The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an organization that advocates for fair, equal and quality education for young children. Their mission includes: to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, cultural communication and information (www.unesco.org).
Through reviewing the site, I have found three insights that I am anxious to learn more about.
1. Through literature, children are are to learn more of their plight of their African counterparts in the children's African book series Bouba and Zaza. Through the lives of two African children, others learn about war and conflict, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the issue of water resources and environmental protection (www.unesco.org/new.en/media-services/single-view/news/adea_and_unesco_launch_bouba_and_zaza. These topics are prevalent in Africa and all poor children are affected by them.
2. UNESCO also discusses Global Action Week which is April 22-28th, 2012. This week focuses on securing quality education for all children. I am very interested in this cause and plan to return to this site to gain more information on the daily issues that will be addressed.
3. Last, UNESCO discussed the increasing number of children who are placed in home-based childcare services in New Zealand as their mothers enter the workforce. These services are also becoming more focused on education and the children are being equally educated as the children who are in center-based childcare. This information was nearly ten years old and I am interested in learning how this information has changed.
This site provides great information and is a great resource for all childhood professionals.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Sharing Web Resources, Part Two
The early childhood organization that I chose is Zero to Three (www.zerotothree.com). This site provided a link that I found interesting specially within the early childhood field. The link to the Early Head Start National Resource Center contains valuable information to professionals, parents and etc. to help support these individuals in providing children a healthy and early head start in life.
While providing information such as publications, more web-based resources, special initiatives and activities that include audioconferences, podcasts and webcasts; this link is a great resource for those who are interested in this field.
The monthly e-newsletter provided by the Zero to Three for March 2010, discusses the use of evidence-based practices in early childhood. With insight and research from eight different article, professionals in the field state their understanding of the challenges and benefits of evidence-based practices.
In addition to the e-newsletter, there was a video that describes the first ever congressional briefing on 2/16/12 to discuss how to support homeless infants and toddlers. This video also discussed how one in every 45 children is homeless in the U.S.; which 70,000 or 42% of these children are aged 0-5 years. This information increased my frame of reference on how prevalent homelessness is within children and how I can begin to serve those I currently work with and others.
While providing information such as publications, more web-based resources, special initiatives and activities that include audioconferences, podcasts and webcasts; this link is a great resource for those who are interested in this field.
The monthly e-newsletter provided by the Zero to Three for March 2010, discusses the use of evidence-based practices in early childhood. With insight and research from eight different article, professionals in the field state their understanding of the challenges and benefits of evidence-based practices.
In addition to the e-newsletter, there was a video that describes the first ever congressional briefing on 2/16/12 to discuss how to support homeless infants and toddlers. This video also discussed how one in every 45 children is homeless in the U.S.; which 70,000 or 42% of these children are aged 0-5 years. This information increased my frame of reference on how prevalent homelessness is within children and how I can begin to serve those I currently work with and others.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Global Children's Initiative
The Children's Global Initiative which was founded in 2006, seeks to: reframe the discourse around child health and development, supporting innovative, multi-disciplinary research and demonstration projects and building leadership capacity in child development research and policy. (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/. Through its global work, the Children's Global Initiative provides children and their families with assistance that focuses on children's health, learning, development and behaviors.
One aspect of the Children's Global Initiative that I found interesting is that in Brazil, the premier of the Nucleo Ciencia Pela Infancia which is established to help children of the early childhood age and their families by investing more in children and strengthening policies. By collaborating with five different early childhood entities. The goal of this program is to foster a more prosperous, sustainable and equitable society (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/activities/global_initiative/applying_the_science_of_early_childhood_in_brazi/
One aspect of the Children's Global Initiative that I found interesting is that in Brazil, the premier of the Nucleo Ciencia Pela Infancia which is established to help children of the early childhood age and their families by investing more in children and strengthening policies. By collaborating with five different early childhood entities. The goal of this program is to foster a more prosperous, sustainable and equitable society (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/activities/global_initiative/applying_the_science_of_early_childhood_in_brazi/
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sharing Web Resources
This week I continue to research the website www.zerotothree.com. This website offers parents, professionals and others with information on the development and health of infants, babies and toddlers. This week, I found two sections of the website that are relevant to my current professional development and these sections are: Safe Babies Court Teams: Building Strong Families and Healthy Communities and Brain Development. The Safe Babies section discusses how children are negatively affected once they have been removed from their parents/caregiver's homes and placed in foster care and how the developing of court teams helps these children. The court teams educate and train others on the negative impacts of child abuse and neglect on children and ways to prevent such abuse.
