Week One: Birth and Its Importance to Child Development

• Write about a personal birthing experience. It can be your own birth, your child's birth, or one you took part in. What do you remember about the event? Why did you choose this example? What are your thoughts regarding birth and its impact on child development?
• Choose a region of the world or a country, other than the U.S., and find out how births happen there. Write about what you learned, and the differences and similarities with your experience (in the personal example you provided). What additional insights, if any, about the impact of the birthing experience on development, did you gain from this comparison?

  
I am the mother of two and I can remember BOTH of my birthing experiences like they occurred yesterday.  Before I gave birth to my three year old son, I was in so much pain. The doctor would not admit me to the hospital until I was four centimeters. It was PURE TORTURE! So I walked and walked and walked and WALKED. I was in severe pain until I finally went back to the hospital. I was admitted and the medical team gave me some medicine to help me relax and rest. Epidurals are a pet peeve so I did not want that. However, I was only at the hospital for an hour when I was told it was time to push. I pushed for half and hour and my little fella made his debut. 

When I gave birth to my one year old daughter, the experience was really different than it was with her big brother. I was annoyed, frustrated, and TIRED of being pregnant so I really wasn't as cooperative as I should have been. So this experience was quite difficult. I felt EVERYTHING. It was really painful! I was admitted to the hospital at five centimeters and it took me 10 whole hours to deliver my daughter. It was really tiring and all I thought about was seeing her face and getting some rest. I pushed almost two hours before my ladybug made her debut.

I chose these two experiences because they are a part of me and my life. What other experiences to discuss but my own? Birth is important to child development because it is indeed part of this process. The child has to develop in the womb as well as outside the womb with the help of its mother. Children aren't born knowing what to do so mothers and fathers have to teach them and allow them to experiment in order for them to develop properly.

In China, women believe in herbal remedies and ancient customs to help them conquer birth as well as go through pregnancy with ease. Women must drink herbal potions during labor and they are told to not be afraid during labor. They also find it unlucky to throw showers or take up other customs that associate with pregnancy. In the US we believe in baby showers and medicine and doctors. This would be a nice way to attempt to experience pregnancy but I don't think I could do it.

A Note of Thanks and Support

I would like to extend a warm, heartfelt thank you to ALL of my colleagues who supported me throughout this 8 week journey. I have learned a lot from you all, and I have also developed a new found respect for each and every one of you as well as the early childhood field. I would like to wish each and every one of you good luck as we continue to embark on this journey toward our MSECS!!!

Code of Ethics for Early Childhood

P -1.1 Above all, we shall not harm children. We shall

not participate in practices that are emotionally damaging, physically harmful, disrespectful, degrading, dangerous, exploitative, or intimidating to children.

This is everything to me. Children should not be mistreated while in YOUR care. Parents are trusting us as early childhood professional NOT to place their children in harm's way. We should ALWAYS be pleasant to them. Believe it or not, young children deserve EVERY OUNCE of your respect.

P-2.1

—We shall not deny family members access to their

child’s classroom or program setting unless access is

denied by court order or other legal restriction

 
We should ALWAYS encourage parents to become active in their child's classroom as well as their education. The only way we should refuse them access is if they are not allowed near their children or if they have placed their children in the line of danger.

7. We shall be responsible for protecting the confidentiality of the children and families we serve by protecting all forms of verbal, written, and electronic communication. 

It is our sworn duty to protect any and all information concerning children in our care as well as their families. REGARDLESS of what type of information we receive, we should NEVER discuss it with ANYONE if we are not authorized to.

Additional Resources

Kaplan Early Learning Company -

http://www.kaplanco.com/



Lakeshore Learning -

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/


Crayola -

http://www.crayola.com/

Important Resources for Early Childhood Education

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  

• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf                                
• UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
• http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc
• • C Young Children
  • Childhood
  • Journal of Child & Family Studies
  • Child Study Journal
  • Multicultural Education
  • Early Childhood Education Journal
  • Journal of Early Childhood Research   
  
   

Quotes and Excerpts from Professionals I Admire

“If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.”
― Bill Clinton



“If you want to live like a Republican, vote like a Democrat.”
― Bill Clinton, My Life


“Every moment wasted looking back, keeps us from moving forward.”
― Hillary Rodham Clinton


“Every child needs a champion.”
― Hillary Rodham Clinton


"As I grew up I wanted to continue to be a teacher - because I had a built-in passion that it was important to make a real contribution in the world, and to fix all injustices that existed in the world, and I wanted to do that through teaching."
- Louise Derman-Sparks

"The most interesting information comes from children, for they tell all they know and then stop."
- Mark Twain

"Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well."

- Aristotle

Childhood Web (Pics Coming Soon)

My mother raised me to be the best at whatever it is I decided to do. She was a strict mother who only wanted what was best for my siblings and myself. She is a single mom who went above and beyond to make sure my siblings and I did not lack or want for anything.



My father was man in the military so he wasn't home very much, but when he did visit, he was exciting to be around. He also made sure I didn't want for anything and he instilled in me to strive for what I wanted because NOTHING in this world is handed to you. He also spoiled me a lot!


My grandmother has always been that go-to person for everything from personal issues to social issues. My granny has seen it all and done it all. She also has that "old school" way of doing everything. She's taught me to be as humble and loving as I know how for the Lord will bless me in due time.

My siblings and I share a bond like no other. I am the eldest of five and they ALL look up to me for EVERYTHING. I don't always have the answers but my siblings call on me anyhow. Especially my baby brother. He was the son I didn't have until I was 20. I am closer to him than anyone.