Quotes and Well Wishes

“Play, Incorporating Animistic and Magical Thinking Is Important                       

Because it:                                                                                                                                  

Fosters the healthy, creative and emotional growth of a child;                                   

Forms the best foundation for later intellectual growth.                                            

Provides a way in which children get to know the world and creates              

possibilities for different ways of responding to it.                                                      

Fosters empathy and wonder.”  

“By suggestion and example, I believe children can be helped to hear the   many voices about them. Take Time to listen and talk about the voices                                     

of the earth and what they mean-the majestic voice of thunder, the                       

winds, the sound of surf or flowing streams.”

                                                                        Rachel Carson~ “A Sense of Wonder"

 My Dear Colleagues, 

I have learned a lot from your perspectives and the experiences you have brought to this learning adventure. You are perceptive smart women with a passion for wanting the best for children and families. As pictured above my family just grew with the birth of my first grandchild four weeks ago and my passion is fueled more than ever. I wish you all the amazing experiences, challenges and joy children bring. Thank you form the worlds children.

The Swedish Education System & Assessments

The country I am so interested in is Peru, but I really could not find much about assessments there. It is a luxury for rural children to even be in school so I chose my favorite system, which is Sweden. We have had quite a few families from Sweden who chose our preschool because of the similarities, we do not push academics there is more problem solving, discovery and we spend much of our time outside. Although I must add we do more academics than the Swedish system because our children enter the American public school and would be at a big disadvantage if they were not prepared at the age of 5.

In Sweden formal school begins at 7 years old, this is when children learn to read. The school system go’s through the age of 16. Sweden has some of the highest literacy scores; the question is; is it because the early years are spent feeling safe, socializing and playing? So when children begin to learn they are excited? Or is it because they do not teach to the test? I don’t have the answer but the system works in Sweden because it is supported by the culture as a whole. Preschools are heavily subsidized so parents pay a small amount so they can go to work, but quality preschool is available to everyone. The government and the parents trust teachers for the quality care they provide. Children feel safe and stay with their caregivers for years, then are excited to learn as they develop. Often by the age of 6 or 7 in the US or UK children are already feeling failure and comparison, in Sweden as they begin to learn they don’t have any of those negative pulls.

I found a great video in three parts, below is the last part of the segment that address older children as well as preschool.

Early years education: Sweden versus the UK Part 3 (of 3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo1AJWqCIww&feature=endscreen&NR=1

As far as assessing young children I have experienced several different ways. I have done an online assessment for children in the CPP program (Colorado Preschool Program) for children who are at risk; it provides parents with a reduced tuition rate and a standard assessment using the Creative Curriculum tools.  By far my favorite are portfolios, although much more time consuming. We first do an observation, and then tailor each child’s needs to an Individual Learning Plan; we finish the end of the year with a portfolio of pictures, artwork and anecdotal notes. The teachers put a lot of work into these and they have a more holistic outcome because we include notes from our home visits and several family partnership pieces. Like the Swedish system I feel that this age should have such a focus on social and emotional development, along with that comes cognitive, language, fine and large motor development.

Violence In Young Children's Lives

I know a woman who experienced violence in her childhood, she has remember very little about her childhood until recently. She is beginning to get little snippets of memory of the age of 4 being molested by her stepfather. She has had to confirm these little memories with family members because she wasn’t sure if they were dreams. She is seeing a therapist and realizes she had lived in fear from the age of 4 until 6 or 7 when her Stepfather left, by bringing these memories back up she can heal.

I am interested in Peru since my son and his wife live there. Peru is afflicted with poverty, in 2008 45% of the total population lives in poverty, of that 60% are children ages 0-5. Now the poverty rate has dropped to 30%. Peru has the fastest growing economy; they have made great advances in keeping the infant mortality rate down by introducing more prenatal information and health services for people living in rural areas. Unfortunately there are still a high rate of chronic child malnutrition and a high incidence of family violence. Malnutrition takes its toll on children development; Peru is attempting to get as many children as possible in preschool where they will receive food and parents receive education as well as the children.

My son told me that when he visits the rural areas he feels as though he has gone back in time 100 years, there is more inequality now because some areas are doing well and other conditions have not changed.

