that lead me to action?  What do I do so naturally that perhaps seems natural to me but may be challenging to others?"

-Letitia Lara, LCSW, Regional Manager, Outreach and Professional Development, Zero to Three 

My Personal Childhood Web

A childhood web is meant to show the relationships that surround a child and how they contribute to that child's overall development.  Below is a representation of the people in my early childhood who cared and nurtured for me or showed me they cared for me.  My immediate family were the central figures in my life and I cannot recall anyone else that really affected my life substantially in a positive way other than them.  We moved constantly growing up and I did not have the fortune of having close relationships with my extended family, teachers or other adults.  I often wonder what it would have been like to have those relationships growing up.   My web was very small, but positive and nurturing.

Art

This photo is of an art project my daughter did a couple of weeks ago.  We were painting and she has this habit of doing a great picture and then smearing over it with her hand and covering up her artwork. Like this:

In order to refocus her creativity, I painted a picture of a house with rainbows, clouds, trees and birds to show her that you can paint an actual picture of something.  It was very rudimentary but she was impressed, nonetheless!  So she then sat down and did this painting:

I was very proud of her creation and vision.  

Wherever You Are...

As part of our assignment this week, we were to share a children's book that we especially like.  There are so many beautiful books for children that it is hard to choose, but one that is especially meaningful to me is the book Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman.  This book tells a child that he was wanted more than he will ever know and that his mother's (or father's) love will always be with him.  I think it is so important for all children to really know that they are loved, treasured and wanted, no matter what their situation in life.  It is meaningful to me because my children are adopted and I hope they can take the message in this book to heart and know that it is how I feel for them.  They should always remember that their dad and I love them no matter where they are or what they are doing, even when they are all grown up.