Getting to know your International Contacts

    Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” website is a valuable resource for those in the early childhood field and for those seeking information about issues related to the field.  In an explicit effort to build an integrated international approach to child survival, health, and development in the earliest years of life, the Center on the Developing Child has launched the Global Children’s Initiative as the centerpiece of its global child health and development agenda (Center on the Developing Child, 2010).  The main objective for the site and the information that they reveal is how important and crucial the first three years of life is and investing in our children globally is our true responsibility in order to properly meet their needs. 

   The site provides great information in video segments and in print about how a child’s brain develops, child mental health, as well as the projects and efforts that are taking place globally.    What caught my attention was a short synopsis of a current project taking place in Santiago, Chile.  The project is called “Un Buen Comienzo’ the purpose of this project is to provide professional development to those teachers in the early childhood field in Chile in order for them to provide quality education to children ranging in ages of 4-6 years. The project, which began in 2007 with four demonstration sites, will eventually encompass 60 schools (Center on the Developing Child, 2010).  Now what intrigued me the most was that, UBC also incorporates a comprehensive evaluation: a cluster-randomized experiment in all 60 schools. This type of longitudinal evaluation in early education has not been carried out in any other country in Latin America and will place Chile at the forefront of demonstrating the impact of a high-quality early education (Center on the Developing Child, 2010).   

    It is no surprise to anyone that in the states one of the biggest issues (among many) is the getting some policy makers to understand the value of early childhood education, professionalism, knowledgeable and the importance of a creative teacher. I believe that slowly as a nation we are starting to push back and realize the harm we are causing our most young children by pushing them towards practices that are truly inappropriate.  Our fight is slow, but steady.  It would be interesting to see the data and a breakdown of the correlation between a teacher’s professional development and the impact of high quality education.  In the states, we have moved a great distance from true appropriate practices to an assessment driven society.  Hence, my curiosity to see the data as it will once again prove to the skeptics in this field that qualified, knowledgeable, and well prepared teachers can appropriately meet the needs of young children with appropriate materials to support their learning.  Providing the necessary tools, strategies, and education in the first three years of a child’s life will allow them to lessen the risk of mental illness, diseases, or stress in later years. 

    A video clip (in English and Spanish) on the Harvard University’s site titled “In Brief- The foundations of Lifelong Health” addresses the importance of a healthy physical and mentally appropriate environment.  Dr. Shonkoff shares something in the video that was quite poignant.  Dr, Shonkoff stated, early experiences are built into our bodies, whether they are negative or positive (Center on the Developing Child, 2010).   The video also elaborates on the importance of laying a healthy foundation the first three years because our children are truly our future

 

References:

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2010). Global children's initiative. Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/

Sharing Web Resources

Austism Speaks-It's time to listen (www.autismspeaks.org) is an incredible website loaded with valuable information regarding resources for families, and any one working in a field that involves children.  It also addresses and provides information on the needs, causes, treatments, and preventions of Autism.  Just this month I received an e-news update titled Autism Speaks to Washington.  This particular article explained that mid November leaders from around the U.S. will unite and come together in Washington  to discuss how to strengthen and enhance advocacy strategies for Autism.  The site also provides a link where you are able to view a live stream of the discussion.  I am excited to see the discussion and to hear the ideas, concerns, changes and latest development  that will placed on the table regarding  Autism.  I encourage you all to view the live stream or log on to the site.  It is a great resource that encourages, empowers, enlightens, and raises awareness to families, and those working with children that are touched by the disorder.


www.autismspeaks.org

Children's Quote

Let children walk with nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and thy will learn that death is sting less indeed, and as beautiful as life.
John Muir~

Breastfeeding a public health topic

As a child I spent many summers in Puerto Rico with my paternal grandmother and among many aunts and uncles.  My father's side of the family is quite large and my grandmother was blessed with 12 children, with that said, you can just imagine the amount of cousins I had to play with.  However, what I remember most about my summers in Puerto Rico are the moments I spent with my aunts and how I would watch them care for their younger babies.  Breastfeeding was nothing out of the ordinary for me to see.  I don't ever recall a moment when I saw a bottle or sippie cup in their homes.  All of my aunts breastfed their children and so I never thought about bottle feeding until I was much older and witnessed it here in the states. 

Years later I understood the significance of breastfeeding and understood why my aunts chose this method.  For one, they lived in a very rural part of Puerto Rico where access to a local store to  buy formula was about a 45-60 minute drive.  Secondly,  coming from a farm town, money was not rolling in in abundance, so formula was something they really couldn't afford. Therefore, buying formula  was out of the question and purchasing bottles were obviously unnecessary.    I'm sure for them they realized and knew the importance of breast feeding, but from my perspective I saw it as a convenience.  I am thankful to them for exposing me to the bonding that occurs between parent and child while breastfeeding.  I chose breast feeding for my children because of the ease and advantages I saw it provided the women in my family. However, before I had my first child I began to research the advantages or disadvantages of bottle feeding vs.breast feeding and what the controversy about both was. 

