Sharing Web Resources

The specific section that seemed particularly relevant as it reinforces current issue that we are discussing in regards to the importance of supporting children and their families, in order to ensure a better future adults and member of our society. This section titled "Infant-Toddler Policy Agenda",  promotes good health, strong families and positive early learning experiences. It starts with an overview of the importance of focusing our attention on babies, why it is critical such as its impact on brain development and its impact on language, cognition, social emotional and physical development. This section also shares insights from investigations done by leading economist Dr. James Heckman, Nobel Laureate and Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago. These investigations lead to the value of investing in early childhood programs, as soon as possible, because for every dollar invested you can expect savings up to $3.78 to $17.07. Apart from these savings you will have reduced crime, abuse, neglect, and welfare dependency while increasing educational performance and job training, what will eventually lead to higher income and a more productive workforce.

After hearing this information again and again, it has made me see how important our role really is as advocates for the children and their families. I have always valued the work that as early childhood professionals we do with the children and the families we serve, but I never actually stopped to think in the enormous impact that we have on these children and how we support parents in providing their children with the foundations of early learning. I also see how important the need of advocating for these programs in order for them to continue and improve their services by advocating for those that can't speak, and finding others that can join and support our mission,by presenting this to policy makers and other government representatives.

As, I learn more about the work 0 to 3 programs and their services among infants, toddlers and their families. I am able to understand the how valuable and necesary their sercice is among our children, according to the state efforts to expand or enhance access to Early Head Start services, a Federal Early Head Start program was created to help reduce the disparities caused by poverty by supporting the healthy development of expectant mothers and low income infants and toddlers. However, less than 3 percent of babies and toddlers who are eligible for Early Head Start are currently receiving services, because of the limited funds supporting this program.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts - Part 1

INDIA

I had the opportunity to review the website of the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Center's page: http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/ and was able to obtain valuable information regarding "India", and its struggles with poverty among its children. Among the many insights that I was able to obtain is that India is the second country with the highest level of poverty in the nation. Despite the efforts that the government has done to reduce the levels of poverty, by increasing economic growth, increasing provision of basic services, land and tendency reforms and many other interventions the numbers continue to be high. The sad part of this is that those that lack of access to assets, skill and low levels of health and education are the least to benefit from these interventions.

Among the many disadvantages poor people face, health is one of many things that is strongly affected. Rahasthan, which is Indian's largest state, women and children suffer the lack of proper heath care, which brings the spread of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, and maternal and perinatal illnesses. It is estimated that around 62 million children under the age of five are malnourished and 34 percent of newborns are underweight. All problems arising due to the growing population, industrialization, and a globalizing economy.

Another significant insight regarding India, is that it accounts for 20% of the worlds out-of-school children as well as having the largest number of working children in the world, being a third of the children below 16 years of age. A common disadvantage that exist among children from India and their access to education is the discrimination towards girls, gender discrimination is still very common in this country. Despite the fact that more girls are currently enrolled in schools, you can still observe a higher attendance of boys then girls in schools, they tend to be less exposed to the outside world and there is a great emphasis on domestic skills.

Sharing Web Resouces

As I explore the "ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families" website http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/ , I have l learing many things that I ignored from this organizations. It is not only focusses on providing informtion, training and support to parents and professionals in the field of education, but it also makes sure to provide the same information to policy makers in regards to the importance health and development has in the development of infants and toddlers.

This organization focuses on the importanct of those early experiences, in the development of a child. Experiences that can either have a possitive effect or a negative depending of the type of experience offered by the parent or caregiver.The website also offeres wonderful videos that demonstrate a variety of different issues that encourage learing, promote self esteem, language, gross, social emotional development as well as many other developmental areas. These videos are no more than 10 minutes long, but are full of valuable information that parents, professionals and policy makers can easy assess and lear from. This week I had the opportunity to view two of these videos, one was “Why Experiences Matter”, about the importance of early experiences in the child’s life and how parents and caregivers are the main providers of these experiences that help share a child concept of value, and appreaciation of life. The second one was tittled “A Window to the World”, this video demonstrates how  Language and Literacy  development contribute to a child’s success throughout life. How caregivers and professionals in the field can promote literacy and language as well as  its present and long term benefits.

Something that caught my attention from this website, is the variety of resources it can provide to the families, professionals and policy makers. Issues such as Behavior Development, Maltreatment, Care and Education and many more. All impontant factor to know when it comes to working  with children. I also loved the idea that they offer a free newsletter every month that shows how children learn and grow each month from birth to age 3. This newsletter offers stradegies parents can tailor to their unique family situation and to the needs of their child.

 

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

After reviewing various early childhood organization websites, I selected to studyThe website : ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. This website provides valuable information that can benefit professionals in the field of early childhood education as well as parents.

 http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/ 
                             
I have always been very interested in learning more in regards to infants and toddles. My experiences in the field of early childhood has been mainly with the preschool age children. I want to be able to provide parents with valuable information that will guide and help them in regards to the importance of their child's first years of life.