Sharing Web Resources

·       What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?

Previously, I chose the Save the Children website and the section of the website that was most relevant to me was the Education section (direct link:  https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/global-programs/education).  What stood out most to me was how they take pride in “training teachers to engage their students through more effective teaching practices” and how they “introduce children to the power of artistic expression… to help them heal, learn and do better in school.”

·       Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways?

Reviewing the website made me think about how much work there is to do to ensure that children have a great future.  On the website, there is a section that touches on protecting children, but that encompasses combating toxic stress, providing assistance in the aftermath of disasters and social-emotional development.

·       What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field?

Economists and neuroscientists support the education field by partnering with researchers (from universities) who provide information about quality child care programs and their impact on children now and in the future.

·       What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?

Exploring the website helps me to realize that helping children is so much broader than I ever realized.  Helping children through tumultuous times is just as important as helping them grow and develop emotional and socially.  Save the Children and other organizations work tirelessly to affect positive change on children and their families in any way possible.

Getting to Know International Organizations: Part 1

The website I chose to explore was UNICEF, an acronym standing for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.  UNICEF was established in 1946 and the initial intent was to meet the emergency needs of children in post-war Europe and China but has expanded to help meet the needs of children in over 190 countries. 

So far, I have learned that UNICEF has six different focus areas, which are:

·      Child protection and inclusion:  gender equality, children with disabilities, environment and climate change and social inclusion

·      Child survival:  HIV/AIDS, nutrition, immunizations, health

·      Education:  gender equality, emergencies and other humanitarian action, innovation in education

·      Emergency response

·      Gender equality

·      Research and analysis:  learning and knowledge exchange

Through the UNICEF website, I have learned that the organization works to prevent and reverse the effects of poverty.  While most adults can recover from poverty, as its effects can impact children for their entire lifetime.  Naturally, they will not get a second chance at a healthy start in life and if they fall into poverty in their early years, it is likely to be passed on to future generations.

I chose to review the Save the Children website (savethechildren.org) because of the wide range of services that they provide to and for children all over the world.  They are involved in the health initiatives, from HIV and AIDS prevention programs and adolescent sexual reproductive health intervention services, to disaster response and education.  In the United States, they offer assistance in school readiness and success, literacy, healthy eating choices and policy changes.  This organization serves over 157 million children in 120 countries.

Their website sums up their mission quite well:  No matter the challenge, we always put children first in everything we do.  Ensuring their safety and well being is a promise we make to them and our supporters alike.

I have decided to study the Harlem Children’s Zone website.  Harlem has such a rich history but the economy was not thriving for several reasons.  I was excited to see a website devoted to the care of the children in Harlem and I look forward to seeing how the foundation reaches out to the community to serve young children.

My Supports

My Supports

Daily Supports

·        My friends and family are amazing support factors in my life. Whenever I have questions or concerns or need to talk through some things or just relieve stress, I know that I can make a phone call or send a text message and any one of them are there for me. When I was a military spouse, one of the hardest things was the distance from family, close friends and the individuals I had known and grown to rely on for most of my life. Being a part of the military community eases the transition because you meet like-minded individuals who are going through the same instances and can help you through it. However, it is inevitable that those individuals (and you) will move away. Although I have kept in touch with those who I really bonded with, it is hard when I just want to meet a good friend for dinner or a day of relaxation or just a good face-to-face chat.

·        My work family is also an amazing unit. They hold me accountable, help to alleviate some of my workload when I am swamped with last-minute ‘taskers’. As time progresses, they become more of a family unit to me as well. When I moved to Ohio, I knew no one! I only had my colleagues and as time progressed, they became some of my dearest friends (family). Without them, I would not be able to get a lot of the things done that I do get done on a daily basis. Moving to Florida was a brand new experience as well. I had to start all over with getting to know (and trust) people. Choosing who to work with is never an option and it is imperative that the relationships are solid and open. The relationships that I have with my colleagues are symbiotic. As much as they help me stay accountable, I help them as well.

·        My co-parenting partner/friend/ex is also a great support. Because he is in the military and travels often for his job, the majority of the responsibilities of raising our daughter fall on me. Add to that the fact that I am still away from close family and friends (or at least the people that I consider My Village) and life can be stressful. However, I am still able to rely on him when I need to vent (we do have a preteen after all J), when I cannot figure things out and when I need to hear and see things from a different perspective.

If all of these relationships were gone, it would be a huge (difficult) adjustment. However, with most difficult situations, we all find ways to cope and grow from those experiences. Usually, the tougher experiences help us to become stronger.

Whether we realize it or not, we all need a great support system. I firmly believe that “no man is an island” and to succeed, it is important to depend on friends, family and colleagues. Just as we find that we need support systems in our daily lives as adults, children need support as well to grow in each domain. From supporting their play to inclusion of the families, we should really take time to know and understand each child as an individual and with their families, seek out those things that will support their needs.

"Children need the freedom and time to play.  Play is not a luxury.  Play is  a necessity." - Kay Redfield Jamison

"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct." - Carl Jung

Items that were part of my daily play:

           

Cabbage Patch                                  Etch-A-Sketch

During my childhood, play was the norm.  I was able to engage in imaginative play while at school and at home.  The adults in my life supported my play by making materials available to me and  encouraging me to continue in play.  When I was younger, I would read books and watch some television but my most vivid  memories are tied to play.  I remember going into the back yard with my cousins where we would make mud pies, or walking over to the neighbors house so we could skate up and down the street.  At other times, we would play inside (dress-up, pretend to be in school, taking turns being teacher vs. student).

Play today is so different vs. when I was growing up in the 80s.  There was hardly any technology back then but today, children are more likely to pick up an electronic device as opposed to a physical, non-battery operated object for entertainment.  Items like the two above made me use my imagination and required me to engage with others to set rules and even work on conflict resolution.  I believe that if some children were given these items, they would not know where to begin and due to the lack of electricity, they would question whether or not they worked.  With the Cabbage Patch, I could play mom, teacher or best friend.  With the Etch-A-Sketch, I learned about patterns, creativity and most importantly, it was a soothing activity to engage in.

The role of play evolves over time but it is still important.  How one plays evolves over time.  When we're younger, we play with toy cars and babies and the like.  When we grow up, we have real cars and babies and we understand that playing with these items prepared us for adulthood.  Also, the way we play evolves over times.  Whether we play in a group (social time with friends, with our children, or with children within our programs) or individually (playing a round of golf, exercising), play is always necessary.  The goals may change (i.e. exercising when younger because it was a requirement for participation in school vs. doing so now to maintain a healthy lifestyle) but the need to play never dies!