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

Week I Assignment-Birthing Experience

Early Childhood Development
Week I-Birthing Experiences
I have three children two girls ages 16 and 9 and a boy age 6. The reason I choose my own birthing experience because the experiences I have with all three children were so different. I gave birth to my first child at the age of twenty-one, therefore, I was very young, just started to experience the job world and very much alone during the nine months with very little support from family. I was also alone for the delivery except for the gynae and midwife who kept checks on me. My mother came to check on me just once. I gave birth in a private clinic that was fully medically equipped to deal with emergencies and I must say the experience was very traumatic. The birthing experience began with induced labour. I was up strung with drips that I found uncomfortable. I laboured for a long time with much pain. I was transported to the delivery room when my cervix was fully dilated and was placed on a horizontal labour chair (lying down). During the delivery the nurses were not very supportive emotionally but instead they told me if I did not push both me and my baby were going to die. At this time they realised that my passage was too small so they sent for the gynae. He used large forceps and a suction machine to get the baby out of me. My daughter weighed nine and half pounds. I became very depressed after the birthing experience, struggled with postnatal issues and also had to see a chiropractic specialist.
I choose this particular birthing experience because I realise how much culture impacts on birthing experiences and early childhood development. Although I had finished college and was working I was rejected because I was not married and I was not conforming to family’s Christian principles. My labour was seen as punishment but I survived and learned from this experience.
When I compare my first birthing experience with my other two children, the experiences were so different. My first child is very aggressive. She suffered from temper tantrums and her cognitive development was extremely slow. I had to get special intervention to help her with speech.
I compare my birthing experience to home deliveries that are still done in my country but mostly done in the rural parts of Jamaica. Women who cannot afford to or refuse to give birth in a medical setting will opt to have a home delivery especially if they are not sick and it is not their first birth. A village mid-wife also referred to as the (nana) is called to assist with the delivery of the baby. These Nannas spend all of their time with the mother and talk the mothers through the delivery. The Nannas tend to rub the stomach and speak to the bay during labor period. The family is around and waits in anticipation for this new life to enter the world. There are no doctors, no drips and no rude nurses. Many of these women have the children lying on their backs.
I believe a home delivery is less traumatic than a hospital delivery. There is less tension at home deliveries and therefore I believe children who are brought into the world with a sense of calmness. The reason I choose this birthing experience because I believe emotional support is very important during the birthing process. The midwife helps to set the atmosphere for the delivery .Although the hospital may guarantee a safer birthing, the home provides a calm and less distracting environment. The only risk is that the Nana might not be able to deal with any medical emergencies.

Early Childhood- Key to a strong foundation

Hi I am Judy Charoo and from the Jamaica in the Caribbean. I have worked as an educator for the past fifteen years but my love for earlychildhood grew when I started my family. I believe early childhood is a very adventurous and wonderful time in a person's life and there is so much we can learn about and from our children.