Child Development and Public Health

     The public health topic I chose is nutrition/malnutrition.  This topic is meaningful to me because I have a family member whose child was affected by malnutrition.  Sound nutrition could have prevented many of her health problems.  For example, she has impaired vision, speech impairment, and she is not at the proper weight for her age.  My cousin is in the second grade.  She is receiving Special Education services because of her health problems.  Malnutrition is the primary cause of her developmental delays.  

     Research shows that nutrition plays a vital part in the development of the brain in young children.  When children do not receive adequate nutrition they often suffer malnutrition.  It is important to have healthy eating habits which will translate into healthy eating pattern as adults.  Early childhood nutrition is an excellent way to promote good life long dietary habits.

     Socially economically deprived women often do not receive the proper nutrition they need in order to deliver a healthy baby.  There are programs available for them such as the Women, Infant, and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  The WIC program offers nutritional foods for the mother and the child but, many women do not continue to receive the products after the first year of their child’s life.  The reason being the mother does not complete the recertification process.

     I chose Panama as a different part of the world in which I will discuss nutrition/malnutrition.  The institute of Central America and Panama (INCAP) conducted a study of child growth and development.  They selected residents of four villages who were of mixed Spanish and American Indian decent.  The study showed that dietary supplements enriched with vegetable protein improved the children growth rates.  In many third world countries, children die in large numbers simply because they do not receive adequate nutrition. 

     In conclusion, nutrition/malnutrition will impact my future because if students do not receive the proper nutrition their brain development will be impaired.  Malnutrition will impact my students’ ability to learn.  Nutrition plays an important role in children intellectual development.            

References

Ellis-Christensen, Tricia. (2010, August). What are some important considerations for Early    
     Childhood Nutrition?  Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/    

Stein, Aryeh D., et.al. (2008, July). Nutritional Supplementation in Early Childhood, Schooling, and   
     Intellectual Functioning in Adulthood. Retrieved from http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/

Personal Birthing Experience

I personally do not have any children therefore; I plan to discuss a birth experience that I witnessed.  My friend Barbara received excellent prenatal care.  She attended all of her prenatal visits.  She did not take any over the counter drugs not even for a headache.  Her diet consisted of healthy nutritious foods.  She exercised three to four times a week.  Barbara began the labor process at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening.  Her labor pains were five minutes apart when she left her home for the hospital.  Her labor lasted for approximately sixteen hours.  She had natural child birth. Barbara gave birth to a healthy 7 pound baby boy at 9:27 a.m. Saturday morning.  I chose this experience because I witnessed the birth of her child.  Labor is a painful yet beautiful experience. Procreation is necessary in order for our survival as a people.

I selected Germany as the country for my investigation of how prenatal care happens there.  In Germany prenatal care is free.  Prenatal services are provided by an obstetrician or a general practitioner.  Women who do not receive prenatal care have poor infant outcomes.  At-risk groups are women who are non-German and under the age of eighteen these individuals often receive insufficient prenatal care.  The reason for poor infant outcomes is primarily because they refuse to seek prenatal care services. 

The difference between the United States and Germany with childbirth and prenatal care is pregnant women receive free prenatal service however; women often do not seek prenatal care. Socioeconomic status in the United States determines whether or not the woman will receive free prenatal services.  My friend received free prenatal services because of her socioeconomic status.    

 In both the United States and Germany, the probability of high infant deaths, health problems and birth deficits increase due to a lack of prenatal care.  It is imperative that all women seek prenatal care during their pregnancies.

My insights about the impact of the birthing experience that I gained from this comparison is as follows: it is importance for pregnant women to  have early prenatal care, healthy eating habits, adequate exercise and they need to follow the instructions of their obstetricians which will help to ensure that they deliver a healthy baby.  

Reference

Buekens, Pierre, Geraedts, Max, Gissler, Mika, & Hemminki, Elina. (1998). Insufficient Prenatal

     Care in Finland and Baden Wurttemberg Characteristics of women and infant outcome.

     Retrieved from Eur_J_Public_Health-1998-GISSLER-227-31(1)(1).pdf

Thank You Note

     I want to thank everyone in the Foundations of Early Childhood program for contributing to my overall educational development.  This was my first class and my first blog experience and all of you helped to make it memorable.  I wish you all well as you continue with your educational journey and take these new ideas and concepts back to your classrooms.  

NAEYC and DEC Code of Ethics

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment

Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Code of Ethics

The NAEYC and the DEC have a code of ethics (guidelines) that must be followed by organizations that provide services to young children and their families. 

1.      I-1.1-To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.  (NAEYC)

This idea is meaningful and significant to me because I believe early childhood teachers play an important role in establishing a strong foundation for their students.  It is my job to provide a caring and safe environment that is filled with many positive learning experiences.  Children need to be in a classroom that is comfortable and conducive to learning.  As an early childhood teacher, I need to stay abreast of the latest research, techniques, and instructional methods.  I will use this information to meet the educational needs of my students.

2.      I-2.2-To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.  (NAEYC)

This idea is also meaningful and significant to me. On the first day of school, I begin the process of building a bond with my student and their parents.  I let the parents know they are welcome to come to the classroom at any time. It is important that I communicate on a regular basis with my parents either face to face or over the telephone.  Weekly communication with my parents gives me a chance to inform them about positive or negative behavior in the classroom.  Each year my goal is to have a great relationship with each student and their family.

