International Educational Organizations

 

I enjoyed exploring the ECCE section of UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization)’s website.  It provided for numerous examples on what the organization is doing to support early childhood education around the world.  One section in particular that I enjoyed reading was that highlighting a new book series launched in coordination with ADEA (Association with the Development of Education in Africa) that showcase experiences of African families.  “The series covers topical subjects affecting the lives of African families that parents are sometimes reluctant to address. These include various topics such as war and conflict, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the issue of water resources and environmental protection”.  The book series titled, “Bouba and Zaza and Childhood Cultures” is not only for families it can be used as a resource for educators to teach social, emotional and communication skills. “The book series addresses the glaring shortage of children’s books adapted to African contexts”.  With African being home to the “youngest population in the world, this book series is sure to help with early childhood global initiative efforts. 

Sharing Web Resources Cont'd

 

I came across a section on ACEI’s website that highlighted a platform for individuals to have conversations and exchange ideas and experiences.

 

Goals of the Decade

 

•  Promote and protect childhood as a unique and critical stage of human development •  Explore childhood from interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives •  Identify issues that erode childhood •  Advocate for children's rights as a vital element of childhood •  Translate the "Ten Pillars of a Good Childhood" into policies and practices that benefit all children

 

Within this section, it also showcased the Ten Pillars of Good Childhood, which relates exactly to my current professional development and service.  The pillars focus on important aspects that help to create the most optimal early childhood environment. 

The Ten Pillars of a Good Childhood

 

The Ten Pillars of a Good Childhood are a starting point that can be used to consider what a good childhood looks like today. Please use these pillars for your engagement with this decade. How are they relevant to the experience of childhood in your home, your community, or your nation? Share the Ten Pillars with others. We would like to hear your opinions about the pillars and about creative ways that the pillars have been used by you to guide policies and practices related to the experience of childhood.

 

1. Safe and secure places for living and learning,
   with access to health care, clothing, shelter, 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.

 

Of the ten pillars, strong families and loving consistent caregivers, education that develops the full capacities of the child and creative play and physical activity stood out to me.  I believe that we need families to be involved just as much as those who service and advocate for children.  And we must work together with the families in order to have the greatest impact on a child’s life.  Developing the whole child and incorporating play and daily physical activity are also key points in the early childhood field. 

 

“Through collaboration and partnerships at local, regional, national, and international levels, we will extend our work, especially when enriched by insights across multiple sectors, including education, health, ecology, recreation, sociology, and psychology” (ACEI, n.d).  The platform in which professionals across different sectors can come together certainly allows for more of a collaborative approach for the issues and trends to be discussed in the early childhood field. 

 

  http://acei.org/

http://www.decadeforchildhood.org/

 

Sharing Web Resources

            http://acei.org/

This organization was founded to help promote education and support children around the globe.  This organization has been around for over 100 years, established in 1892 in UK and later expanding to its international name in 1946. 

“ACEI holds Consultative Status at the United Nations and membership in the NGO Committee  on UNICEF”

One current issues that stood out to me was their efforts to support children in different countries around the world. Currently there is a push to help support children in Costa Rica.

I also found it interesting to read about the news of a pending code of ethics. 

ACEI announced that it is developing an International Code of Ethics for Educators.  “It will be designed as a universal instrument that reflects internationally accepted humanitarian values, United Nation treaties, and other international agreements.  It may be adapted and applied by educators around the world as a tool for critical reflection and professional aspirations”. 

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Establishing a global professional contact circle is becoming harder than anticipated.  I will continue to seek relationships across the globe with professionals in the field.  I am positive I will get at least one connection this coming week.  But in the mean time, I will also prepare to work on the alternate assignment.  I have found interesting in several of the podcasts available and look forward to listening to the NPR interviews.

The list of resources provided for in my current course were of familiarity to me such as Zero to Three.  Some new organizations that I find interesting to study for this course include the following:

Association for Childhood Education International

International Step by Step Association

I think that its important to study organizations from a more global lens, so I chose two organizations that stretches across the globe.  

I look forward to reading the newsletters for both organizations and exploring their sites to learn more about how each organization is supporting the early childhood community.  

My Supports

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As an adult, an educator, mother and graduate student, I have come to recognize the importance of being supported in my life.  In a variety of aspects I rely on supports in order to make it through my day, and or specific experiences in my life.







