Time Well Spent

And now that we are at the end of the tunnel and indeed can see the light, I feel as if I just started this program yesterday—but please do not mistake this feeling for sadness! J I am ecstatic that this is the end and we are all now ready to again take on the field of early childhood, but we are now armed with a ton of new information, insights, understandings, goals and objectives! Watch out, here we come!

I have learned so much throughout my experience in this program! When I really stop to take the time out to think about it, I think I’ve learned more in these last 2 years than I did when I was back at my university! Maybe that has something to do with maturity however:) 

One deeply felt take away learning experience from this program includes the importance of remaining up to date on current issues and trends in the early childhood field. In our course, Issues and Trends, I quickly realized how ignorant I was to what was really going on in the field, the issues that were affecting our children and the trends that were present. It was during this course that I recognized in order to been seen as a value to the field, I must engulf myself into my field and become an active participant not only in my community but worldwide.

I can honestly (deeply) say I have learned the importance of impactful resources and their ability to convey a message. From the video That’s A Family to the creative Wordle project to the Persona Dolls even to the non-traditional Communications textbook, I have learned that a wide spectrum and collection of creative resources are essential to the education of adults and children alike! I have appreciated the diversity of resources and educational experiences this program has offered, I have taken away much information with these different resources as I would have with a regular traditional textbook.

 

The last deeply felt learning experience/lesson that I have gained from this program is that I am not alone. There are many, many individuals who are just as committed to the early childhood education field as I am. I have learned that there are so many different opinions, thoughts and ideas from others that I can learn from and use to help me grow both professionally and personally. When I speak of these individuals, I am speaking of my colleagues! It just amazes me that despite not being able to meet face to face on a weekly basis, I have learned so much from each and every one of you! This has been a great experience and one that I will continue to look back on and learn from!

One long-term goal that I have is to indeed fulfill my challenge of offering creative arts programs, specifically photography classes to young children and their families who are living in poverty. I am envisioning weekly or bi-weekly classes that can be offered at no cost that will build on one element to the next. The classes will focus on things such as healthy habits, self-esteem, nutrition, etc. I want to use photography just as many programs use sports as an outlet for children and families. I want young children and families to realize that there are all types of creative outlets in the world for them to take advantage of.

Well this is my final farewell message! As I look back at my blogs, I realize how much I’ve grown and I am certain that you all have as well! We have finally made it to the end! What a rush! I truly do wish all of you the best of luck in the future and in your dreams and goals of being a source for positive social change! I want to leave you with the words to one of my favorite songs: I Hope You Dance…Congratulations ya’ll! 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Three international organization/communities of practice that appeal to me are as follows:

The International Child Art Foundation

http://www.icaf.org/ 

The International Child Art Foundation has served as the leading art and creativity organization for American children and their international counterparts since 1997.

As a world leader in international children’s art exhibitions, the mission of ICAF is to employ the power of the arts for the development of creativity and empathy – key attributes of successful learners and leaders. (ICAF, 2012). This non-profit organization uses art, sports, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as well as teamwork and healthy habits as a means of educating children in a creative way that enables several styles of learning.  They also have programs that reduce violence (Peace through Art), remediate suffering (Healing Arts), and cultivate imagination (Arts Olympiad). ICAF also wants to ensure that every “contemporary art museum dedicate a single room to the live art of children; that corporate headquarters devote a wall to display children’s artwork; that organizers try to include children’s voices in deliberations on the future; and that a child’s right to be creative and empathic be respected and honored” (ICAF, 2012). To-date, approximately 5 million children have directly benefitted from the ICAF programs and more than 110,000 people have participated in the ICAF festivals and exhibitions.

The International Child Art Foundation is a mostly volunteer run charity. At its office in Washington, the ICAF offers unpaid internships around the year to university students. An intern's responsibilities may include fundraising, marketing of ChildArt magazine, promotion of the Arts Olympiad to schools, social media, and writing and research. In addition, creative individuals can serve as the ICAF Spokespersons to advocate for children. In order to fulfill any of these positions, I feel you would first and foremost have a passion for the arts as well as how the arts can positively affect a child’s life. In reading about the aspects of the organization I feel creativity is another HUGE factor that individuals must posses to bring value. Other skills/talents such as a designer, editor, programmer, writer, marketing, media, PR or IT professional also will benefit the organization. I personally would want to volunteer and/or serve as a spokesperson for the organization.