3.     Professional Practice

 Professional and Interpersonal Behavior

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

When my students enter the classroom each morning I greet them with a big smile and kind words.  I treat all of my students with respect and I expect the same from them.   When a student says something hurtful, I use that as a time to remind them about the classroom rules and about character education.  I provide my students with a healthy environment where they can work and play.

References

The Division for Early Childhood (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved from http://www.dec-sped.org/

NAEYC (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

       

Personal Resources

Books:

Maria Montessori (1970). The Child in the Family (The Clio Montessori series), NTC/Contemporary Publishing Company/Raleigh, NC

Friedrich Froebel (1909) Pedagogics of the Kindergarten Or, His Ideas Concerning the Play and Playthings of the Child translated by Josephine Jarvis, D. Appleton and Company, New York, NY

Maria Montessori Quote:

The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist."

Native American Saying:

Tell me and I’ll forget.  Show me, and I may not remember.  Involve me, and I’ll understand.

George Santayana Quote:

A child educated only at school is an uneducated child.

Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

• 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

Websites:

World Forum Foundation
http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 

World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep.org.gu.se/English/about_OMEP/
Read about OMEP’s mission. 

Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/about/
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/main/about.cfm

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//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

Institute for Women’s Policy Research
http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm

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.preknow.org/

Voices for America’s Children
http://www.voices.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=22807

The Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/

Quotes from Early Childhood Professionals

"Reading instruction is about teaching children to become fluent readers.  My major goal is to motivate a new generation of lifelong readers who read voluntarily for pleasure and information."
                                                                                  Lesley M. Morrow

"Children are like tiny flowers: They are varied and need care, but each is beautiful alone and glorious when seen in the community of peers."
                                                                                     Freidrich Froebel

"Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child's soul."
                                                                                     Freidrich Froebel

Quotes from The Passion for Early Childhood

"I wanted to be a teacher because I had a built in passion that it was important to make a real contribution in the world and to fix all the injustices that existed in the world and I wanted to do that through teaching."
                                                                                           Louise Derman-Sparks


 "I see Early Childhood education, all education really, is a civil rights issue because the right to what we think about in relationship to childhood, a childhood that leaves you ready for optimum life experiences, a childhood and an educational context experience throughout your life cycle that opens up the world to you that gives you the tools you need to ask questions and investigate things, those are the things I want for all children."
                                                                                            Renatta M. Cooper

Personal Childhood Web

Lillian Barbara Courtney (Madea) was the matriarch of the Courtney family.  She was an upper elementary school teacher for 45 years with experiences ranging from teaching in a one room school, to both the public and private school arenas.  Madea influenced me by her examples.  She nursed us through illnesses while our parents worked, taught us to be young ladies, and emphasized the importance of education.  She epitomized life-long learning before the premise became popular as she earned her Masters in Education at the same time as her son, my Uncle John. Of the eight children my paternal grandmother bore, five of them are in the field of education.  The influence that my grandmother exuded to her children was passed on to me.  She is the main reason that I’m pursuing my master's degree. 

Dorothy and Marvin, Sr. were married more than 40 years and made it to “til death do us part”.  They were a couple in every sense of the word and it reflected in how they reared me and my siblings. My mother was a school teacher for 32 years where she taught elementary and junior high. My father was a postal worker for 18 years and retired as a postal supervisor once his health began to fail.  My Mother was the main reason I’m a teacher today.  Though my Family is filled with teachers, she’s the one that initially planted the seed within me.  Eventually, she would be the one to arrange for my first job as a teacher’s assistant.  Together my parents directly influenced my values through ensuring we attended weekly church service, family vacations every summer, and instilled  the need and desire for a quality education.  Because of their influence, I became a teacher, and believe in the concept of life-long learning.

Lillian Courtney-Bannerman, my aunt, is also my Godmother.  Her teaching experiences range from elementary, middle, and high school.  Her teaching career spanned 45 years across the music and reading specialties, and  culminated in library science.  Aunt Lillian influenced me through providing practical advice about life issues, a frank discourse of our developing bodies as young teens, and as a confidant and sounding board when I didn't  feel my parents would understand me.   She made me feel special through several venues including giving me gifts and money during birthdays and other special occasions, picking up the girl cousins to hang out at her house or go to the park, and periodically playing tennis during the summer.  Now that my parents are both deceased, she has taken on their role and continues to give advice about work related issues as well as other personal advice.

A story about a child that touched my heart.

Two years ago, I taught a student who had never attended school before.  Rosetta was six years old.  It was difficult for her to master the objectives of the curriculum however; she was very studious.  She worked hard to accomplish the objectives of the Kindergarten curriculum.  Her pride in herself grew as the school year continued.  She touched my heart.  At the end of the school year, we had an Awards Day.  The award she received was for the Most Improved in my class!  She pranced around the room and smiled as she showed her award to everyone she encountered!

Favorite Childhood Book

My favorite childhood book is the Three Little Kittens by Rand McNally & Company.  As a child, I read this book at least three times a week.  The book reminded me of my family.  There were three kittens in the story and three childen in my family.  The book has vivid life-like illustrations.  As a young child, the book was fun to read.  I enjoyed reading it to my parents.   

Favorite Quote

"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today."

Malcolm X