 Being a single mom, I do a lot on my own, but I do receive a lot of support on a daily basis from my family members including my own children.  My sisters, mother, and my significant other help when they can in ways that I am internally grateful. Times in which, I need a sitter to attend an event or simply to get some "me" time.  The people in my family provide me with physical supports at times. 





My close friends are also very supportive.  They provide support by being a shoulder to cry on or just by listening to me vent.  They allow me to talk through challenges or stress that I may face.  It is with them that I receive the most valuable type of support, because I am able to keep my sanity. 



 
 Collaboration is a number one component of effective teaching.  My colleagues are also a source of support.  I am able to share ideas, get feedback as well as engage in conversation with my colleagues on a daily basis when I'm in the field.  This support is also important to me, because it allows me to grow professionally and better my craft. 


 

If I had a challenge, such as if I got sick and couldn't work.  I definitely would need more physical support from my family and friends in order to do everyday things; taking my girls to school, running errands. I would need monetary support if it were for a long0term amount of time.  I believe I would also continue to need emotional support from friends and family as well.  I am the type of person that can get stressed by lifes woes and sometimes needs help with lifting my spirits.  I definitely would need emotional support to get through a life changing event as the described above . 

My Connections to Play

One of my favorite things to do when I was a child was build a fort with sheets and pillows across a sofa or table or even on our bunk beds.  My sisters and I had limited opportunities to play outside, so we did majority of our playing indoors. I think that play was essential to my development in that it allowed me to interact with others, make friends, learn how to be a team player, learn how to win/lose, learn how to share and be patient.  All these things have been embedded into me as I grew older.  I think play is vital in teaching children some fundamental traits that will help in adulthood.





As a child, I enjoyed playing with my sisters and cousins, and other kids.  I did enjoy playing games such as:  tag, red light-green light, simon says, etc.  Those types of games that involved playing with others were a major type of play that I enjoyed.  I enjoyed playing with dolls, coloring/drawing/painting and jump roping a lot as a child.  Those are some things I would say were essential play items for my younger self.





Two Quotes That Represent Play During My Childhood



I think its important to know that play isn't necessarily meant to be organized and neat.  Sometimes it involves messing things up an being chaotic.  I really enjoyed arts as a child, which I continue to do as an adult.  Anything involving drawing, painting, creative expressions were always things I enjoyed doing.





Any chance I got, I wanted to play.  My parents were quite strict and things had to be kept a certain way, so horseplay was limited to certain times and places.  I remember not always having as much time to play, but when given the chance, I made it my job to have fun.  I think to look at play as a "job" for kids is very valid, because children have no real control over much, but when it comes to their imagination and interacting with other kids, playing games, etc. it their job; their work.







I think play is still a major component of young childrens' lives, however I the age in which children decrease the amount of play is happening earlier. Technology, I feel is a major cause in the shift of the type of play that children are engaged.  Tablets, and cell phones have kinda replaced the more active forms of play that I was accustomed to.  I think that using technology is great for our young kids, but in moderation. Children nowadays should get out and engage in the type of play that involves being active more frequently.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to my overall health and well-being.  I believe that relationships, whether it be relationships that I have at home, work, the public, and globally are all essential in my growth as a human being. 

Relationships that fall within my home life to include: family members and close friends are my number one priority.  My children, significant other and family members/close friends are the people who impact my life the most and to which I make decisions.  Besides my children, two positive relationships that I have are with long-time friends, one that I met in high school and the other that I met in college.  They both impact my life in a positive way. We share common likes/dislikes, they are easy to talk to and bounce ideas off of, and they have shown consistency with regards being there for me. I think some reasons why these relationships are successful are because of several characteristics to include:  trust, spending time interacting with each other, and reciprocity in all aspects of the word.

Like all relationships, there are rough times, but we always seem to be there for each other, and not hold grudges or betray one another. 

I think on challenge to any relationship is being able to deal with the differences that each individual brings to the table.  Even though my two close friends and I have similar likes/dislikes, traits, etc., we still are individuals and don’t agree on everything. 

I believe that being able to recognize that every person has the right to have their own opinion and that you may have to agree to disagree on certain things will make relationships more successful.  I also, believe that the foundation of positive relationships begin with effective communication.  All relationships have to encompass effective communication skills from both parties.   Without communication, you will not be able to develop a relationship at all. 

Effective communication skills along with being an equal contributor can in turn help with being an effective early childhood professional in that we must build strong and positive relationships with the young children and their families that we serve.