When I Think of Childhood Development

"Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from doing what you can do." ~ Author Unknown

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."  ~Stacia Tauscher

I would like to take this time to say thanks to my colleagues for all of their thoughts, insights, and comments in which we have blogged about over the past eight weeks.  I have gained valuable knowledge from the information that has been provided by you. I have learned about some of your own personal experiences and encounters that were unique to you. A lot of the information I learned could not have come a textbook because it was on a personal level with you guys. Therefore, the information was valuable and unique to me. Thanks again Everyone.

Testing for Intelligence

     I realize I am probably being traditional, but I think school age children should take an aptitude test (IQ tests). I think this is important because it allows the teacher to know if a problem is present.  Then, she will know in advance if the child needs some additional help and be better prepared to use additional methods and techniques to help the child.  This is evident because the aptitude test can determine if the student has “the potential to master a specific skill or to learn a certain body of Knowledge” (Berger, 2009, p. 323).

   

    In Africa, the Ages of Stages Questionnaire (ASQ, -2^nd ed.)  is administered to children who are between the ages of birth and six years old. It takes between ten and twenty minutes to administer this test (Ringwalt, 2008, p.4). This test can be administered at home and the individual who gives the test can do so adequately if he has at least a sixth grade education (p.4). Trained professional scores the test and interpret the information that is gathered. Furthermore, this test provides information about which children need practice on certain skills, and which children need additional screening. Tests of this type are important in certain areas in Africa. This is because many families live in rural areas.

      

     I am concerned about the curriculum for children solely based on aptitude tests.  I think the teacher needs to be more concerned about the frameworks provided by the school system. In addition, I think the teacher needs to present lessons in various ways, assess students, and provide remediation as needed for the students. The assessment results should guide the remediation. At the same time, the teacher needs to let the child know why the learning is important. Finally, the child’s learning should be in an environment to where the child knows he is cared about and valued.

References

Berger, K. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5^th ed). New York: Worth Publishers.

Ringwalt, S. (2008). Developmental Screening and Assessment Instruments with Emphasis on Social and Emotional Development for Young Children Ages Birth through Five. The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. Retrieved from: http://www.nectac.org/~pdfs/pubs/screening.pdf.

Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

     A child that I know experienced violence in one of the worst ways possible. “Wendell’s” father was robbed, shot, and killed from a gunshot wound. This child had a close relationship with his father. He was 6 years old when this happened. This child was able to cope and survive due to the support of his mother, family, and his friends. The boy’s mother is a religious person who believes that ones trust in God can bring him through anything that is negative.  In addition, Wendell’s family members and his friends love him. During this ordeal, his friends came and spent the night with him as they had prior to the violent death of his father.

    

     The resources that the boy used were his family, friends, and reliance on God. He goes to church with his mother on a regular basis. Without a doubt, his family, friends, and his teachers were all concerned about how he would function because he and his dad did many things together. Whatever he needed and most of what he wanted was given to him by his parents. His dad worked long hours to make sure his family had what they needed.

      

     Wendell has remained friendly and caring about people. I am convinced that “the family function for people of all ages is to afford a safe haven of love and encouragement” (Berger, 2009, p.383). In addition, I believe friends and people who genuinely care about children can help them overcome obstacles that they have in their lives.

      

     I wanted to learn about the lives of children who live in Cuba.  My concern is due to the problem that Cubans experience with poverty, problem with past ruler, Fidel Castro, and the danger the people are willing to face to get out of Cuba.

“Under the child labor code stated in1997 Human Rights Report, fifteen and sixteen year old Cuban children receive training towards a job or can cover for absentees during a shortage of workers. This code also states that Cuban students over the age of eleven must devote between thirty and forty-five days of their summer break to working on a farm” (International Labor Rights Forum). However, they are limited to a maximum of eight hours a day. “It is mandatory that Cuban children attend school until the ninth grade” (Yarow, Clark, Hitchings, & Hamm, 1998, par. 2). 

     

     Another problem in Cuba is with the educational system. Many children especially those in rural areas did not have the same access to school as those in urban areas. Fidel Castro, previous ruler of Cuba, did away with private schools. Then, he provided government paid school for all children. The socioeconomic conditions and living in rural areas continues to hinder the progress of education in rural areas.

     

     “The International Labor Rights Forum has played a leading role in fighting to eradicate forced and child labor” (International Labor Rights Forum). This group informs people throughout the world about countries that have children working long hours in dangerous places to produce goods to sell in other countries. Groups who hope to help these children hope that other countries will be discouraged from buying good from countries who encourage these practices. This is a worthwhile idea. However, I did not find any evidence of drastic measures to stop the unfair work laws for children in Cuba.

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood. (5th ed.). New   York, NY: Worth Publishers

International Labor Rights Forum. Stop Child & Forced Labor. Retrieved from: www.ilrf.org/child-and-forced-labor.

Yarow, S., Clark, L., Hitchings J., & Hamm, J. (1998). Child Labor and Child Work in Cuba. Retrieved from: www.tulane.edu/~rouxbee/kids98/cuba5.html. 