One subject on the website that piqued my interest was learning of the father's role in a child's life. In a podcast interview with Kyle Pruett, M.D. a discussion of how the role of the father is changing over the years. For instance, men are becoming more active and involved in child development and in the lives of their children. Dr. Pruett further speaks of the current expectations of the father "will be a co-parent" than fathers were forty years ago. He also speaks of how it is beneficial of children to have both parents be an active part of the lives of their children as: the mother is the nuturer and the father is the parent that to have fun with. The roles of fathers are vital to their children and this podcast allows me to educate both mothers and fathers on their roles with their children. This topic I found most interesting as most households are headed by single females and fathers are not active in the lives of their children. I hope to gain more information on this topic in the future as I continue my journey into being an early childhood professional.
One subject on the website that piqued my interest was learning of the father's role in a child's life. In a podcast interview with Kyle Pruett, M.D. a discussion of how the role of the father is changing over the years. For instance, men are becoming more active and involved in child development and in the lives of their children. Dr. Pruett further speaks of the current expectations of the father "will be a co-parent" than fathers were forty years ago. He also speaks of how it is beneficial of children to have both parents be an active part of the lives of their children as: the mother is the nuturer and the father is the parent that to have fun with. The roles of fathers are vital to their children and this podcast allows me to educate both mothers and fathers on their roles with their children. This topic I found most interesting as most households are headed by single females and fathers are not active in the lives of their children. I hope to gain more information on this topic in the future as I continue my journey into being an early childhood professional.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
International Contacts-Part 1
Unfortunately, I have not been able to establish international contacts however, in opting for the alternative blog assignment I was able to obtain valuable information on the effects of poverty to those residing in Mongolia which is featured on the website www.childhoodpoverty.org. In general, there is an estimated one in four children that live in poverty worldwide and the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre attempts to prevent worldwide poverty especially in childhood as childhood is the most vulnerable and vital time in a person's life.
Due to a social change from being a socialist society heavily dependent upon the former USSR's Soviet aid, COMECON, to a multi-party democratic state with a liberalised economy (www.childhoodpoverty.org) However, many people are living below the income poverty line, which equates to approximately 36% of the Mongolian population and most most of the aforementioned percentage are children ranging from the age of 0-16 years old. Poor healthcare also attributes to the increasing poverty level as most households are headed by females whose children never enroll in school or drop out of school to enter the workforce. To reduce poverty, a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper was developed to focus on the following factors: economic growth, rural development, human development (including social welfare) and good governance (www.childhoodpoverty.org). This paper will hopefully provide all Mongolian children with access to better education to assist in improving poverty.
Due to a social change from being a socialist society heavily dependent upon the former USSR's Soviet aid, COMECON, to a multi-party democratic state with a liberalised economy (www.childhoodpoverty.org) However, many people are living below the income poverty line, which equates to approximately 36% of the Mongolian population and most most of the aforementioned percentage are children ranging from the age of 0-16 years old. Poor healthcare also attributes to the increasing poverty level as most households are headed by females whose children never enroll in school or drop out of school to enter the workforce. To reduce poverty, a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper was developed to focus on the following factors: economic growth, rural development, human development (including social welfare) and good governance (www.childhoodpoverty.org). This paper will hopefully provide all Mongolian children with access to better education to assist in improving poverty.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Web Resources
The website that I would like to share is a "national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers." This website provides information to viewers such as: behavior and development, maltreatment, care and education and public policy as they relate to children from ages zero to three.
A current issue that I found interesting and would also provide an opportunity to learn more of the early childhood field and young children is the National Training Institute. This Institute which is in its 27th year is designed to provide health care professionals who work with young children and their families with practical information and tools to address a range of critical behavioral and developmental issues that they face during routine care. This year the Institute will be held from November 29, 2012-December 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA.
