Child Development and Public Health

The public health topic that I chose this week is having access to healthy water. The reason that I chose this topic is because I believe in the importance of having access to healthy drinking water. Without the access to healthy drinking water, you can be exposed to many different diseases that can cause serious illness and even death. Being able to have access to clean water is vital, I think, in the development of a child, and even an adult. I think that some people in America take having clean drinking water for granted. They expect to be able to turn on the faucet and clean water comes out, or to be able to go to the store and buy bottled water, or to be able to use a toilet, or have a nice shower. Not everyone has those luxuries, even some people in America don't have those luxuries.

While reading an article by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), I learned that "1.7 Billion people in Asia and the Pacific have no access to modern sanitation." This was an astounding number to me when I first read it, and then learned that 780 million people still practice open defecation, which pollutes the water supply and is the "second leading cause of infant and child deaths worldwide," according to ADB. Many people who live in urban areas have to travel long distances to get water from an already contaminated drinking source, or to the stores to buy bottled water. Unclean drinking water allows different sources of germs to contaminate the people living in the areas with this water, such as the breeding of diseased mosquito, or getting a disease like Salmonella, which is transferred through feces. This hinders the health and well-being of the people in the area and their children.

While reading this article I learned some of the things that people are going through in another country, just from trying to have access to clean drinking water, something that I take for granted daily. I plan on trying to raise awareness with people in my area, and see how many people really know and understand about this issue. I think unless you experience it first hand or read about it, this is not an issue that most people think of others having. I was glad that I was able to experience this lesson, and truly learn something about people in another area.


Resources:
Asian Development Bank. (2014, January 7,) Water, Sanitation and hygiene for a Healthy Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved from:
https://www.adb.org/features/water-sanitation-and-hygiene-healthy-asia-and-pacific

Childbirth in your life and around the world

A personal birthing experience for me would be the birth of my best friends daughter Aurora. When my friend Ariele went into labor, I rushed to the hospital with my husband and we waited in anticipation. I have know Ariele for 10 years, so I was very excited! She had planned on having a natural birth, no epidural, or medications. She was in labor over night, so my husband and I rented a hotel room since we live out of town. at 5 in the morning she had to have a C-section, because while pushing, she was told that her birth canal was too narrow for her daughter to fit through. When we were able to see them both, she expressed her disappointment that her birth plan didn't go the way that she wanted, but was happy for a healthy baby girl! I chose this example because it has been a year now, I am now pregnant and have my own birth plan that I would like to follow. But this example always reminds me that it may not go the way that I have planned, and if it doesn't, then that is okay too. I know that there are different ways to have a baby, naturally, with medication, water births, or a c-section, but each way just makes the experience unique and doesn't diminish anyone's motherhood.

In Chin, I have learned that 50% of women have a c-section birth over a vaginal birth, and most who have a vaginal birth have an epidural. Most doctors actually push for the women to have c-sections because it is faster, since China is a over populated area. They can do "10 or 12 c-sections in a day compared to perhaps 2 or 3 vaginal births," says MK one of the best-qualified midwives in China, according to "The Telegraph newspaper." She also says that there is a belief among Chinese families that c-section is a low-risk option, and they believe it is a better option when parents can only have one.

The differences in China verses what my friend experienced is that most Chinese women want to have a c-section, while my friend wanted a natural birth. No matter what kind of birth that you chose, you do whatever you think is right for you and your baby. I think childbirth is beautiful, no matter how you do it.


Resources

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/9796499/Why-50-per-cent-of-Chinese-women-are-opting-for-C-sections.html

A Note of Thanks and Support

During the weeks of being in this class I have learned a lot. Like how to respond to my peers and how to expand on different conversations. This is my first class in my journey to get my Masters, and it has been tough, with learning how to juggle being a student, a teacher, and a wife. I am still learning, and I know that I am not alone.

LaQuesha, you commented on my discussion board answers a few times, but during week 8 you told me that you have to read other people's posts to make sure you were on the right track. That statement meant a lot to me, because I have to do it as well, and knowing that someone else learns the same way I do, helped me to know that I'm not alone, and that I can continue!

Jeannie, it meant a lot to me that you said that I was already a good teacher, because I don't always feel that way! Thank you for seeing that in me, even when I don't always see it! You always have positive things to say, and it means a lot.

Examining Codes of Ethics

Three ideas out of the NAEYC Code of ethics that is meaningful to me are:

• Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues
 • Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect
• Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family

The reason being, is that I think it is very important to know and understand that children's family lives have a large impact on how they learn. Understanding the child's culture and their beliefs is a must because if you do not, then you could potentially lose the trust of the families, and the child. If you do not have the trust of the families or the children, then they will not be open to learning from you or they will not want you to teach their child.  You must know and respect the bond between the child and their family, and try to show them that you care and that will open up doors for you while you teach their child.

Three ideas out of the DEC Code of ethics that are meaningful to me are:

Professional and Interpersonal Behavior

• We shall serve as advocates for children with disabilities and their families and for the professionals who serve them by supporting both policy and programmatic decisions that enhance the quality of their lives.

Responsive Family Centered Practices

• We shall empower families with information and resources so that they are informed consumers of services for their children.
• 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.

The reason that these are important to me is because I believe in trust between the families and the teacher, I think that if the family trusts the teacher than it will be easier for the teacher to teach and easier for the child to learn. If you show that you are supporting the family, not only will it benefit the child, but it will benefit the relationship that you have with the family, which ultimately benefits the child. It is important to make sure that all families, including families with children with disabilities, are being helped, and that you are being their advocate. We want to make sure that all families understand the services that they can receive and that they are all well informed.

Additional Resources

Here are some additional resources that may help provide information for families, and teachers.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/children/resources.htm

The Family Conservancy
http://www.thefamilyconservancy.org/parenting-resources-information?gclid=Cj0KEQjwlNy8BRC676-W0JezxbwBEiQA4Ydg0TZjQUWEHeYN1gp3RSq5JOabM2HbSygzYakzcjqPF2saAgAG8P8HAQ

Early childhood Transitions for children and families Birth-five
http://edn.ne.gov/cms/early-childhood-transitions-children-and-families-birth-age-five

Growing your collection of Resources

Here are some resources that you may need related to young children.

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• 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
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.pdf
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being

• Article: 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
• Websites:
• • World Forum Foundation
    http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP's mission.
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/
    Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week's Application assignment.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
• Children's Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org/
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

A quote from Eunice Kennedy Shriver,
"You are the stars and the world is watching you. By your presence you send a message to every village, every city, every nation. A message of hope. A message of victory:
 The right to play on any playing field?
You have earned it.
The right to study in any school?
You have earned it.
The right to hold a job?
You have earned it?
The right to be anyone's neighbor?
You have earned it."

http://www.eunicekennedyshriver.org/articles/article/85

A quote from Lyndon B. Johnson
“Until justice is blind to color, until education is unaware of race, until opportunity is unconcerned with the color of men’s skins, emancipation will be a proclamation but not a fact.”

https://uschs.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/lyndon-johnsons-1963-memorial-day-address/

A quote from Louise Derman-Sparks
"The passion to create a safer and more just world for all kids."

A quote from Sandy Escobido
"We as professionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better."

https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_16218418_1&content_id=_36064803_1