“My Connections to Play”

“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning....”

--Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

“It’s not so much what children learn through play, but what they won’t learn if we don’t give them the chance to play

Susan J. Oliver, Playing for Keeps

“If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play.”

--John Cleese

  

The things I remember most about playing when I was little are fishing with my dad, gardening with my grandparents, and be outside climbing trees .  There is a tree in my parent’s backyard that I loved to climb.  It is a wild cherry tree and it was my oversized jungle gym when I was little.  I can remember spending hours in the tree. It was the perfect climbing tree.  There was a section of the tree that I named “hang gliders ridge”.  I could stand on one branch and hang from one that hung down over.  As I let my feet dangle I pretended that I was hang-gliding through the open skies.

“Children have always learned and created places for themselves through play.”

~Donna R. Barnes

My parent’s encouraged my brother’s and me to be outside using our imaginations.  Unfortunately today I don’t think that most children have that creative time for play.  Their free time is filled with video games and TV.    My childhood memories motivate me to provide the same opportunities for my children.  I want them to have time to play and explore and become their own individuals.   I believe those times that I spent playing helped me to be the person I am today.  I want to provide that same foundation for children as well.

Child Development and Public Health

The topic I chose to speak on this week is dental health.  Proper dental hygiene can be just as equally important as nutrition for healthy development in children.  I used to work for the local Boys and Girls Club.  Part of my job was to educate families on the importance of oral hygiene.  I feel all too often good oral hygiene is put to the side either because of  simply not knowing the importance of the effects that it can have an a child or lack of coverage in that a family is underinsured or uninsured.

 “Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in the U.S., five times more common than asthma. Untreated, tooth decay causes pain and can lead to infections. Untreated tooth decay and other oral diseases interfere with a child’s ability to eat, sleep and speak and can make it hard to learn or even play.”

  http://www.hrsa.gov/publichealth/clinical/oralhealth/maternalchild.html

With the help of programs such as Colgate's Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Education and Mobile Van Reaches Millions of Children Every Year

The word is spreading quickly and dental hygiene is increasing around the world as service providers increase.

http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate/US/Corp/CommunityPrograms/Bsbf.cvsp

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

“We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.”

~Stacia Tauscher

I chose to post this quote because throughout this course we have learned about each stage of development in a child from pre-birth through the middle years of age.  As parents and educators I feel it is important to appreciate each stage of development and realize the beauty of each stage. 

I would like to thank each of you who responded to my postings and also all of the thoughts that you shared with us in each of your posts.  It is hard to believe that this class is coming to an end, but I have learned so much through each of you and our assignments that we have completed.

Week 6 assignment

In Japan the elementary school curriculum is similar to that of the United States in that subject areas such as social studies, science, math, music, art, and P.E. are taught.   However, weekly moral education is also included in the curriculum.  Emphasis on respect and being thoughtful to others are taught as part of Japan’s “whole person” education.  Teachers in Japan focus on evolving the holistic child and feel that it is part of their responsibility to teach such topics as personal hygiene, nutrition, and sleep.  Along with the moral education children are taught manners, how to speak politely, and how to speak to adults as well as their peers in an appropriate manner.

What is interesting to me is how the United States has put such topics to the side when it comes to educating our own children.  We are so focused on test scores such as Standards of  Learning that we are missing such key components  and are veering so far from a holistic approach.  I do feel that manners and respect should initially be taught at home but reinforcing such moral ideas could be beneficial as well and create a wonderful partnership between families and school.

Consequences of Stress on Child Development

A Personal Story…

Before my niece was adopted she had spent the first 14 months of her life institutionalized in a Chinese orphanage.  My brother and his wife brought home a beautiful healthy little girl.  She has overcome both physical and mental delays, issues with sensory, and has recently been diagnosed with little to no short term memory and is Dyslexic.  Doctors do attribute these delays to being abandoned as a newborn and the lack of stimulus during the first 14 months.   With each new development the family has reached out for support from Physical therapists, counselors, and most recently a local University that has administered tests to help diagnose her current obstacles.  My niece is home schooled and is able to receive one on one attention with her academics.  The curriculum that is taught to her is specific to her needs and will help her with memory and Dyslexia.  I spent the weekend with my brother and his family and my niece is developing into a beautiful happy young girl.  She has overcome so much and will continue to do so because of the unconditional love and wonderful resources that they are able to provide her with.

