Final thoughts...

I must say the Foundation class was a lot tougher than I first imagined. However, I am glad I went through this experience.

Thanks to my fellow bloggers this has been fun!

Hope to see some of you next term,

Angie

Codes of Ethical Conduct

Hello colleagues and readers,

This week, I have been reading two important documents that contain the early childhood professional field codes of ethics: The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and the DEC Code of Ethics.

The Code of Ethics defines the core values of the field and provides guidance for what professionals should do when they encounter conflicting obligations or responsibilities in their work.

In other words, in the professional field of early childhood, the Codes of Ethics allow the practitioner to make difficult decisions based on their profession’s core values rather than their personal values.

Here are the points I want to highlight from these two documents:

Ethical responsibilities to children:

from the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct:

I-1.3 To recognize and respect the unique qualities abilities, and potential of each child

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 principle has precedence over all others in this Code.

Responsive Family Centered Practices and Ethical responsibilities to families:

from the DEC Code of Ethics:

1. We shall demonstrate our respect and appreciation for all families’ beliefs, values, customs, languages, and culture relative to their nurturance and support of their children towards achieving meaningful and relevant priorities and outcomes families’ desire for themselves and their children

2. We shall provide services and supports to children and families in a fair and equitable manner while respecting families’ culture, race, language, socioeconomic status, marital status, and sexual orientation.

from the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct:

I-2.5 To respect the dignity and preferences of each family and to make an effort to learn about its structure, culture, language, and beliefs.

Professional Collaboration and Ethical responsibility to Colleagues:

from the DEC Code of Ethics:

3. We shall honor and respect the diverse backgrounds of our colleagues including such diverse characteristics as sexual orientation, race, national origin, religious beliefs, or other affiliations

from the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct:

P-3A.4 We shall not participate in practices that discriminate against a co-worker because of sex, race, national origin, religious beliefs or other affiliations.

I feel ethics are used in times of disagreement. Individual’s personal views and biases can sometimes get in the way of professionalism. For this reason, I am glad this field has two ethical codes that explicitly speak against discrimination and prejudice.

Thanks again for reading this week! I look forward to reading your opinions.

Angie

List of Resources

Hi all,


As the week starts, I must report that the kids are doing much better. My spirits are higher and the sun is out shinning in NY. Here is hoping for a great week :) 


As for the blog assignment. I posted the list of resources from this week on the left side of the blog below the posts. Here are my three additional resources. I have found these links helpful in my career with children. 

The National Association of Family Child Care

http://www.nafcc.org/

A Place of Our Own

http://aplaceofourown.org/

New York State Department of Health- Eat Well Play Hard Curriculum

http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/cacfp/ewphccs_curriculum/index.htm

Happy 5th week everyone!

Angie

Word of Inspiration and Wisdom

Hi group,

This has been a challenging week to say the least. My children came down with a stomach virus and I'm working on three hours of sleep. Don't ya just love flu season? I managed to complete the blog assignment to choose some inspirational quotes. I chose these because they reflect a few of my own views and ideas on early childhood. You can read these quotes below or you can find them below the archives. I wish everyone a happy Wednesday and may the flu season pass on by quickly this year...

Enjoy,
Angie


"Evidence-based practice is a decision-making process in which various sources of evidence (research, wisdom, values, and contexts) need to be taken into account."
-Virginia Buysse, on Identifying and Using Evidence-based Practices in Early Childhood

"Thinking holistically lets us approach differences in ways that open the possibilities for solutions that do not show themselves otherwise. If we can accept that there is always a larger picture, once we see it, we find we can generate a number of alternative solutions."
-Janet Gonzalez-Mena, on resolving cultural and social conflicts in child care by embracing contraries

"I see early childhood education as civil rights issue for a childhood that leaves you ready for optimum life experiences"
-Renatta M. Cooper, on passion and motivation for Early Childhood

Personal childhood web

Hi group,

This week I have learned from Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model of development to how to make a web movie and embedded! This class is really making me use my brains.

For the blog assignment, I created a short video to represent my Childhood Web. Please watch it's on the right side of this blog above 'the followers'. Let me know what you think!

cheers,
Angie

Week 2 Blog assignment

Ella and I goofing around. We enjoy spending the day together. She is growing and learning fast.

Quote: "In the first months of life, attachment is the primary driving force in sculpting the brain of the infant into its final configuration" (Teicher, 2002)

I chose the above quote because I feel that sometimes this can be missing from the way day cares provide quality care to infants, babies and toddlers. Programs are more worried about the child "learning" to be independent (ie. learning to self soothe) that they sometimes oversee the need for attachment. I feel if they've worried more on building strong attachments, the infants would on their own develop independence. However, I am here to keep an open mind and also learn what the current literature state.

Story I love about a child: When my oldest daughter, Emmalee, was learning to read we took out these short books from the library to help her learn phonics. She was sitting on the floor of the kitchen reading out loud and asking me how to pronounce certain words while I was cooking. Then she asked me "Is this word N-O-T pronounced 'naut'?" I replied "No, honey is 'not'?" She concentrated harder and asked again "Is it 'noot' then?" "No, Emma is 'NOT'?" I was getting annoyed by her lack of understanding. My mind was occupied by the cooking and not her questions. Emma looked sadder and once again asked me "then how do you say it?" I lost it, how could this child ask me the same question three times I had given her the answer already! "What do you mean 'how do you say it?' I told you Emmalee is NOT, NOT, NOT!" then I caught what I was saying and realized why my little girls was so confused. "I'm sorry Emmalee, I was not thinking. The word N-O-T is pronounced 'not'" I said "Oh, now I get it!" she replied and moved on. This taught me to think before I reply to children's questions. Read the story out loud if you didn't get it the first time!

References

Teicher, M. (2002). Developmental neurobiology of childhood stress and trauma. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 25, 397-426.

Brief Intro

Dear Fellow bloggers,
Since this is a communication exercise for class, let me start by giving you an introduction to myself and where my views on raising children come from:

I have been a mother for over nine years. Along the way I have become a member and participant of the La Leche League community (for more information www.llli.org.) Many of my views on raising children and early child development agree with the parenting philosophies of La leche league. These include that the need for baby to be attached to the mother or a secure bond with an adult(my own spin on this philosophy) is as strong as the baby's need for food.  What does this mean? Well in a few words this means babies need attachment and human interaction from birth (heck even before birth) to grow and develop properly.

I feel breastfeeding is the best way to feed an infant because it provides for them the two most fundamental needs: nourishment and touch. I also feel carrying a baby is a crucial part of their growth and attachment. Lastly I think responding to a baby or toddler's cries promptly and meeting their needs is FAR from spoiling a child. My parenting style can be a form of modified AP (Attachment Parenting) style. Hence you may read a lot about cosleeping, gentle discipline and babywearing. This is not for everyone, but it works for me.

Again this is a brief introduction to my unique perspective to the world of babies, toddlers and infants.

Cheers,
Angela S

This is my test blog

This is a test blog