Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

From the list above, choose one stressor that you, or someone you know, experienced as a child. Share how you, or that person, coped with and/or compensated for that stressor (including any resources used or any support obtained).

As a child my husband experienced poverty growing up in New York.  Unfortunately his parents were both addicted to a variety of drugs so his aunt raised him and his three younger siblings.  She was able to provide them with a warm home, hot meal and clean clothes but it was very difficult to adequately provide for seven children; three were her own.  My husband was able to cope with this by using organized sports as an outlet; he excelled in basketball and football.  His aunt did not support his high school athletic career; however he had a teacher and his best friends’ parents that supported him in everything he did.  I am proud to say that my husband graduated from college and also has a masters degree, he is currently studing to take the LSAT to enter law school next year.  As for his sibilings, his brother is currently a college student at a four year university; his sister is a medic in the army; his baby sister graduates from high school in about two weeks and will be attending a local university as a freshman this fall.  This goes to show that you do not have to be a product of your environment, they all faced challenges as children but they channeled their energy towards positive factors.

Choose a region or country in the world that you would like to know more about and/or for which you have a special affinity. Find out, and describe, the kind of stressor(s) that impact the development of children in that region/country and what is being done to minimize the harm.

The country I chose was Japan because I do not know too much about the stressors they may face day-to-day.  This country are very driven by education, parents are obsessed with creating a child that is academically superior.  Adults have a very high expectation for their children to receive high grades, which causes children to be very competitive towards one another.  This competitiveness and conflicting expectations for modern children to be the best in school but also serve the traditional purposes of the group, confuses children and causes frustration.  This contributes to other social problems such as bullying and truancy (Crystal, 1994).  In the mid 1980’s a rash of suicides broke out amongst school-aged children due to bullying. 

Currently there is not anything being done to minimize this problem; however children fear that they will not meet their expected expectation so they give up on school and seclude themselves from family and maybe some friends.  Both bullying and truancy are currently serious problems in Japan.  

References:

Crystal, David S. 1994. "Concept of Deviance in Children and Adolescents: The Case of Japan." Deviant Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Journal 15:241-266.

Jiro, Saito. 1999. "Grownups Should Listen to the Kids." Japan Quarterly 46(April-June):83-88.

Shotaro, Takahashi. 1999. "Chaos in Elementary Classrooms." Japan Quarterly 46(April-June):78-82.

Child Development and Public Health

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is very meaningful to me for two main reasons, I have two young sons and I am going open a daycare this year.  When my first child was born I was very nervous about SIDS, I would find myself waking up in the middle of the night just to make sure he was still breathing.  I did the same with second son; such a nerve-racking first twelve months.  This syndrome places parents in an uneasy situation because there is not an definite cause for SIDS.   A lack of answers is part of what makes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) so frightening. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants 1 month to 1 year old, and claims the lives of about 2,500 each year in the United States (Kids Health, 2011).

The perception of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Africa is very different from that of the United States.  This syndrome carries a myth that the death of these babies is as a result of some sort of curse on the mother or the babies themselves or that the babies decide to come repeatedly back to this world to torment their parents.

This information does in fact affect my future work, in that I will have to do my best to prevent any children in my care from succumbing to SIDS.  I will do this by laying all children under the age of 1 on their backs to sleep and tummy to play.

Reference:

Kids Health (2011).  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  Retrieved May 14, 2011 from http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sleep/sids.html.  

Childbirth––In Your Life and Around the World

Write about a personal birthing experience. It can be your own birth, your child’s birth, or one you took part in. What do you remember about the event? Why did you choose this example? What are your thoughts regarding birth and its impact on child development?

I have a 2 year old and a 14 month old, both birthing experiences were quite different.  With my oldest son my water broke at 38 weeks and I was in labor for 22 long hours.  When I reached 10cm I begin pushing about every 15-20 minutes for about 4 hours.  My son was sunny side up (face up, not down) so it was very hard for his head to navigate down my birthing canal.  I became so exhausted both mentally and physically so my doctor decided that it would be best if I delivered via c-section.  At nearly 40 weeks I went into labor with my second son, this labor experience was worse than it was with my oldest.  The pain was unbearable; however I still wanted to try for a natural birth.  My doctor did not think that it was in my best interest so after about 4 hours my son was delivered via c-section.  Both of my sons were delivered at the same hospital and we were reluctant enough to have wonderful doctors and nurses to assist us in our life changing experiences.  I chose these examples because they are memories that my husband and I cherish and will never forget what it took to bring our precious children into this world.  I really do not think that there is a connection between birth and child development.  The birthing process is just the necessary step that must happen to bring a child into this world, child development is the daily practices that goes on in the child’s life that has the capability of shaping their personality.

