Over the next
eight weeks, I have been asked to broaden my perspective about the resources
available in the early childhood field, as well as evaluate early childhood
trends and issues both in the United States and in other countries.
This week, I
have tried to establish contacts with early childhood professionals who work
with organizations in other countries:
UNICEF: I sent
an email requesting contact information regarding current issues and trends in
the early childhood field. I have
received an automated email replay stating that the request has been sent to a
person working in this field of interest and I am waiting to hear from that
person.
Spain: World
Association of Early Childhood Educators.
The contact,
Juan Sanchez’s personal email came back as unable to send, however, I am
still waiting to hear back from the contact request I made through the organization’s
website.
Haiti: Step By
Step Program/Tipa Tipa
I am still
waiting to hear back from an email I sent to Dominique Hudicourt, the representative
of this program.
Romania
I have
established contact with early childhood professional, Theresa Creel, who
has worked with
different advocate organizations on behalf of Romanian children over the past
17 years. Ms. Creel primarily works with
the Institute for Human Dignity, which supports children’s rights and provides
charity for children living in poverty in Romania. Ms. Creel also works with
Jesus the Hope of Romania, which advocates for educational aspects for children
in poverty, children with AIDS, orphaned children, disabled children, and
support of higher quality education for children in poverty. She has worked a
little with Casa Minuanta (Oradea, Romania), a school for disabled children,
and now open to other children as well.
Additionally, Ms. Creel has lead and arranged for teams to build playgrounds,
install bathrooms, and provide health education to a school in the poor village
of Doclin, Romania. The school was originally built in 1776! She comments that
they have, “Cute babies in that school!” I am very fortunate to have this
amazing early childhood professional, and personal friend and mentor, as a
contact to learn more about the current issues and trends in Romania.
I will also expand my early childhood resources by examining different early
childhood organization’s websites: I
chose one in the United States, and one that has international connections:
National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral
Agencies
http://www.naccrra.org/
(Newsletter: http://capwiz.com/naccrra/mlm/signup/
)
I chose to
examine the Child Care Resource and Referral Website because I am the director of a child care center and felt that the information I could learn
from this website would directly impact me professionally. Child Care Aware of
America works “with more than 600 state and local Child Care Resource and
Referral agencies to endure that families in every local community have access
to quality, affordable child care. To
achieve our mission, we lead projects that increase the quality and
availability of child care, offer comprehensive training to child care
professionals, undertake groundbreaking research, and advocate for child care
policies that improve the lives of children and families” (naccrra.org, 2012).
I found this
website helpful and look forward to examining these following resources that it
offers:
*Online training
for child care providers
*Recent reports
and current trends related to the early childhood field
*Parent
community information: becoming a child advocate, training, receive free
e-newsletters
*Free webinars
and trainings on early childhood topics.
One that was of great interest to me was the “Let’s Move! Child Care”
campaign that presented information in promoting more physical activity and
providing healthier food choices in early childhood
*Information
about child care quality, school readiness, parent perspectives, child care
demographics and cost in each state.
Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/
(online resources at: http://acei.org/knowledge/ )
I chose to
review the ACEI website for international information on early childhood
education issues and trends.
The ACEI’s
mission is:
“To promote and
support the optimal education development, and well-being of children
worldwide, and to influence the professional growth of educators and the
efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children in changing
society. We have a consultative status
with the United Nations” (acei.org)
*I loved the
resource it provided on global news in the early childhood field
*I am also
looking forward to examining more issues that are addressed in their website
blog. I quickly looked at this and found
the following information very applicable to what we have already learned about
in other courses:
According to ACEI: The Ten
Pillars of a Good Childhood Include:
1.
Safe and secure places for living, with learning and access to
health care, clothing, and nutritious food
2.
Strong families and loving, consistent caregivers
3.
Social interactions and friendships
4.
Creative play and physical activity
5.
Appreciation and stewardship of the natural environment
6.
Creative expression through music, dance, drama, and the other
arts
7.
Education that develops the full capacities of the
child—cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and ethical
8.
Supportive, nurturing, child-friendly communities
9.
Growing independence and decision making
10. Children and youth participating in community life.
*ACEI also takes
part in many early childhood initiatives – the current initiative is a global
partnership with UNICEF and other major organizations on children with
disabilities http://www.unicef.org/disabilities/index_65319.html