The Association for Childhood Education

http://www.acei.org/

The Association for Childhood Education International or ACEI is a global community dedicated to promoting the optimal education and development of children in a changing world. Serving as a knowledge broker for innovative practices and an advocate for education and children's rights, the Association's vibrant and active past has ensured that children around the world are protected, supported, and educated in an equitable fashion that allows them to reach their true potential (ACEI, 2012). Currently, ACEI is advocating for child rights through the Love Me, Teach Me campaign developed to raise awareness about child rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. ACEI, believes each child possesses a unique set of gifts and talents while also understanding the key principles that join the world together through the common bonds of human dignity and respect.

ACEI also believes that educational experiences are enhanced by instructional strategies and learning environments that offer the very best opportunities for children's learning within the context of the nation, community, city, town or village in which children live (ACEI, 2012).

ACEI's has a Country Liaison program that encourages the development of a network of ACEI volunteer liaisons from various nations around the world. The purpose of this network is to gather information about childhood education practices and policies in various nations, share this information with members and non-members, provide information to support the development of association programs, and promote international and intercultural understanding (ACEI, 2012). In addition, at times, ACEI accepts applications for internships. Individuals wanting to invest their skills and time into this organization should have a passion for children’s rights throughout the world. Individuals should be able to accept and respect other cultures while working with a diverse group of individuals for a greater cause. By contacting the Operations Manager individuals are able to find out if any internships are available. Although I think this is a very powerful and influential organization, I am not certain I would want to work or volunteer for them. I would however spread the word of this organization and provide it as a resource to others.

Organisation Mondiale pour l’Éducation Préscolaire: in English, the World Organization for Early Childhood Education

http://www.omep-usnc.org/

OMEP-USA is one of more than 70 national committees working for healthy, peaceful, equitable, sustainable, and just environments for the world’s children. The organization is made up of college professors, preschool teachers, primary-grade teachers, school administrators, social workers, psychologists, doctors, nurses, policy makers, administrators, journalists, physical therapists, librarians, lawyers, policymakers, college students, volunteers, parents, grandparents, advocates, and activists (OMEP, 2012). These individuals work locally, nationally and internationally to promote the health, development, rights, and education of the world’s children and families. In addition, they advocate for high quality early education for all children everywhere, educate themselves and others about important issues relating to children, families, and early education while also developing activities for children and teachers as part of World OMEP’s Education for Sustainable Development focus (OMEP, 2012). 

There we not any career positions evident on the website, however there were different projects that one could invest their time into depending on their personal likes, goals and objectives to supporting children globally. You are also able to become a member of the organization. I feel the skills needed to support this organization again involve a passion for ensuring high quality care, education and the overall positive well-being of children around the world. There seems to be many projects available so there could possibly be something for everyone. I would personally consider volunteering for the efforts in Haiti. 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

I’ve discovered three organizations that I believe will aid in the success of my challenge, to fight poverty using photography as a tool.

Blue Earth Alliance (http://www.blueearth.org/index.cfm)

The mission of Blue Earth is to raise awareness about endangered cultures, threatened environments and social concerns through photography. By supporting the power of photographic storytelling, Blue Earth Alliance motivates society to make positive change. This would be a fantastic opportunity to bring awareness to the poverty issue in the state of Mississippi specifically for young children and their families.

PhotoPhilanthropy (http://photophilanthropy.org)

PhotoPhilanthropy addresses critical social and environmental issues by providing nonprofits and photographers with the resources to work together to create images that drive social change around the world. Understanding that Mississippi has a poverty rate comparable to third world countries, this organization would be ideal to partner with to help others around the world understand the critical state in which young children and families in Mississippi are in and begin to address these issues thus creating social change.

Kids with Cameras (http://www.kids-with-cameras.org)

Kids with Cameras is a non-profit organization that teaches the art of photography to marginalized children in communities around the world. The organization uses photography to capture the imaginations of children, to empower them, building confidence, self-esteem and hope. What I find facisinating is that these are the goals of my challenge for the children and families of Mississippi who are impacted by poverty. Kids with Cameras, share the children’s vision and voices with the world through exhibitions, books, websites and film. They also partner with local organizations, while work to strengthen the children's education and general well being through selling the prints of the children for profit, which goes back into the communities.