Please view the general website at http://www.zerotothree.com and for more information on the Institute http://www.zttnticonference.org/the-institute.aspx
A current issue that I found interesting and would also provide an opportunity to learn more of the early childhood field and young children is the National Training Institute. This Institute which is in its 27th year is designed to provide health care professionals who work with young children and their families with practical information and tools to address a range of critical behavioral and developmental issues that they face during routine care. This year the Institute will be held from November 29, 2012-December 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA.
Please view the general website at http://www.zerotothree.com and for more information on the Institute http://www.zttnticonference.org/the-institute.aspx
Saturday, February 11, 2012
My Supports
There a variety of supports that are apart of my daily environment and these supports are instrumental in how I function from day to day. Some are an intregal part of my life while others have a small role but may be just as important. The emotional supports include: my family and friends, my co-workers and my faith. My family and friends make themselves available to talk when I need others to listen. They also provide guidance and words of encouragement. My co-workers are supports as they ensure that I am getting my "me time." With such a busy schedule, I am usually travelling and tend to neglect myself because I am taking care of others. My co-workers push me to, as they call it, take a time out. My Faith is a support as it keeps me going and a constant feeling of rejuvenation and a reminder that things will work out in due time. Practical supports include my to-do-list and calendars/schedules. My to-do lists allows me to stay focused on tasks and to prioritize my work and personal life. Calendars/schedules also allow me to remain focused as they keep my daily interactions, meeting and etc within acceptable timeframes. They also help me to stop and be mindful of when to quit something and to move on. Physical support include the computer and a telephone, each piece of technology helps me complete tasks such as: having contact of any form with others, completing work and school functions and helping others. I tend to use both supports to help others if it means trying to find housing, offering advice or hailing a cab.
The benefits of these supports allow me to maintain a strict schedule while maintaing a well-rounded lifestyle. Possessing the abilities to utilize these supports allows me to effectively manage my time between my work and personal life. I believe that without these supports, I would not know what I would do with myself, especially my emotional supports. I think I would feel all alone if I did not have these supports. Pondering the absence of these supports saddens me because it makes me think of those who do not have supports and my empathic side jumps in and my heart cries for these people.
One challenge that may affect me is the disease, diabetes. This disease has plagued both maternal and paternal sides of my family. I have had a grandfather who had both feet and one of his legs amputates and I also have a cousin who recently spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital and eventually had one foot and one leg amputated. In addition to family members with this disease, I also have co-workers and close friends who live with this disease; I have been tested for this disease as well, but do not have this disease. If I was diagnosed, I would continue to want the support of my family and friends and my coworkers to encourage me to eat healthy and exercise. The practical support of calendars to remind me of appointments and when to take medications or check my blood sugar. Also, medical staff as physical support as they assist me in learning to use the equipment to maintain health. Using these supports will help me combat the disease while learning to take care of myself and provide me with the information to educate others on these disease. Without these supports, I would rely on myself for all sources of support and this would be difficult as the feeling of hopelessness and loneliness would flood my brain. I believe that everyone should be allowed some forms of support as we all need someone or something to support us.
The benefits of these supports allow me to maintain a strict schedule while maintaing a well-rounded lifestyle. Possessing the abilities to utilize these supports allows me to effectively manage my time between my work and personal life. I believe that without these supports, I would not know what I would do with myself, especially my emotional supports. I think I would feel all alone if I did not have these supports. Pondering the absence of these supports saddens me because it makes me think of those who do not have supports and my empathic side jumps in and my heart cries for these people.
One challenge that may affect me is the disease, diabetes. This disease has plagued both maternal and paternal sides of my family. I have had a grandfather who had both feet and one of his legs amputates and I also have a cousin who recently spent a considerable amount of time in the hospital and eventually had one foot and one leg amputated. In addition to family members with this disease, I also have co-workers and close friends who live with this disease; I have been tested for this disease as well, but do not have this disease. If I was diagnosed, I would continue to want the support of my family and friends and my coworkers to encourage me to eat healthy and exercise. The practical support of calendars to remind me of appointments and when to take medications or check my blood sugar. Also, medical staff as physical support as they assist me in learning to use the equipment to maintain health. Using these supports will help me combat the disease while learning to take care of myself and provide me with the information to educate others on these disease. Without these supports, I would rely on myself for all sources of support and this would be difficult as the feeling of hopelessness and loneliness would flood my brain. I believe that everyone should be allowed some forms of support as we all need someone or something to support us.
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