Choose a region of the world or a country, other than the U.S., and find out how births happen there. Write about what you learned, and the differences and similarities with your experience (in the personal example you provided). What additional insights, if any, about the impact of the birthing experience on development, did you gain from this comparison?

India has a high infant mortality rate; women are considered unclean during their menstrual cycles and during the act of giving birth.  They are kept away from religious rituals and social interactions because they are considered unclean, distasteful.  Midwives and dais assist women during child birth, however some refuse to cut the umbilical cord because this is considered as the utmost polluting act.  Their role in the birthing process is most like the nurses we have here in the US.  They provide emotional support, massages, apply oils and herbs, and help with labor positions.  Nearly 60% of births take place within the home, which may play a huge role in why their infant mortality rate is so high. There are so many differences from my birthing experience, such as I was in a hospital with doctors and nurses and given medication throughout the process.  In addition, these ladies do not have the option to have c-section when complications like mine arise.  This could pose serious problems for both mother and baby leading to possible birth defects.  However, we do have someone to assist us during our birthing experience to make us as comfortable as possible.  I gained insight on how other countries do not have similar resources and how their religious practice and beliefs greatly affect the decisions that are made while giving birth.

References:

Chawla, Janet, ed. Birth and Birthgivers: The power behind the shame. New Delhi, India: Shakti

Books, 2006. 11-312.

Hearing Dais' Voices: Learning About Traditional Birth Knowledge and Practice. Rep.No. MATRIKA. PLAN International.

Janani Suraksha Yojana: Features & Frequently Asked Questions and Answers. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Maternal Health Division, Government of India. New Delhi, 2006.

Janani Suraksha Yojana: Guidlines for Implementation. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.Government of India. 2004.

Stern, Robert W. Changing India. New York: Cambridge UP, 2003.

Examining Codes of Ethics

NAEYC Code of Ethics

To be familiar with the knowledge base of early

childhood care and education and to stay informed

through continuing education and training.

To recognize and respect the unique qualities,

abilities, and potential of each child.

To create and maintain safe and healthy settings

that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and

physical development and that respect their dignity

and their contributions

DEC Code of Ethics

Responsive Family Centered Practices

Professional Development and Preparation

This is critical to providing the most effective services for young children with disabilities and their families. Professionals acquire the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to work with a variety of young children with disabilities and their families within natural and inclusive environments promoting children’s overall growth, development and learning, and enhancing family quality of life.

Professional Practice

Encompasses the practice principles to promote and maintain high standards

of conduct for the early childhood special education professional. The commitment to beneficence

acts for improving the quality of lives of young children with disabilities and their families.

All of these ideals are meaingul to me because they all involve avenues to enhance each family and their children.  Especially in these crucial economic times, families need assistance more than ever and giving them the boost they need to live a life that is rich in health, finacial stability and education is very important.

Refrences:

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://www.dec-sped.org/Ensure that families receive individualized, meaningful, anrelevant services responsive to their beliefs, values, customs, languages, and culture. In addition, families given equal voice in all decision making relative to their children.

Course Resources

Blog Assignment: Growing Your Collection of Resources

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/resources.htm

"Places of interest for early childhood teachers with fun preschool education sites for parents and kids. Databases packed with resources and information about preschool curriculum, activities, and various early childhood programs. Child care provider sites with parenting suggestions and home learning ideas."

http://www.naeyc.org/

"NAEYC and its members are a leading voice for early childhood education to Congress and other federal entities, governors and state legislatures, state and local agencies, and other policy makers throughout the country. At each level, we help policy makers and the public understand the benefits of high-quality programs and services and advocate for investments in high-quality systems of affordable early childhood education for all children birth through age 8."

http://liveunited.org/pages/about-united-way-worldwide/

"United Way Worldwide is the leadership and support organization for the network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 45 countries and territories. They envision a world where all individuals and families achieve their human potential through education, income stability and healthy lives."