What I found interesting is that with all three organizations there were no noticeable job opportunities found on the websites, however there are ample breaks for volunteer prospects within the organizations as well as with other organizations supporting similar missions, goals and objectives. The volunteer chances range from small events, such as a few hours and/or a few days a week, while other opportunities ranged from weeks to months, even some a year commitment was required. There was also an endless geographical area to choose from all around the world. The skills needed for these volunteer opportunities range for no experience at all, just a love for children, while others call for a degree, an extensive knowledge of photography basics, as well as an extensive background in child development or a closely related field. I did find a volunteer opportunity in Mississippi, Growing Healthy Kids, Inc. regarding healthy habits for children in Mississippi in which I believe would be a partnership that could be established to bring not only food to the children but nutritious options as well. I would like to find out more about employment openings with Kids with Cameras. I feel this organization would be one in which I would not only be able to provide resources and solutions for the children of Mississippi but for other children affected by poverty through the world. I also feel this would be the first international organization that I would invite into my community of practice. 

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community

For this assignment I chose the following organization:

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Atlanta Children’s Shelter http://www.acsatl.org/
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Family Music of Augusta http://www.makingmusik.com
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Young Chef’s Academy https://www.youngchefsacademy.com/

Family Music of Augusta is an innovative and creative local organization that I stumbled upon while doing research for this assignment. When I think of music lessons or music classes, I generally think older children, toddlers and preschoolers, I was not aware that there were classes specifically for infants beginning at 15 months in my local area of Augusta! This organization has established a curriculum developmentally designed for young children called Musikgarten! I commend this non-profit organization for thinking outside of the box and bringing creativity back into the lives of our children. With so many budget cuts and such these days a lot of music programs have been cut out of early childhood programs! This is a wonderful opportunity for children to begin to explore the world of music at an early age! 

While living in Atlanta it was disturbing to realize how many homeless children are in the city and how many children go to bed hungry at night. The Atlanta Children’s Shelter founded in 1986 the shelter is the only free childcare facility/organization in the city of Atlanta for homeless families. The shelter prides it’s in helping families to become resilient and re-stabilized after experiencing negative life experiences. This organization truly speaks to the term community of practice in that all of the individuals working to keep this organization functioning are truly learning and growing from one another professionally and personally while feeding their passion for serving the homeless children and families of Atlanta. 

Also in Atlanta Young Chef’s Academy is a unique culinary experience specifically designed with the young child in mind. At the academy, children are able to engage in a variety of projects and assignments related to culinary skills. Beginning at age 3, children are able to participate in some type of culinary experience in the academy. I am highly impressed at the idea of this organization and I intend to visit the academy to gain more knowledge about the experience that is offered for the children! I may even enroll in a class myself, as I am a horrible cook! 

There are several job opportunities available at these three organizations that I could potentially apply for and visualize myself serving in, however I am very interested in the franchise opportunity for Atlanta Young Chef’s Academy. I have the idea of owning a franchise and opening up the organization in the state of Mississippi, in a very rural area. As I am a native of Mississippi and I understand the obesity epidemic that the state has been dealing with for years, I believe this type of organization could be used to teach children at an early age the importance of healthy eating/cooking choices.  I feel that the competently fulfill this role of owning a franchise, I would need to first learn the ins and outs of the currently operation franchises. I would also need educational course pertaining to Business, non-profit, budgeting, etc. I would also need to gain knowledge required to teach the art of cooking to young children. Understanding and maintaining up to date training on healthy eating habits/nutrition are also skills that I feel would be necessary. 

Reflecting on Learning

When I think of my most passionate hope for my future as an early childhood professional and for the children and families with whom I work or will work, I can only hope that I am able to give my all regardless of the circumstances, challenges, hurdles and hardships that will come my way. I can only hope that with my knowledge, experience, drive and heart that I will be able to touch the lives of those that I will come in contact with so that they may understand, appreciate and recognize my genuine goal of serving all, regardless of their unique differences. It is my hope that I will be able to have a positive, life changing impact on staff, families and children as well as the community. It is my passionate hope that I will be able to make an impactful difference that will be known and appreciated throughout the environment in which I am a part of.  

I want to thank all of you for sharing your personal stories and giving me access to a part of your lives that I would have not been able to experience had you not all been so open, honest and willing to share. I have truly taken away many best practices and have many new insights to the world of others. With sharing your stories and backgrounds, I have realized that there are so many different stories that we all share around the world and simply getting to know the story of another is one of the greatest gifts one could present. Again, I thank all of you and wish all of you the best of luck as we move forward! For some of us, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! Just the capstone course left and we will be on our way—we have finally made it to the cocoon stage so to speak! Soon we will be butterflies ready to fly! Bes to luck!

XOXOXO

Tasha

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

I choose to explore the regional area of Latin America and the Caribbean. I choose this area because I thought about all of the places I have visited on vacation and I wanted to know what lied beyond the blue skies and clear blue waters that tourist are privy to.

