Sharing Web Resources: Part Two

The organization that I am following is the Child Development Network in Singapore for the duration of this course.  After researching and surfing the website, I came across an interesting article in the quarterly newsletter that reflects on a book titled, Extending the Dance in Infant and Toddler Caregiving.  This book is a great resource for early childhood educators that value the importance of developing attachments and relationships with their infants and toddlers, such as myself and I'm pretty sure everyone enrolled in this course. The book balances theory and true, real-life stories, with the assistance of suggested strategies and uses the metaphor "relationship as a dance".  This metaphor promotes secure attachment from a child point of view. I feel that sometimes as early childhood professionals, we tend to forget to view things from a eyes of little people. 

I found this section of the newsletter enlightening because I never thought of caring for infants and toddler as a "dance".  I love the fact that this organization provides resources such as books for caregivers and professionals to read and reflect on. It is very important for early childhood professionals to be partners to families, and to also be specialists in providing all young children with stimulating and secure learning environment.

The Early Years Development Framework:  From Principles to Practice, in the newsletter focuses on the need for more professional training and development.  A 16-hour training course will be provided for early childhood caregivers that will assist with the "unpacking"of the key guiding principles into implementable classroom practices.  Funding is also mentioned in this section of the newsletter.

Here is the link to the newsletter from Sept. 2012

https://app.cdn.gov.sg/Portals/0/imapbuilder/EC%20Digest%20(Jul-Sep%2012).pdf

Getting To Know International Contacts

Well, I finally heard from my London Contact!!  Her name is Jane Burgess and she works with Infants at the Regents Park Nursery in London, England. Jane is not very technology savvy, so our communication will most likely be far and in between!  LOL...  I am very grateful that she did reach out to me though!  I mentioned to Jane that we are discussing poverty this week in this course.  Jane said that, "she wasn't aware of any families in their facility that may be affected by poverty, but they are in tune with the needs of their families and would reach out to assist families if the need was there."  Regents Park Nursery is a Bright Horizons facility, and I was shocked when Jane brought this to my attention, because there are Bright Horizons schools in all parts of America.  This nursery provides breakfast, a two course lunch, and an afternoon tea!  In America that would be an afternoon snack!  Jane also mentioned to me that they serve healthy foods prepared by a chef, in conjunction with a nutritionist.  She stated, "We even grow our own food!"  Jane and I have agreed to contact each other bi-weekly in order to continue our international connection.  

Here is the link to the Regents Park Nursery
http://www.brighthorizons.co.uk/our-nurseries/regents-park-nursery-london/about-this-nursery/overview

Here is a picture of the Toddler Room also!

I'm still patiently waiting to hear back from my contact in Mexico!!!  Be on the lookout!

Sharing Web Resources

CHILD DEVELOPMENT NETWORK IN SINGAPORE

The organization that I have chosen to follow is the Child Development Network in Singapore for the duration of this course.  I am interested in this organization because I am very interested and curious about the focus of early childhood development outside of the US.  The Child Development Network aims to promote quality early childhood care and development in Singapore, with a focus on professional development and research in early childhood. I looked over a newsletter and read that Infant/Toddler care includes bathing in addition to feeding and diapering, at their childcare facilities. According to the newsletter these routines offer one-on-one interaction between the educarer and the child in order to bond and built secure attachments, and to foster language cognitive, and social-emotional development.  I was happy to see many key word that have been used throughout my courses in this degree program.  The bathing of children was very surprising to me. I don't think I have ever heard of anyone bathing children at their facilities, whereas this is the norm in Singapore!

Here is the link to the website I chose:  https://app.cdn.gov.sg/Publications/ENEWSLETTER.aspx

Here is the link to the newsletter I read that provided the information on bathing infants/toddlers:
https://app.cdn.gov.sg/Portals/0/imapbuilder/EC%20Digest%20(Jul-Sep%2012).pdf

 I'm really excited about finding this resource and I can't wait to read more about early childhood care in Singapore! 

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Part One:

I have attempted to reach out to two Early Childhood contacts outside the US.  One of the contacts is in Veracruz, Mexico and the other contact is in London, England.  I have not received a response as of yet, but I feel confident that these contacts will follow up with me.  Both contacts are people that I have met through associates of the Children's Courtyard.   I can't wait to hear from them!


Part Two:

I have chosen NACCP (The National Association of Child Care Professions) as my early childhood organization that supports the early childhood community and the resources it offers.   I have chosen this organization because I am not only a member of this organization, I am also a validator for this organization!  The mission states:  NACCP is committed to strengthen the skills of owners, directors, administrators, emerging leaders and other professionals who are dedicated to early care and education (NACCP, 2012).  My school is accredited through NAC, the accreditation process that stands firm on doing what's best for the "whole" child. 
NACCP is the nation's leader among associations serving child care owners, directors, and administrators. The organization's goal is to improve, enhance and strengthen the credibility of the people who lead the child care industry by providing membership services and benefits. 

