Exploring More of Zero to Three

After a long week, it was enjoyable to explore more of the ZerotoThree organization webpage.

I decided to look as a parent today: Exploring the Resources for Parents Link.
This link directed me towards an area which revolved around information for parents of children birth to three years old. Searching more into this area I found informative brochures and fact sheets about child development, milestones, other valuable information as a parent. I decided to read the pamphlet for the 6-9 month old (my daughter is just 6 months old). I gathered some great information to pass along to my fiance regarding the importance of bath time play and structured good night.

The website also offers information regarding the Early Learning Challenge Grant, a federal grant to help support early learning environments for infants and toddlers. I have learned to explore things and see where it takes me. After looking at the website for six weeks I just found a great new resource for parents and friends that have young children.

Harvard's Global Children's Initiative

The Harvard University website on Global Child Development was a great new resource to explore this week. I was even a little excited that I was late contacting my colleague from Ghana. This website offers a new insight to the world’s effort in child development and the advance the field is trying to make, as a whole.

The Global Children’s Initiative focuses on development awareness of early childhood education/care throughout the world.

• Building a unified science of health, learning, and behavior to explain the early roots of lifelong

impairments;

• Leading the design, implementation, and evaluation of innovative program and practice models

that reduce preventable disparities in well-being;

• Catalyzing the implementation of effective, science-based public policies through strategic relationships

and knowledge transfer; and

• Preparing future and current leaders to build and leverage knowledge that promotes the healthy

development of children and families and brings high returns to all of society.

I will be adding this website to my ever growing lists of resources for fellow educators and future use. 

Changes in Early Childhood (ZERO to Three)

Over the last few weeks I have been exploring Zero to Three. In my current career position, I am exploring new avenues to enhance my knowledge and explore the field of childhood. After having my daughter I have stayed home for the last six months. I am currently looking into new positions and interviewing, but my focus has changed a bit. Before my focus was how to ensure my staff is educated and continuously learning how to create a positive learning environment. Currently, my focus is on finding a quality program and ensure any program I am working with provides quality education for its children.

The Care and Education section of the website offers a variety of information from different sources to speak about these parenting issues and finding quality care. One topic that can be seen as controversial is the issue of multiple children (from the same family) in the same classroom. From an economic standpoint, financial concerns can have a poor influence on the choosing of child care for a child.

This website offers an abundance of information on many different topics. This article is a great option for teachers and parents to understand the changes happening in early childhood education today.

 http://www.zerotothree.org/early-care-education/child-care/changing-practices-in-early.html

International Poverty

I had planned to discuss the poverty issue in Ghana this week but unfortunately I have not heard from my conservation partner yet. Her name is Jes Sudol. She taught in Ghana over the last two years at different times.

After listening to Dr. Grace's video and reviewing the articles, I learned an enormous amount of basic information about poverty statistics within the United States. The Childhood Poverty Research and Policies Centre is an online publication offering information on poverty throughout the world.

Here is some basic information about poverty in Ghana:

"While overall poverty was almost halved in a decade and a half, from 52% in 1991/92 to 28.5% in 2005/06, one-quarter of the population still lives below the poverty line and 18.5% of Ghanaians live in extreme poverty, with inadequate resources even to meet their basic food subsistence needs" (Unicef, 2009).

"Child deprivations are correlated with monetary poverty, residence in rural areas or the more deprived regions (particularly in northern Ghana) and a low level of maternal education." (Unicef, 2009).

"Child poverty remains a global phenomenon. State and non-state actors worldwide must prioritize children to break the cycle of life-long and inter-generational poverty." (odi, 2009).

The Overseas Development Institute focused on research throughout the world. The Childhood Poverty Research and Policies Centre website is a great new resource for worldwide information.


I hope to have an update sometime this weekend to update you all on my colleagues personal experiences over in Ghana.

Zero to Three

Zero to Three 

http://www.zerotothree.org/

Zero to Three is an organization dedicated to providing parents and professional the knowledge and know-how to nuture early development. This site has information on many different issues in early childhood development.

One trend that caught my eye while exploring the website was the article "The School Ready Child." 

http://www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/school-readiness-infographic.html

This policy graphic says that are five parts to preparing children for school. These are:

1. It's all about relationships

2. Everyday experiences shape early learning

3. Emotions

4. The importance of play

5. What a school ready child looks like.

This is a fresh new graphic is a great new tool for early childhood educators. 

Early Childhood Education Around the World

As I read our assignment for the week, I first thought "I really have to communicate with people across the world". After that initial thought, I began pursuing my contacts. I used the resources to locate emails from professionals in Ghana, Canada, and the Czech Republic. I have sent an initial contact email and I am hoping to hear back from these professionals soon. I chose these countries for different reasons. I decided to contact Lucie Rastocna from the Czech Republic because my great grandparents were born there. I chose to contact Yvonne Dionne from the Canadian Childcare Federation because it is our closest culture and I chose to contact Reverend Charles Arko-Nanoo from Ghana because I know other professionals who have worked in Ghana with their early childhood programs. I will also be working with my former co-worker Jessica Sudol, as she has spent time in Ghana working with the children in classrooms for several years.

As I look at many websites in regards to trends in Early Childhood Education, I will be following Zero to Three. This organization is great for not only professionals but also parents providing information that is needed to provide quality care to children in our lives.

My Supports

When I think of support, I think of one person, my fiance Ryan. Ryan and I have been together for almost five years and he keeps me going in all types of ways. He is there for me financially, he is constantly helping with our daughter, he supports my educational progression and he assists with tasks around our apartment. He is an emotional support every day through the good and rough times. I have realized recently that without all these supports I would be in a much different situation. He is a positive support in my life. 

The challenge I chose to imagine was: my fiance got sick and was unable to work. We did not have any answers from doctors about why he was sick. I would need support from both our families, emotional and physical support. I would need their help watching our daughter while we spent time with the doctors and appointments. We would need financial support, as he is the main bread winner and my income would not hold our bills for very long. 

The supports I have in my life are desired but not necessary. I was taught to fight for what I need and desire. With that said, some support is always needed. It may be in the form of physical help to keep a home clean and function, it may be in someone watching your children to allow you to work. I am truly thankful for all the support I receive from family and friends to achieve my dreams.