Across The World…

Natural disasters can be very traumatic for children due to their lack of knowledge and not being prepared.  The earthquake in Haiti left many children homeless, without food and water, loss of either one or both parents.  Children quickly began imitating adults around them and could be seen digging in the dirt like the adults who were sifting through the rubble trying so desperately to find and rescue anyone who was still alive.  Physically and mentally the welfare of the children was in jeopardy.  The effects of disaster hit children hard and can take much longer for them to overcome.  Psychologists say that for recovery to take place routines need to continue as soon as possible.  For the children in Haiti a routine that is starting to continue is education.  Schools are being rebuilt and children are returning to school.  The process of hope and recovery has begun.

http://www.alertnet.org

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is such a personal choice.  For some the benefits to both mother and child are determining factors as to whether or not one will try.  I grew up knowing that my mother breastfed me and my brothers and, as I started having children I knew the benefits and that I wanted to be able to do the same with my children.  I had no idea that it would be such hard work.  It seemed like such a natural process, how could it be difficult.  My son was born about two weeks late and hungry from the get go.  He immediately latched on and I was so relieved that it seemed to be just that easy.  Well, we went home and he kept eating but I was not producing.  I remember one night being so exhausted and he seemed so frustrated.   I ended up only nursing for about three months and would supplement in between our feedings to try and keep up.  My daughter came along about 14 months later and I again knew that I would try.  All was good until she hit her first growth spurt and then I just wasn’t producing enough.  Five years later and preparing on my third to be born, I am again going into the birth knowing that I want to give this just one more shot.  The benefits that I can provide my baby and myself far outweigh the hard work and possible frustrations.  I want to prepare myself this time and educate myself on how to properly breastfeed and I plan on taking a class at the hospital that I will deliver at.  I feel like even though it is my third child the more I know the better prepared I will be.

BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING:

1.)    Bonding that occurs between mother and child

2.)    Nutritional value of “mother’s milk”

3.)    Cost saving

4.)    Health Benefits for both child and mother

http://www.womenshealth.gov/Breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=227

Controversial topic of breastfeeding in public

Breastfeeding in public can cause quite a stir of emotions.  I personally was not one to nurse in public however was also not ever offended to see another mother who was comfortable to do so.  Recently in Taiwan a new law was passed allowing mothers to breastfeed in public settings and created a fine that would be charged to anyone who tried to stop this from happening.  “Under the new rule, anyone attempting to prevent breastfeeding in public will face a fine of up to 30,000 Taiwan dollars (990 US dollars), according to the Department of Health.”

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hMHUnypnaJRSUKzzA7orycOCjrPg?docId=CNG.9cffc4fdf846d8715d7cc1b4f8a701a3.51

I personally feel that this new law passed in Taiwan is a giant step forward.  The idea behind the law is to show respect for nursing mothers.  I believe it is an act that can be done in a nonintrusive way.  Most mothers I have seen have kept themselves pretty well covered, and I guess I too would be surprised to see a mother with a fully exposed breast nursing in public but she is feeding her infant.  After all we just passed a law allowing individuals to carry concealed weapons in bars.  Could public breastfeeding really be that bad?

Early Childhood Development post #1

Birthing Experiences

A couple of years before having my first child I was asked to be part of a friend’s delivery.  I was so honored and felt blessed to be a part of their big day.  I have to say it is one of the most beautiful and amazing life experiences to witness.  The day was filled with emotions as the final moment grew closer. I can remember watching the little one’s head emerge.  It was incredible how I could see the bones in her head squeeze together as she entered the world and then poof she was there with us.  I have since had two children of my own, and the whole experience is absolutely beautiful.  My husband and I are now expecting our third little one, and the really neat thing about this experience is being able to share it with our first two.  My son and daughter are so excited to be getting another addition to the family, and it is wonderful to be able to watch through their eyes.  

For each of the births of my children I had an epidural and delivered vaginally.  I can remember experiencing pain with both and thinking afterwards I can’t image what that would have felt like without the miracle of medicine.

According to information found on the website http://www.culturediversity.org/asia.htm

“Vietnamese women, as most Asians, believe that a woman must experience pain and discomfort as part of childbirth. To express these feelings, however, brings shame upon her.” I believe this is a great example in the differences between cultures.   I feel it is always very enlightening to study cultural differences and to go into it with an open mind.