EDUC-6160-6

Part 2-Week 4 Blog Assignment

November 24th,2012

 

Haiti:  The kind of stressors that impact the development of children

 

Haiti is the country in the world that I will like to know more about, because of the massive earthquake that  caused extensive damage to communities, schools, homes, business places, roads, buildings, damaged sewage pipes, resulting in disease in the months that followed.

As a result, this has impacted negatively on children, since many of them were separated from their families, having no homes of their own, and could not have  attended school. The unexpected earthquake took the lives of many children, while those who are alive, have firsthand experience in seeing dead bodies of other children being pulled from the rubble. It is a  very horrific and traumatic reminder, which can bring about distressing and physical reactions.

Presently, Haiti is a dangerous place for young children. Thanks to the Save the Children Organization that has intervened on their behalf. Some children are living in campuses, while others are living in slums, and are under continued threat of exploitation and abuse. They also provide food, shelter, education, and health programs, as well as, provision of children's rights through direct local interventions and national advocacy. Both boys and girls are educated on their rights, through working with children's club.

Additionally, Save the Children has implemented a rural education program for children in community, government, and missionary schools. They have piloted school readiness programs for preschools later educational success, as well as, implementing an HIV/AIDS program, to improve access to prevention services,  testing, and counseling, mobilizing community supports for orphans and vulnerable children.

 

                                                                          References

 

http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/natural-disasters/earthquake.

http://www.savethechildren.org/ssite/c.8rKLIXMGIP14E/b.6151.

EDUC-6160-6
Week 4 Blog Assignment

November 24th, 2012 

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development: Poverty

Poverty is one of the most debilitating conditions for children (R. H. & Corwyn, 2003). Most researchers believe that it is poverty's devastating effect on parenting that explains poor social outcomes. Consequently, this has led me to tell the story about one of my Grade 2 students, whose name is Mark, living with his family in absolute poverty (lack of the basic needs in his home - food, running water, proper sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care, and education).

 Undoubtedly, Mark and his family (grandmother, father and siblings) reside in the capital of the country, dwelling in a dilapidated galvanize building that is erected at the front of the bay. His mother (grandmother's daughter) who was unemployed at the time,  fled the scene before Mark was five years old, since she could not have stood the pressure in the home. They claimed that, she is now living in a common-law relationship with another man in the rural area of the country, and never looked   back on her children.  Mark's grandmother  and his father  are also unemployed, and have difficulty in supporting these children, hence, the reason why they had to seek assistance from people in and around the community.

 However, it was in Kindergarten Mark's conditions were discovered, when his teacher observed that he was frequently absent from school. He was never properly attired in his school uniform, always untidy, with uncombed hair, and an unpleasant smell that was coming from his body, which made his classmates, not wanting to sit next to him, neither playing with him. Mc Loyd (1998) postulated that, children in poverty are more likely to suffer emotional challenges, and, as a result, to be less successful in their relationships with peers.

 On the other hand, Mark habitually came to school without breakfast, so, the principal and teachers had to intervene on his behalf, and summoned his father and grandmother to the school. Upon extensive inquiry, and proper two-way communication, we realized that this family was very destitute. Consequently, the school became an advocate for this family, then began to play an active role in Mark's life, seeking its transformation. Gordon & Browne (2011) claimed that, there is a strict correlation between poverty and school failure, since children who start at a disadvantage, fall farther behind in academic achievement throughout their school years. Because of this, teachers at the school did not want such thing to happen to Mark, so, for this reason, we had to make an interception at this early stage.

Due to teachers' generosity, Mark's low self-esteem has been elevated to high self-esteem. He is now well attired when  coming  to school, always regular and punctual,  and is enlisted on the school's feeding program. Even though Mark is living in poverty,  and was at high risk for interference to optimal growth development, he was not less competent in school-related cognitive tasks, as he waded himself through Kindergarten to Grade 2. Now, Mark has many friends in school, looks and feels  happier, and sees that everyone is showing interest in his education, as well as his holistic development.

                                    

                                                                               References

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

 Gordon, A. M., & Browne, K. W. (2011). Beginnings and beyond foundations in early childhood education. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

 Smith, J. T. (2010). Early childhood development: A multicultural perspective. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.

Breast Feeding!!!!!!

WK2 : Blog Assignment - EDUC-6160

Public Health Topic - Breast Feeding

Breast feeding as the chosen topic, has been promoted by the family planning clinics across one's country. This topic is a timely one, since it has some significance, because the experience of breast feeding is very special for various reasons. It enhances the child's health for survival, and provides well documented health benefits for the infant and mother. For example, mother and baby will have cheerful bonding, health benefits can be derived for both mother and baby, and the financial savings that could be had.