In exploring the site, some of the challenges that children in this region of the world are faced with on a daily basis including lack of secondary education or any education at all. A sever lack of adequate housing, clean drinking water, and sanitary means of excreta disposal. Children also face family income poverty. According to Unicef, “countries with the highest income poverty rates also have the highest child poverty rates” (Unicef, 2011). Malnutrition is another challenge of the region with around 9 million children suffering from stunting.

These experiences might have an effect on children’s emotional wellbeing and development in that child will learn mere survival skills versus learning appropriate cognitive, social and emotional skills needed to properly cope to life’s challenges. Children’s brains are developing most rapidly in the early childhood years, in addition to the basis for emotional and social developmental skills, poverty and challenges faced by disadvantaged children will deeply affect the development of these skills. In addition, both biological and environmental factors affect brain development and behavior. Unicef explains that young children who experience extreme stress are at greater risk for developing cognitive, behavioral or emotional difficulties. Trials faced in this region can have lasting effects on a child’s readiness for school and later on their performance in school if they are able to advance forward. “The initial deficit of interventions for development has a multiplying effect: children raised in poverty complete far less education than middle class children, due in part to their lowered ability to learn in school” (Unicef, 2011). Basically, to sum it all up, children who experience poverty, a lack of secondary education, adequate housing, clean drinking water, and sanitary means of excreta disposal are at a great disadvantage of being able to live a high quality holistic life.

Personally, I am almost ashamed of being so naïve. I have realized this is a growing trend in my learning experience with this entire program, I have been so oblivious to the fact that there are children through the entire world that are suffering day in and day out while I rest at night in a great place. It makes me realize how much I have taken the simple things for granted. As a professional, I want to do more but I realize that I am a bit overwhelmed as to where to start and what would be realistic. I mean, am I to join so type of professional organization, am I to donate money, am I to create a blog spreading the information around, do I involve my children at my center in a partnership with another center around the world, perhaps an orphanage and if so then how do I get started. Again, professionally I realize the importance of taking a stand, but where do I (realistically) start? 

Reference: UNICEF (2011). http://www.unicef.org 

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

When I am faced with the topic of sexualization of early childhood, honestly it makes me uncomfortable however I realize too that it is common and unfortunate in some cases in our culture today. I also often wonder how, when and where did the two words, sexualization and early childhood end up in the same sentence. When did parents/families/media; the world decide it was developmentally appropriate to begin to introduce and continue to support these types of beliefs, behaviors, products; this industry, the sexualization industry so to speak.

Thinking of personal/professional experiences that illustrate the exposure of young children to a highly sexualized environment I first think of my two younger cousins. Both girls ages 8 and 12 are sisters, the younger sister is rather tall, thin and slim while the older sister has a full figure. I often have heard the younger sister calling the older sister fat and ugly because she isn’t skinny nor does she have hair that hangs down.

In my center recently we had an incident in our preschool room that involved two 4-year-old children. According to the staff in the room, the boy cornered the girl by the cubbies and demanded that she let him see her butt. When we questioned the little boy, he explained that his “Daddy says stuff like that to my Mommy.”

Recently I watched a broadcast on MSNBC that focused on a baby bikini onesie and the thoughts of adults regarding the appropriateness of this onesie for infants/toddlers. This onesie comes in sizes starting at newborn (0-3). I personally believe this onesie is hideous.

The implications these incidents may have on children’s healthy development as Levin & Kilbourne explain, “The sexualization of childhood is having a profoundly disturbing impact on children’s understanding of gender, sexuality, and relationships” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009 pg.3). And I agree that these incidents may seem small and trivial, but the play a part of the bigger picture and the bigger picture is disturbing. As an early childhood professional, to best respond to these concerns and to reduce the negative impact on children, communication is the best approach in my opinion! Open, honest communication between the families and with the children to help them understand the impact of taking away the innocence of their children so young can have on their lively hood. Communication to also help children understand the true importance and essence of self respect, respect for others, beauty, positive self-esteem and body image.

The ways in which your awareness of the sexualization of early childhood has been influenced and/or modified by studying the topic this week is that once again, I have been naïve to believe that the problem wasn’t as crucial as the article explains. I find that it is easy to just ignore things and act as if they do not exists rather than tackle the problem head on. I am guilty of not being 100% focused on the impact that sexualization has, is and will continue to have on our children, I vow that I will work harder to remain cognitively aware of the impact of sexualization in the early childhood field and with young children in general.

Reference

Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine Books.