Child Development and Public Health - Breastfeeding

      I have always heard that breast-feeding is a healthy way to feed babies. This topic is interesting to me because I wanted to learn specifically about the benefits of breast-feeding.  This concerns me because I see children who have different problems such as colic disorders and other problems. I have wondered would babies be better off if they would be breast-fed.

  

   “For most newborns, good nutrition starts with mother’s milk” (Berger, 2009, p.154).  In addition, “Compared to cow’s milk, human milk is sterile, at body temperature, with iron, vitamins, and other nutrients for the brain and body” (p. 154). Actually, this causes human milk to have what the baby needs for months. In addition, when children are breast fed, the likelihood that babies will develop some childhood and adult health problems diminishes.  The diseases or health problems that decrease in breast-fed babies and adults are “asthma, obesity, and heart disease" (p. 154).  

     Breast-feeding is also beneficial for mothers. Mothers who breast-feed have the following positive effects:  “Decreased postpartum bleeding, decreased menstrual blood loss, and the uterus returns to its pre-pregnancy state more rapidly. They also tend to experience an earlier return to pre-pregnancy weight, as well. Over the course of their lives, research has shown that mothers who have breastfed their children have a decreased risk of ovarian and breast cancer and a decreased risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis in the post-menopausal period. Moreover, breastfeeding promotes a strong emotional connection and psychological bond between mother and child” (Higa, 2011, p. 1)

   Today hospital staffs are working harder with mothers to help them breast successfully (Department of Health and Human Services Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 2011,   p. 1). Unfortunately, only 5% of hospitals in the United States fully work to help the baby and mother experience success in breast feeding (p.1).

  

   A long-term study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies tracked the lives of 5000 children and showed that “by the time babies was six months old the number who were being exclusively breastfed had dropped to 14 per cent, compared to 80 per cent at birth and 56 per cent at three months old” (Cooke, 2008, p. 1).

  

   This  topic will affect my future work because of the way it will benefit not only the mother, but the baby too. I think that the benefits will help the mother to feel more like taking care of her baby and the baby will be healthier. Being that taking care of a baby is a big responsibility, therefore if the mother feels better, she will be more capable when taking care of her baby.

Sources:

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

CDC. (2011). Breastfeeding Report Card_ United States.  Retrieved from: www.breastfeedinghawaii.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=43&Itemid=55.

Cooke, D. (2011). Australian babies are not breastfed enough. Essential Baby. Retrieved from: http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/baby/breastfeeding/australian-babies-not-breastfed-enough-20080620-2u27.html.

 Higa,L.(2011 ). Benefits: Why Breastfeed? Retrieved from:                  www.breastfeedinghawaii.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=43&Itemid=55.

Childbirth

My personal birthing experience involved the birth of my son, Michael. I remember this event as if it happened yesterday. I walked back and forth to the restroom all day. That night around 8:00 pm. I went to the hospital and checked in.

I remember hearing women crying out loudly and screaming. At that point, I wondered why they were acting in that manner. When my labor started, I understood why they were crying and screaming. In a couple of hours, as the pains began to hit, I was crying and screaming too. After it was all over, I felt like a soldier because I had a beautiful baby boy who weighed 7 pounds 5 ½ ounces. This experience is still vivid in my mind. I will never forget it as long as I am in my right mind. Therefore, I decided to write about my experience.

I think it is important for the child to start spending time with it’s mother right after birth. I believe this enables the child to adjust to his new environment. Consequently, I think he will grow and develop better in a safe loving environment with his mother. I realize this isn’t always possible. However, there are people who can do an adequate job of taking care of the baby if the mother cannot. I think the baby will still grow and develop well.

In some Latin American countries, a doula is present during the birth and after the birth to help mothers with their babies. The doula “helps other women with their labor, delivery, breast feeding, and newborn care” (Berger, 2009, p. 118). They use to be the only one’s present during childbirth. Today they work alongside doctors.

There weren’t any differences in my personal birthing experience and that of Latin American women. My nurse here in the U.S. helped me in the same way that the doula helped the Latin American women.

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

To My Colleagues

Well everyone, this is our final post for this course. I am going to miss you guys.  It is not necessarily good-bye, because we can still keep in touch. I know the assignment says to choose two, but I would like to commend all of you on your insights that you brought to our blog group.  

Jamila, I loved your book choices for our website assignment, but the quote you shared saying, “We as professionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better" has become one of my favorites.

Terrance, you are a prime example of a man trying to make the lives of young men better.  I am also glad that you are close to God.

Leslie, you had a quote that stuck with me also. It was “My passion now is still the same way it was, The passion to create a more safe and just world..” This touched me personally.

Cassandra, I feel that I identify a lot with you. I too understand the feelings of loosing a mom. I commend you for staying strong and in pursuit of you dreams.

Dr. Dartt, I would like to thank you for assigning this blog and the wonderful people in my group. I really did not know what I was doing at first, but as everything else, it gets better with time.

I appreciate having all of you in this course to learn and grow with.