Course Resourses

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
  
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al.  (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title. 

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
   
• Websites:
  • World Forum Foundation http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
    
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP’s mission. 
    
  • Association for Childhood Education Internationalhttp://acei.org/about/
    Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.

• National Association for the Education of Young Childrenhttp://www.naeyc.org/
  
• The Division for Early Childhoodhttp://www.dec-sped.org/
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Familieshttp://www.zerotothree.org/
  
• WESTEDhttp://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  
• Harvard Education Letterhttp://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  
• FPG Child Development Institutehttp://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
  
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conferencehttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
  
• HighScope http://www.highscope.org/
  
• Children’s Defense Fund http://www.childrensdefense.org/
  
• Center for Child Care Workforce http://www.ccw.org/
  
• Council for Exceptional Children http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
  
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
  
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
  
• National Child Care Association http://www.nccanet.org/
  
• National Institute for Early Education Research http://nieer.org/
  
• Pre[K]Now http://www.preknow.org/
  
• Voices for America’s Children http://www.voices.org/
  
• The Erikson Institute http://www.erikson.edu/
     

Pioneers in the field of Early Childhood Education

Marcy Whitebook, Ph.D.





Marcy Whitebook, Ph.D.

"We know that teachers are the key to good child care - and as long as teachers are undervalued, American children, too, will keep getting less than they deserve"

Reference:

Marcy Whitebook.  (1992, May 19). Child-Care Workers Deserve A Raise Well-Trained Employees Are  Leaving The Field In Droves :[5* Edition]. St. Louis Post - Dispatch (pre-1997 Fulltext),p. 3B.  Retrieved October 1, 2010, from ProQuest Central. (Document ID: 53059478).

Janet Gonzalez-Mena, M.A.

"[P]art of being who you are has to do with feeling your feelings, which means you'll have a wide range of emotions--not just constant sunshiny happiness."
— Janet Gonzalez-Mena (Child, Family, and Community: Family-Centered Early Care and Education)

Raymond Hernandez, M.S. Ed

"My passion comes from wanting to make a difference...I truly believe I'm not here to save the world, I am here to make a difference in the community I live in."

Video Program: “The Passion for Early Childhood”
Five early childhood professionals share passion, motivation, and commitment to the early childhood field.

Personal Childhood Web

• Identify up to five people who fit that description.

The five people that impacted my childhood are my mother, father, sister and two brothers.

• Describe each person and briefly state your relationship to each person, in what ways each one has influenced your life as a child, how they nurtured you, cared about you, and how they made you feel special.

Schery Bailey is my mother, she taught me a lot growing up.  One of the biggest lessons learned from her was how to be responsible with money, which is HUGE!  It has helped out so much as an adult.  She always made me feel special by supporting me in what ever I decided to to (and still does). 

Joseph Bailey is my father, he embrased my athletic talents and taught me how to play ANY sport I took interest in. We always went fishing on the weekends and spent a lot of quality time together.  He nurtured me by teaching me any and everything that he could think of; how to fix cars, riding a bike, or playing soft ball.  He too made me feel special by supporting my many interests.

Ravonda Randolph is my sister, she is 9 years older than me.  However, we did not get a long too well growing up because I was the nagging little sister. She did teach me a lot when we did not argue, such as how to dress like a lady and keep my hair looking pretty. She also helped me with my homework when I needed help and made me feel special by giving great gifts for my birthday.

Joseph Bailey Jr. is my oldest brother, he is 6 years older than me.  Even though he was not athletic growing so we did not have much in common he took up for me when I needed help.  If I was being bullied he made sure that no one would hurt his little sister (non-violent, of course).  He always remembered my birthday and is concerned about my needs.

Lonelle Davis is my youngest older brother, he is 3 years older than me.  He made sure that I was tough, he is a great competitor when it comes to sports and he taught me how to be a better basketball player.  He always took the time to play with me when I did not have any friends in the neighborhood to play with.  He also taught me how to play a few video games too. 

• Describe in what ways their influence continues to impact your present life.

My family continue to influence me today, they are always supportive of me and they are always there for me when I need them.  They influence me to do better for myself everyday and are very encourging. They still give great advice and are very emotionally connected to my two sons.