QUOTES about Child Development.....

"Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world."
- Maria Montessori

"In early childhood you may lay the foundation of poverty or riches, industry of idleness, good or evil, by the habits to which you train your children. Teach them right habits then, and their future life is safe.”
- Lydia Sigourney

"Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.
- Dr. Hiam Ginnot

"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows."
- Sydney J. Harris


"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.
- Henry Adams


"Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man."
- Rabindranath Tagore

Testing for Intelligence?

A Successful Kindergarten Model in Hungary

In Hungary early childhood education and care (ECEC) is split system-wise into childcare (from childbirth to 3 years of age) and early childhood education (from 3 to 6/7 years of age). While the emphasis of the programs available for all young children and their families has converged substantially over the years in Hungary, the division into these age groups is longstanding. The present study gives a short overview of early education and care of children 3-7 years which is the first stage of public education (kindergarten). In addition to the analysis of policy and services, several facets of the system like structure, funding, budget, administrative and legal regulations, staffing, program content and implementation are discussed.
Hungarian kindergarten-education has a very good reputation world-wide and is the subject of study by many professionals from foreign countries.

Curricular Control and Content

Detailed guidelines for the operation of kindergarten programs exist in the National Core Program for Kindergarten Education. School-based program for children aged 3-7 includes basic skills development, pre-reading, drawing, singing and school preparation. Children are assessed by the kindergarten teachers throughout the school year. As from September 2004, the revised Act on Public education stipulates that all pupils must be assessed in written, individual analysis. Kindergartens are staffed by kindergarten pedagogues who are required to have a tertiary degree of at least 2500 hours, of which 30% is of a practical nature including observations of kindergarten practice, individual and group sessions, and practical courses. They are helped by kindergarten assistants who provide support to the kindergarten pedagogues in the operation of the kindergarten class. Classes are therefore organized into groups with two pedagogues, and the support of an assistant/cleaner. The assistants do not have to have a secondary education and are able, but not required, to take a specialist examination. Currently some 80% of kindergarten teachers have a tertiary degree and a total of 97% have specialized training.

Stress on Children’s Development

Neglect is a passive form of abuse in which the perpetrator is responsible to provide care for a victim who is unable to care for oneself, but fails to provide adequate care to meet the victim's needs, thereby resulting in the victim's demise.

My godson (John) is 8 years old.  His mother (Mary Ann) recently started dating this guy (Earl) and they spend a lot of time together. John have communicated to me that his mother doesn’t spend time with him as she did before she started dating Earl.  I observed the situation and discover that John is telling the truth.  John’s mother is always going away on the weekend with Earl.  Mary Ann never incorporates John with any activities that she and Earl are doing.  John feels as if he is not love by his mother and he feels as if Earl doesn’t like him.  John reaches out to me for love.  Whenever my kids and I go out to eat dinner and to the movies, I always invite John to come along.  John spends a lot of time at my house.  He hates being at home with his mother, especially when Earl is there. John’s mother is my friend and I don’t know how to approach her without making her upset. John is very stressed from the situation.  His grades are dropping and his self esteem is very low.  I spend a lot of time with him by helping him with his homework, talking to him about his friends and encourage him to do his best in life.

BREASTFEEDING IN INDONESIA

A new law has been passed that stipulates all babies should be exclusive breastfed for the first six months of life in Indonesia.  Women are provided with three months of paid maternity leave.  The new law detailed steps on how companies must provide faculties for nursing mother to breastfeed as well as to pump and store their breast milk.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/charity-news/archive/2010/11/indonesia-introduces-breastfeeding-law

Childbirth––In Your Life and Around the World

A PERSONAL BIRTHING EXPERIENCE

I remember when I gave birth to my first child.  I was 21 years old and I was single.  My family was very supportive, especially my mother.  I was taught by the best on how to be a great mother. My mother was there with me from the 1^st contraction through the delivery of my daughter.  I had my daughter  natural without any pain medicine. When my daughter was placed on my stomach, I looked at my baby and tears begin to form.  I was very happy and knew with the help of my mother, my daughter would receive the proper care.  I consider the birth to be successful.  I learned a lot from the child birth class and from my mother and grandmother.  I chose this birth because it was very special to me especially with it being my first experience.  I think it is extremely important to receive proper prenatal care and moral support from your family to make the delivery good.

The difference of birth between the United States and The Netherlands

United States (American)	Netherlands (Dutch)
Expected mother see an Obstetrician  once a month for the 1st and 2nd trimester and once every week in the 3rd trimester	Expected Moms will only see a doctor if there are complication.
Births are delivered at the hospital by a midwife or doctor	Most births are delivered at home by a midwife.  Expected mothers are required to pick up a kraampakket that include all of the medical supplies necessary for home birth.
Expected mother can go to the hospital whenever they need to .	Expected mothers must get approval by the midwife before going to the hospital for labor and delivery.
Epidural are given if requested by the mother at anytime	Epidurals are given if it's convenient for the anesthesiologist schedule.  Natural birth is the vast majority of Dutch women.
Infants will remain in the hospital for 1 to 2 days.	Infants can go home within 2 hours after delivery if there are no complications.
A nurse  will be available by phone  if needed to answer any questions	A nurse will go to the home to provide medical care, clean the home, cook and provide parenting skills.

CODE of ETHICS

CODE of ETHICS (NAEYC and DEC codes)

“Never harm children”

Children are our future and as educator we must protect the children from any harm.  It is important to ensure the safety of all children.

“We shall build relationships with individual children and families while individualizing the curriculum and learning environments to facilitate young children’s development and learning.”

It is important to have a relationship with the children and their families.  This can be done by having PACT (Parent and Child Time). As an educator, I will create activities and games for parent and children to do while they are home.  Home visits will also be conducted weekly to check on the child’s progress and to provide assistant to the parent if they need helpful ideas such as: 

·         How to help with homework.

·         How to discipline my child.

·         Implementing a daily reading program (read aloud activities)

“Be open to new ideas and be willing to learn from the suggestions of others”

I will always be open to new ideas.   The world is rapidly changing for the better.  It is good to be traditional but it will be great to acquire new skills.



Early Childhood Resources

Early Childhood Resources

Website:  http://www.dltk-kids.com/

Title:  DLTK’s “Sites Growing Together”

DLTK is a website that features children crafts, coloring pages and more including projects for the holidays, educational themes and some or our children favorite cartoon characters.

Website:  http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/ect/

Title:  Scholastic:  Early Childhood Today

·         Behavior and Development

·         Community

·         Leadership

·         School-Home Connection

·         Activities

·         Curriculum Areas

·         Tips and Strategies

Book:  Beginning and Beyond:  Foundations in Early Childhood Education

Authors:  Ann Miles Gordon and Kathryn Williams Brown

Synopsis:

Current and prospective teacher and caregivers will greatly value Beginnings & Beyond for it’s well organized and dynamic approach to teaching the fundamentals of early childhood education and the skills necessary to succeed in meeting the needs of young children.