I learned early on in my research that breastfeeding was most beneficial for newborn babies.  Babies who are exclusively breast-fed are less often sick (Berger,2012 p. 151).  The reason for this is because of all of the antibodies the mother passes on to their infant via breast-milk.  Of course , formula feeding can be advantageous for some babies such as those affected by serious illnesses but even in those cases breast milk may be more beneficial.  Breast milk contains literally thousands of different components that support the immune system in some way. Some of these components are very specific, defending against a particular pathogen (bacteria, virus, parasite), while others have a broader function, protecting the baby in many different ways. Often these various components act together, providing even more protection than each would alone (Ochert 2009). In the end I knew formual feeding was not the option for me.  Of course, there are times when it is necessary for some children and families.  However, the reality is that breast feeding has been occurring worldwide for years.  In some underdeveloped countries it is the only way that babies are fed.  The key is that, in the states and in other countries there are options about how you chose to feed your baby.  It is always up to the parents, their beliefs, and what they feel is in the best interest of the child.  Im glad to have an option in choosing what I feel is right for my children.

References

Berger, K. S. (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.). New York, NY:  

 Worth Publishers

Ochert, Ayala (n.d.). The Science of Mother's Milk.  La Leche Leaugue International. Retreived Jan 18, 2013. from http://www.lalecheleaugue.org/html

My Birthing Experience

     It was a hot musty Sunday morning in August when I got out of bed and felt a sudden tightening of my enormous belly.  At the time I was nine months pregnant and about a week away from my due date.  That morning I was preparing to do some last minute shopping, because I had just begun maternity leave and really wanted to enjoy the last few quiet days at home before the arrival of my little bundle.  Ha! the joke was on me because my daughter had plans of her own. 
    Sure enough, that tightening (or better known as contractions) was just the beginning of labor and a memory I will never forget and always cherish.  As the day progressed and the sun warmed up the day, my contractions began a regular rhythm of every 8-10 minutes apart.  My fiance and my immediate family were by my side the entire day, waiting on me hand and foot.  Of course, I remember being not so kind, as I was uncomfortable and very nervous about the events unfolding.  My mom was a  nervous wreck and everyone was a ball of excitement and energy.  We truly couldn't wait for the arrival of the first grand baby for both sides of the family. 
    As hot as it was and as uncomfortable I was feeling, my doctor advised me to walk and call him back as soon as I started to have contractions five minutes apart or should my water break.  So, the walking began...and continued...and continued.  I don't think I had ever walked so much in one day.  However, by 8 p.m. that evening labor had started to pick up.  I started to feel the contractions with great intensity and my anxiety level was through the rough.  I had no idea what to expect.  Although I had read every book under the sun, and had taken Lamaze. I was more fearful of what I had missed or worse the unexpected.  Typical me....
    By 9 p.m. I was already admitted into the hospital and already 3 centimeters dilated.  This baby was coming and I was surely feeling it.  My fiance at the time was an amazing support system and was by my side the whole time.  I remember thinking while I laid on the bed strapped to all types of contraptions of how cold and blah the room looked.  Ideas to spruce up the place ran rampant in my head.  It was probably my way of coping looking back now.  Of course all the medical tools and beeping sounds would bring me back to reality and remind me why I was truly there.  Eventually, labor picked up and so did my moans and groans...this continued until about 7 the next morning when hard labor kicked in. I mean hard labor!! At this point my doctor broke my water and the rest of what I remember was feeling desperate to push and a strong desire to stop the pain!! I never screamed or cried because what kept me focused were thoughts of my paternal grandmother birthing her 12 children at home with no medication.  Low and behold my daughter was welcomed into this world after many hours of laboring and medication free at 10:28 a.m. weighing in at 6 lbs. 11oz and 18 inches long on Monday, August 18, 1997.  She was and still is the best gift I ever worked so hard for!!
    From that day forward life had completely changed and would never be the same.  I am still thankful for all the support I had received then because I don't think that I could have had a successful labor had I done it alone.  My fears would have taken over and could have caused a great disaster.  My family kept me focused and calm reminding me that women do this everyday and that no matter what they were all going to be there to help.  This is why I truly live by the African proverb of it takes a village to raise a child. I drew my strength and courage from those that surrounded me with such and is why today I know I am the best mom I can be.  With their support, love and guidance I was able to  lovingly bond with my child and welcome motherhood.