I haven't received a response from my international contacts, so therefore, I explored the "Global Children's Initiative " website to see what issues was related to this week's assignment: Excellence and Equity of Care and Education for Children and Families.
The Center on the Developing Child has launched the Blobal Children's Initiative as an effort to connect internationally with others as an appoach to child survival, health, and development in the earliest years of life. The Center's commitment is to meet the needs of all children and use a critical investment in the roots of economic productivity, positive health outcomes, and strong civil society in all nations fromthe poorest to the most affluent (Center on the Developing Child, 2011).
One of the latest approaches discussed on the website was a 2010 World Conference in Moscow titled, "Global Gathering on Moscow Put Spotlight on Early Childhood Issues." The Center Director Jack Shonkoff delivered a keynote address to put early childhood care and education (ECCE) front and center as a human development policy imperative.
In an effort for excellence and equity of care and education for children and families, in 2000, the world's governments established a set of goals- such as ending extreme poverty and hunger, to ensure that every child worldwide completes at least a primary education, and to reduce child mortality by two-thirds- to be achieved by 2015. These goals are known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
At the conference, Dr. Shonkoff described what brain science says about child development, how healthy cognitive development and the unhealthy effects of early-life adversity have ramifications both for the long-term health of the individual and for society, and what the implications are for policymakers.
I would like to share with you a statement in the article that really enlightened me about early childhood care and education by Dr. Mmantsetsa Marope, the director of the Division of Basic Education at UNESCO.
"ECCE is an unshakeable foundation for the development of the human capital required for higher value-added productivity, sustainable growth, competitiveness... and utlimately more equitable and politically stable societies."
References:
Center on the Developing Child-Harvard University-Global Children's Initiative. (2011). Global Gathering in Moscow Put Spotlight on Early Childhood Issues. Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Sharing Web Resources: Economists, Neuroscientists, and Politicians as Early Childhood Advocates
ZERO TO THREE:
http://www.zerotothree.org/
This week's assignment, I will be exploring the issues and trends on how economists, reuroscientists, and politicians seek out to be advocates for early childhood. ZERO TO THREE shared a newsletter with me this week titled, "The Baby Monitor: Be a Big Voice for Little Kids in the Debt Ceiling Debate!"
August 2, 2011 is the deadline for raising the debt ceiling debate. Advocates for very young children need to continue to pay attention to the debates because their outcome will determine the capacity for federal investments. The current debate continues to focus on changing the structure of budgeting, so advocates must focus on thow the effect of restructuring the size and role of the federal government would have on infants and toddlers.
To give you an understanding of the ongoing debate, ZERO TO THREE states: "The proposed spending capsw will shrink federal spending to about 18% of the GDP from its current level of 24%, which would result in hard hits to the broad range of services and programs that protect and support the healthy development of young children and their families." As advocates, we need to remind policymakers that they are proposing to cut not only government, but the supports for children and their families. In order to protect our children from the restructuring of budgeting, we need to "Be a Big Voice for Little Kids"!!!
If you want to know more about what's going on in your state, ZERO TO THREE has a public database called Baby Matters which contains information on state policies and initiatives impacting infants, toddlers, and their families that serve as a resource for professional, advocates, and policymakers.
References:
ZERO TO THREE. (2011). The Baby Monitor: Be a Big Voice for Little Kids in the Debt Ceiling Debate. Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/
http://www.zerotothree.org/
This week's assignment, I will be exploring the issues and trends on how economists, reuroscientists, and politicians seek out to be advocates for early childhood. ZERO TO THREE shared a newsletter with me this week titled, "The Baby Monitor: Be a Big Voice for Little Kids in the Debt Ceiling Debate!"
August 2, 2011 is the deadline for raising the debt ceiling debate. Advocates for very young children need to continue to pay attention to the debates because their outcome will determine the capacity for federal investments. The current debate continues to focus on changing the structure of budgeting, so advocates must focus on thow the effect of restructuring the size and role of the federal government would have on infants and toddlers.
To give you an understanding of the ongoing debate, ZERO TO THREE states: "The proposed spending capsw will shrink federal spending to about 18% of the GDP from its current level of 24%, which would result in hard hits to the broad range of services and programs that protect and support the healthy development of young children and their families." As advocates, we need to remind policymakers that they are proposing to cut not only government, but the supports for children and their families. In order to protect our children from the restructuring of budgeting, we need to "Be a Big Voice for Little Kids"!!!
If you want to know more about what's going on in your state, ZERO TO THREE has a public database called Baby Matters which contains information on state policies and initiatives impacting infants, toddlers, and their families that serve as a resource for professional, advocates, and policymakers.
References:
ZERO TO THREE. (2011). The Baby Monitor: Be a Big Voice for Little Kids in the Debt Ceiling Debate. Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Getting to Know International Contacts- Part 1
Establishing professional contact with early childhood professionals who work in different parts of the world has been very challenging. Since I haven't received a response from the professionals and organizations, I visited the website of the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre. I chose to read about the childhood poverty in China.