Oddly (2004), has postulated  that breast feeding also decreases the risk of many diseases that appear in childhood and adulthood, among them are asthma, obesity, and heart disease. However, breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients to help the infant grow into a strong and healthy toddler. Breast- fed babies are less likely to get sick, because breast milk provides them with antibodies against any disease to which the mother is immune.

Cultures around the world  vary in their child development beliefs and practices. Small (2001) claimed that infants and children around the world experience different types of care giving, yet, most achieve the developmental goals essential for survival, and participation in their particular and unique contexts and culture.  

However, one is going to look at breast feeding in China, which is somewhat like a puzzle, since mothers experience great amount of pressure to formula feed in hospitals, because there is far less support and understanding about breast feeding. There are numerous formula markets in China, and, when mothers go for prenatal checkups, they are given free samples, as well as, have the opportunity to observe the posters that are placed all over the walls of most hospitals. China is a model country for implementing World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children Fund's (UNICEF)  Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, which stops the promotion of formula.

Once birth is given to a baby in China's hospital, the mother does not get the support for breast feeding. When it comes to colostrum ( the special breast milk produced the first 3-4 days), the hospitals are not aware of its importance, since they give babies formula and water instead, and ignore the colostrum. Colostrum helps to protect the baby's stomach against pathogens, colonizes the GI tract with friendly bacteria and enzymes, and has a laxative effect that assist in preventing jaundice, hence, the reason for being of paramount importance to babies. Also in China, breast milk is seen as food, not a drink, which made Chinese come to a conclusion that all babies, even just after birth, need water as a supplement.

Obviously, there is not any medically indicated reason to that, because giving water to new born babies worsen jaundice, makes the babies more susceptible to infection and allergies, causes imbalance to blood sugar, leads to reduce caloric intake, as well as, lowers milk supply. Having found out about the numerous benefits of breastfeeding for babies, one believes in being an advocate in promoting  breastfeeding, by imparting one's knowledge to mothers throughout the world, via blog, face book, email, pamphlets, and other necessary ways.

References

·         Berger, K.S.,(2009). The Developing  Person Through Childhood. New York. NY: Worth.

·         Carlson, N.R., Buskist, W., and Martin, G., N., (1997). Psychology: The Science of Behavior. Needham Heights, Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon.

·         http://www.havingababyinchina.com/reference/br.

·         Puckett, M.B., and Black, J.K.,(2005). The Young Child: Development from Prebirth Through Age Eight. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

PERSONAL BIRTHING EXPERIENCE

WEEK 1 BLOG ASSIGNMENT - EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT - EDUC 6160 - 6

It was exactly thirty - eight weeks when I gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, on 20th October, 1991, at the General Hospital. The process was not an easy one, but giving birth was a very special moment for me, although it was complemented with intense back pain.

It began with mild contractions, which was occurring at regular intervals, but quite involuntary. Each lasted a few seconds, but as labour progresses, they became more frequent. While the cervix dilated, one noticed the release of amniotic fluids, then contractions became stronger, the "water bag" was ruptured, and a sudden rush of fluid came out. Contractions became longer and more painful, and there was little time to relax, since the pain was felt in the lower back.

Two nurses came to my assistance during labour, then instructed me when to push at each contraction. Full dilation enabled one's cervix to widen, so as to allow passage of the baby's head, but it was not possible for the baby to pass, so the nurses did an episiotomy, which was a small incision that prevented one's vulva from tearing during birth. The baby's head began to show, while the nurses guided the baby out of the birth canal. Eventually, the baby was born, after which the expulsion of the placenta and umbilical cord came through the cervix. This is sometimes called the afterbirth. The umbilical cord was then clamped and cut, then the baby was dried, weighed, and measured, then an identification bracelet was placed around his wrist.

The nurses began to clean the blood from my skin, then sew the incision that was made during birth. This was very painful. Then, I was told to take frequent salt soak, which assisted in the healing of the wound. The salt soak was, a warm salt solution placed in a small basin, and I had to sit in that for few minutes. I spent only one day at the hospital, since everything went smoothly.

My Professional Goals and Aspiration

My three goals are:
(1) to complete my masters degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE) in two years
(2) to add value to the teaching profession by contributing constructively to improve teachers services' image
(3) be among the highest ethnoling of professionals in the field of ECE in my country as well as abroad.