My Supports

I don't know where I would be today if I didn't have the support of my family, friends, and staff! I rely on each of these individuals on a daily basis.First of all, let's start with my family...I was scared to death to learn that I was expecting a baby at 37 years old!  What was I going to do?  I have always lived my life only having to worry about ME!!!  My parents have been an absolute joy in helping support me with my son.  My doctor once said to me, "I wish I had the problem you have....deciding who you want to have babysit your son!" I get to have "me" time as much as I need it!  My parents have supported my career in the early childhood field and also me furthering my education.  I have support from them just to do my homework sometimes!  They have been amazing! My dad is my life line.  His wisdom is beyond measure and I love listening and following his advice.   My sister also plays an intricate part in my huge support web.  She is my son's second mother, I'm really starting to believe!  My fiance/son's father and his family has also been a huge support factor in my world.  I have a close knit relationship with his parents and his sisters.  Both sides of the family are jealous of each other when it comes to my baby boy. I am still able to enjoy myself and have much needed quiet moments, especially after a long day at work. I am supported emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially by my fiance.  He is such a friend to me.  My friends are there for me when I need some advice or someone to just listen to me vent.  Walden University has made it possible for me to follow my dream of completing my Masters degree in my own home.  There is so much support behind the scenes of this wonderful web of people desiring the same aspirations as myself.  The support system of my staff that I lead each and every day is unexplainable.  Let's just say this....My staff is the wind beneath my wings...  My district manager has supported my career by allowing me to grow and develop in management and she also supports my decision to further my education.  She has been a srong leader, mentor, and friend to me for the last 18 years of my life.

As I stated before, if I didn't have these supports, I don't know where I would be!  I would be lost and alone.  I would have no one to offer me guidance and wisdom. That would be a challenge in itself.  If I  didn't have anyone to help me with my son, I would have establish friendships with new people or my son would have to be with me all the time and this would not be healthy for wither one of us.  I would definitely have to depend on my church family more.  Luckily in reality, I don't have this problem and I am very thankful for my support system!.

My Connections to Play

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”George Bernard Shaw 

In my soul, I am still that small child who did not care about anything else but the beautiful colors of a rainbow." Papiha Ghosh


These are two quotes that I feel summarize what play represented for me during my childhood and as an continues to represent for me as an adult.  

"What can I say???  I really wasn't old enough for the Easy Bake Oven at 4 years old but I HAD TO HAVE IT!!  It was definitely essential for play and dessert!!!

 "I loved my doll head... she used to look so beautiful after I curled her hair!  I also wanted to look beautiful after I made her beautiful...also definitely essential for play and fashion at 5 years old!!

"My Baby Alive was essential for developing my 5 year old mommy skills!  She was the sweetest baby and I loved fixing her food and feeding her "real baby food" and she always ate it all and she even needed me to change her diaper when the food came out!  LOL...

My parents and grandparent played a major role in the support of play during my childhood years.  I was able to be creative and expand on my creativity and never rushed to grow up!  I had pretend groceries to shop with and a cash register that allowed me to be the shopper and the cashier and no one said I couldn't be both!! My parents and grandparents allotted time for me daily to play with my sister and the neighborhood children both indoors and outdoors.

Play is different than the play that I was engaged in as a child in many ways!  We were more active and not as technology driven.  There was not so much emphasis on learning and mastering standardized tests and there was not so much pressure to be a kid.  I was allowed to be a child! Oh boy, I couldn't wait for the summer to spend with my grandparents because they bought me all the toys I wanted!  Play can still be similar to how it was back when I was a child if parents would just slow down......  and stop trying to keep up with the next person.  This is my own opinion.  Parents are forcing their children to grow up entirely too fast and being raised by the television, computer, and video games.

I am so excited about my toddler son developing at the stage that he is developing.  I can't wait to introduce him to toys that he can touch, feel, and engage himself with, in order to develop cognitive, social, and emotional skills.  I'm so excited because I am still a big kid myself and I understand that play is a child's work and it is very HEALTHY!

Relationship Reflection

I feel that relationships are essential and vital for human development. I believe that positive relationships are healthy and promote and foster development in children and adults as well. I am very blessed to have postive relationships/partnerships in my world.

The 1st healthy relationship that I am most proud of is the relationship with my 13 month old son! We have a mother/child bond that is unexplainable! I have no words to describe the development of our relatioship and the level that we had yet to accomplish. He amazes me each and every day with the ways he is becoming independent with the help of mommy!



My son's father also plays an intricate part of my life. He has been very supportive with my decision to complete my degree and he is the best father to our son! We communicate and do the neccessary things that we need to do to ensure that our son has the best life possible! We are definitely partners when it comes to our baby boy and we have open lines of communication and we put our son first!

My mother and father are the epitamy of a perfect partnership/relationship and it trickled down from their parenting skills. I feel as if I had the best upbringing and I am very proud to say that I hope to model my parent's relationship whenever I decide to marry my soul mate because my parents are soulmates!