China is the world's most populous country with a population of 1.27 billion as of 2001. In efforts to make poverty reduction, in 2001, 5% of China's population lived below the national poverty line. Throughout the years, China's poverty level has been declining. Much of the decline in poverty in China was due to far-reaching processes of economic and social transition, but the economic growth was slower in Western China, leading to higher poverty rates. China's transition from a centrally planned to globalised market economy has helped reduce chronic poverty and disadvantages, but also created new forms of vulnerability and poverty. China's estimated 2009 population growth rate is .0655% and according to the CIA Factbook, their estimated population below the poverty line is 8%.
The low poverty rate in China also is declining because corporations all over the world are donating money and their support to help ensure China's poverty rate continues to fall to lower levels. The rural areas, however, are where most of the poor people are located which is consistent with low levels of investment on infracture and education. In order to continue lowering the percentage of poverty in China, corporations and outside institutions will have to continue donating money and resources.
My new insights about poverty is that this is an issue that effects many people and nations. People nor their nation can be blamed for their predicament, but as early childhood professionals, we can join different organizationa and advocate to make poverty decline for not only our community, but for all families around the world. When families have access to good, supporting jobs and available resources, they will have a better hope for future success.
References:
Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre. (CHIP). Retrieved from http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/
China Internet Information Center. (2004). China Through A Lens. Retrieved from
http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/poverty/96682.htm
CIA Factbook. Retrieved from http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/ch.html
China is the world's most populous country with a population of 1.27 billion as of 2001. In efforts to make poverty reduction, in 2001, 5% of China's population lived below the national poverty line. Throughout the years, China's poverty level has been declining. Much of the decline in poverty in China was due to far-reaching processes of economic and social transition, but the economic growth was slower in Western China, leading to higher poverty rates. China's transition from a centrally planned to globalised market economy has helped reduce chronic poverty and disadvantages, but also created new forms of vulnerability and poverty. China's estimated 2009 population growth rate is .0655% and according to the CIA Factbook, their estimated population below the poverty line is 8%. The low poverty rate in China also is declining because corporations all over the world are donating money and their support to help ensure China's poverty rate continues to fall to lower levels. The rural areas, however, are where most of the poor people are located which is consistent with low levels of investment on infracture and education. In order to continue lowering the percentage of poverty in China, corporations and outside institutions will have to continue donating money and resources.
My new insights about poverty is that this is an issue that effects many people and nations. People nor their nation can be blamed for their predicament, but as early childhood professionals, we can join different organizationa and advocate to make poverty decline for not only our community, but for all families around the world. When families have access to good, supporting jobs and available resources, they will have a better hope for future success.
References:
Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre. (CHIP). Retrieved from http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/
China Internet Information Center. (2004). China Through A Lens. Retrieved from
http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/poverty/96682.htm
CIA Factbook. Retrieved from http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/ch.html
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Issues and Trends: Changing Demographics and Diversity
ZERO TO THREE: The National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/
Zero To Three is a national nonprofit organization that promotes the health and development of infants and toddlers. This organization informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the early experiences of infants and toddlers.
This week Zero To Three shared a newletter with a article titled, "Your Child's Development 30 to 36 Months". This resource offers key information on child development at nine pivotal stages of early life from 30 to 36 months.
This article was related to this week's topic: Issues and Trends: Changing Demographics and Diversity, because it mentions that if your child notice how people are the same and different- like their skin color and size, you can help your child be sensitive to differences among people by saying: yes, people do come in all different sizes. At the bottom of the article, Zero To Three made a statement: "Your family's cultural beliefs and values are also important factors that shape your child's development".
http://www.zerotothree.org/
Zero To Three is a national nonprofit organization that promotes the health and development of infants and toddlers. This organization informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the early experiences of infants and toddlers.
This week Zero To Three shared a newletter with a article titled, "Your Child's Development 30 to 36 Months". This resource offers key information on child development at nine pivotal stages of early life from 30 to 36 months.
This article was related to this week's topic: Issues and Trends: Changing Demographics and Diversity, because it mentions that if your child notice how people are the same and different- like their skin color and size, you can help your child be sensitive to differences among people by saying: yes, people do come in all different sizes. At the bottom of the article, Zero To Three made a statement: "Your family's cultural beliefs and values are also important factors that shape your child's development".
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Establishing Professional Contacts & Expanding
In the course, of early childhood education, "Issues and Trends in the Early Childhood Field", I will be establishing contact with two early childhood professionals outside the United States. The Global Alliance for the Education of Young Children provides an opportunity for early childhood associations from countries throughout the world to distribute materials and share information about programs and services in early childhood. So far, my assignment on establishing professional contacts have been challenging. (HELP!!) I have attempted to contact South Africa, China, Ghana, Singapore, Ireland, Romania, Spain, and the Philippines. but haven't been successful. Also, I'm seeking to establish contacts with early childhood professionals throught the World Forum, which is a foundation that promotes an on-going global exchange of ideas on the delivery of quality services for young children in diverse settings. Through this site, I have established an email account with one of the members, Bonnie, on her blog site. I'm hoping to receive information from her about services around the world concerning issues and trends in early childhood.
During this course, I will be gathering and exploring information from The National Association for the Education of Young Children and Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families to help broaden my knowledge and understanding. Also, these organizations will keep me current on the issues and trends going on in the world today about early childhood.
Resources:
The Global Alliance of NAEYC
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance
World Forum Foundation
http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
The National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/
Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/
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