Unicef (2008) Situation of Children in Peru, Executive Summery. Retrieved September 29, 2012 at

http://www.unicef.org/peru/spanish/Folleto_ing_correc_1.pdf

Andean Air Mail & Peruvian Times March 30 (2012). Peru’s Poverty Rate Drops to 30.8 Percent.

http://www.peruviantimes.com/30/perus-poverty-rate-drops-to-30-8-percent-inei/15436/

The Need for World Wide Immunizations

I am all for healthy living, I eat food grown in my garden, I buy organic or locally grown food, I get outside and hike, do yoga, and I am very lucky! This is why I get very frustrated with people in my situation that don't immunizing their children because it is not safe. In this country many people do immunize and we all protect those who are not. But in developing countries they are not as lucky. For example there is an amazing vacine for measles, humans are the only host for this virus, so it can be destroyed if everyone is immunized. Developing countries are riddled with very preventable deseases, but do not have the resources to immunize all their citizens. This country is now experiencing an epidemic of pertussis because groups of individuals chose not to immunize their children, putting not only their children at risk but the elderly and people with compromised immun systems. If anyone wants to donate to a world cause consider immunization for developing countries, give children a chance to survive, life is hard enough finding clean water, nutritious food and a safe home. I'll now step off my soap box!

I found some great information from Vacines for the Developing World at http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/07/vaccines-developing-world.html

And Immunize for Good (this is for Colorado, but the CDC has links to any state)

http://www.immunizeforgood.com/

Birth Experience

My birth experience of my three children were amazing. I had great prenatal care where my sister was my OB's nurse for the first two, I have a loving husband and supportive family and well nourished both with food and love. For the birth of my third son I had a nurse midwife, it was an intimate experience that only lasted 45 min. Recovery was so easy and even at a high elevation my children were all 9 lbs. 

Pictured above is my daughter ready to give birth any day now, also with a nurse midwife and she is hoping to do it naturally (In my day there were no options of drugs and inducing was not as common as it is now). She asked me to be a part of it and I am thrilled, each day I'm wondering if this is the day? Again her experience like mine has been one of beauty because of all the advantages of prenatal care, education on what affects the fetus and low stress with so much support. However my daughter had so much lab work done and ultrasounds, technology has advanced so much. She told me with her next child she will not have all the NIPD's done. No matter what the outcome is she would not terminate the pregnancy. She is in her 20's and very healthy, she will definitely have a home birth for her next pregnancy, on the contrary home births are not covered by insurance and there are not many midwives within a reasonable distance to assist in the birth. 

I chose Peru to investigate prenatal experiences because my son and his wife live there (she is Peruvian). I found out that Peru has an astonishingly high maternal mortality rate, in every 100,000 births 185 mother's die. Peru's health minister is trying to entice women to have their babies in clinic's or hospitals, saying that they now allow vertical births which is healthier for the mother and child. Although this is true, many of the rural women having children at home do not summons a midwife unless something is wrong. These women are malnourished and have no prenatal care, it would be more affective to educate women families and providing midwives with education on prenatal care and  how to treat shock, equipping them with life saving anti hemorrhaging medication. The alternative is for a woman to hike 5 miles during labor to a clinic, and with other children at home that is not a possibility. This has really opened my eyes to the advantages I've had in my experience, thinking this is a typical occurrence, how lucky I have been! 

Many Thanks for a New Beginning!

                                                         Dear Colleagues and friends,

Thank you for guiding me through my new adventure of attaining my goals and pursuing my passion! 

Dr. Kien you have been so patient with my struggle with APA style cover page and citing, your input and encouragement has been so valuable and I have learned so much from you.
I glanced over my blog and the comments made, and I must thank you all. As I look at the first post, we were all so excited to have figured out the blogs. I feel supported in my love of nature and passing that along to any child, teacher and parent that will listen. I have gained some great additional resources, been inspired by quotes and am awe struck by all the individual experiences that brought you to Walden and this new beginning in our professional life. My best to all and I look forward to more blogging!

Elisa I'm sure you can relate to the round bellies in the picture, since it wasn't long since you were there. Pictured is my daughter (& grand baby) and two little girls wanting to be just like their teacher, at my little non profit environmental preschool. (It's not really mine, but its been my baby for the last 20 years, its my youngest child.)                                                          My heart felt thanks and love to all.

Code of Ethics

Each one of these speaks to me in different areas, the "over all" section are code of ethics to live by.

Child & Family

To listen to families, acknowledge and build upon their strengths and competencies, and learn from families as we support them in their task of nurturing children. (NAEYC)

To ensure that each child’s culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and valued in the program. (NAEYC)

Professionalism

We shall strive for the highest level of personal and professional competence by seeking and using new evidence based information to improve our practices while also responding openly to the suggestions of others. (DEC)

Co-Workers

When we have concerns about the professional behavior of a co-worker, we shall first let that person know of our concern in a way that shows respect for personal dignity and for the diversity to be found among staff members, and then attempt to resolve the matter collegially and in a confidential manner. (NAEYC)

Over all

To work through education, research, and advocacy toward an environmentally safe world in which all children receive health care, food, and shelter; are nurtured; and live free from violence in their home and their communities. (NAEYC)

We shall demonstrate our respect and concern for children, families, colleagues, and others with whom we work, honoring their beliefs, values, customs, languages, and culture. (DEC)