Getting To Know Your International Contacts

 I decided to partner  with  Jennifer Holly-Harris who is actually a student at  Walden. She provided me with the website “Children’s Defence Fund” http://www.childrendefense.org/policy-priorities/ending-child-poverty/.  This website provided me with statistical information such as more than 16.1 million Children in America are poor, but they live in working families ” http://www.childrendefense.org/policy-priorities/ending-child-poverty/. This information on the number of persons living in America is very frightening.  No one is really immune to poverty and it can affect any one of us. Many persons believe that the USA is the land of opportunity but from this statistical data we know that developed countries are fighting issues on poverty. The website also presented its vision statement and some of its strategies that are used to fight poverty. Jennifer also shared with me pictures of families that are in abject poverty.  I was surprised to see families in the USA that can’t even buy food and a simple pair of shoes.

Reference

Children’s Defense Fund. Retrieved from http://www/childrendefense.org/policy-priorities/endingchild-poverty.

Sharing Web Resources

The organization I am interested in re: issues and trends in the early childhood field is “Zero to Three: National Center For Infants, Toddlers and Families” the link for this website is: http://www.zerothree.org

This organization provides a wealth of information on the current issues and trends in early childhood. The organization is a non- profit organization that provides parents, professionals and policy makers the knowledge and the  know –how of early childhood development. I currently receive information from the website through posts from their blog sites. A current issue that the web site is highlighting is dual language learners with early childhood children.

http://www.zerothree.org

 

The second organization that provides me with information on current trends and issues:

OMEP South African National Committee

The National Development Agency is an organization that provides support to early childhood in South Africa. It highlights many issues that affect early childhood in South Africa. Some of the issues this paper highlights are social and economic inequalities (apartheid).There are similarities between the NDA and the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) that is it looks areas that affect early childhood such as the infrastructure, early childhood practitioners, nutrition, norms and standards and policies.

cecd@iafrica.com

 

The third organization I am interested in is National Institute for Health and Welfare. This organization links you to various blogs and information on early childhood development in Finland. I came across a blog on some issues that are currently affecting children in Finland. I was surprised when I read about these issues because I did not even realize that the recession had also hit Finland and made a negative impact on early childhood. Sometimes it is good to get exposure to what other countries are experiencing in the field of early childhood because you realize that although you are affected by similar issues you are not the worst. I look up to Finland and one day would hope to visit their early childhood institutions but I have come to recognize that no nation whether we are considered first world, second world, third world or even no world the same issues affect. We are not immune to poverty and economic crises and the effects it has on early childhood development. The websites also gives the privilege to gain access to a number of links that provide information on early development partnerships, environment and other guidelines that are used to govern early child in Finland. I did not detect much similarities between what was discussed this week in terms of cultural diversity but I know for sure that the field of early childhood is also changing in Finland due to the current economic issues that is affecting the families.

http://www.thl.fi/en_US/web/en

 

 

Week 1- Establishing Professional Contacts

I found this week’s assignment a little challenging but I eventually made contact with two international professionals in the field of early childhood. Many of the organisations’ websites bounced the mails and some are still on a break from the Christmas term. However, I managed to make contact with UNICEF –Findland  and Eric Atmore of South Africa (The National Early Childhood Development Alliance). I also made contact with my classmate of the USA Jennifer Holley Harris who will be able to provide me with lots of firsthand information on the early childhood trends in the USA.  My contacts were all done through emails.Eric has sent me a comprehensive paper on Early Childhood Development in South Africa which I hope to share with you in my future blogs and Anni Ritari of Findland has also sent me various links that will assist with me information on the trends on issues in Finland.

For part two of the assignment I chose the website ‘Zero to Three’. To be honest it is a bit personal why I chose this website. I have three children and all three children’s development are so different. I am still curious to learn more about the developmental stages in a child between the ages zero to three. I become very defensive when persons try to compare my children to each other in a negative way. I owe it to them to make sure that they received the best care during the very early stages of their lives but I believe my first daughter had it the worst because I knew so little about child development and the persons who were supposed to know were just as ignorant. In my country the authorities place a lot emphasis on what takes place between three to six years and beyond but a part from offering free pre natal care to mothers that is as far as it goes when it comes to this age group (Zero to three). I believe if we just give this area a little more attention it will dispel some of the myths and ensure that this area gets some more attention as it deserves. For too long in Jamaica we have persons in day cares and private places who know absolutely nothing about this age group. I also believe we owe it to our children to know more about this developmental stage so that we can provide the right care. Because ‘Zero to Three’ is an American Website I know my classmates should be able to provide me with more support and information. I am open and ready to welcome any suggestions that will assist me with finding out more about early childhood development and the ways we can improve the lives of our children.

Judy