Connecting Internationally- Major Benefits

In attempting to connect with an early childhood professional internationally, I have learned that many countries face similar issues as the United States.  The affordability of high quality early childhood programs, accessibility of high quality early childhood programs to young children in rural areas and poverty are a few consequences which have affected me and my professional career.

The country's economy plays a large part in the disparity of the socio-economic population.  In Mongolia, families living in poverty increased in the 1990's.  Young children and their families do not have adequate health care which effects their overall development.  Migration is a technique used to assist families living in poverty to relocate into urban areas.  Then families will have more opportunities for education and employment.  I plan to continue communicating with international early childhood professionals to find different ways to allow more families to access high quality early childhood programs (Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre, 2012).





Many countries have issues with accessibility and funding for high quality early childhood programs.  There is great difficulty training staff and locating staff to work in high quality early childhood programs.  Young children with disabilities do not participate in high quality early childhood programs due to being hidden or placed in institutions.  Societies need to understand the importance of investing in high quality early childhood programs to ensure our future.  Young children with various abilities require opportunities to assist them reach their full potential.

www.worldforumfoundation.org



Even though I was unable to to make contact with an early childhood professional internationally, I will continue to try and make contact with an international early childhood professional.  Once I make contact with several international early childhood professionals, I would like to form an exchange program in order to experience situations they face on a daily basis with their young students.  It will also provide opportunities to understand the unique characteristics of different cultures by being immersed in the culture.  In re-examining my professional goals, I plan to encourage my staff to develop relationships with international early childhood professionals and provide opportunities to live in their country.  They would also have the opportunity to work with my staff.  I am confident several of my international contacts will respond where additional opportunities for collaboration shall begin.

I would like to thank all of my colleagues and future international colleagues for your support.  I look forward to continued collaboration.  Good fortune on your future endeavors .



"It takes a village to raise a child." -African Proverb-

Getting to Know My International Contacts- Part 3

Unfortunately, I have not been able to make a contact with a international early childhood professional.  I am still going to continue to try even with this class has ended.  I am excited that in time, I will make a contact.  I look forward to building a relationship where we would be able to participate in exchange programs.  I will continue to try and make a contact with a international early childhood professional.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is responsible for the first World Conference.  During the conference, the global action agenda was developed for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).  The UNESCO makes sure the Moscow Framework allows all young children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

The 2000 Dakar Framework for Action reinforced how essential early childhood programs are for proper development.  Countries which are committed to expanding opportunities for young children to access early childhood programs have developed policies to assist lower income families.  Some countries work to provide opportunities for young children with little to no means to access early childhood programs where funding is reduced for young children which have means to access early childhood programs.  Governments must provide high quality early childhood programs for all young children without making one socio-economic group more important.

There is no specific criteria to quantify ECCE quality.  Several factors need to be considered.  The materials for teaching, setting for service, parental education and involvement play a large part in the quality of early childhood programs.  The ECCE workforce consists of a diversity of pre-school teachers, care workers, informal carers and other professionals.  It is crucial to have adequate training and work conditions to ensure high quality early childhood programs.  The physical infrastructure does change from country to country.

Other countries face funding concerns and decisions when funds are limited.  Many countries decide to use the funding for formal education foregoing the importance for overall development in young children.  An idea is to improve pedagogy in preschool which is a part of the formal school, especially when preschool is not funded as a early childhood program.  Parents and communities must be actively involved in appropriate play and educational supplies for early childhood programs to meet the needs of all children while other stakeholders maintain operations on an ongoing basis.

The largest obstacle countries face is increasing and providing better quality early childhood care and education.  Developing countries may not make early childhood education and care a priority.  Universal primary education would take top priority.  The 1990 Jomtien Declaration on Education explained that countries need to examine early childhood as a foundational part of education.  The government has major challenges making sure early childhood programs are funded.  As a general rule, governments set aside a small amount of funding for early childhood programs and care.  This fact makes it very difficult to provide the necessary training and resources to ensure all young children have the opportunity to attend high quality early childhood programs for their overall development.

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-system/early-childhood/



"It takes a village to raise a child." -African Proverb-

Sharing Web Resources- Zero to Three

Early Head Start National Resource Center

There are baby products which identify themselves as preventing SIDS.  The FDA made an announcement that the agency has never cleared or approved a baby product to prevent or reduce the risk of SIDS.  Baby products which have these claims would be medical devices and they would be monitored by the FDA.  The information provide is to make manufacturers of baby products and parents aware of the laws and regulations for medical devices according to the FDA.

Additional information can be found at:

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Resourcesforyou/Industry/ucm275776.htm (Letter to Manufacturers)

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/Consumerupdates/ucm275847.htm  (Consumer Update)

Another resource I found on this link is Online Lessons.  It is information which can assist early care professionals reflect on their care practices and infant/toddler development.  The link is Digging Deeper.  This section is exploring "Looking Beyond Behavior to Discover the Meaning of Biting."  In this lessons deals with why infants and toddlers bite?  There are three lessons on the importance of relationships.  It helps early care professionals identify positive and supportive relationships, recognize relationship building skills and reflect on your own skills in promoting positive relationships with infants, toddlers and their families.

www.ehsnrc.org/Publications/onlinelessons.htm

The section I focused on is "Public Policy" on the Zero to Three website. 

• Building Early Childhood Systems - Early childhood professionals understand the need for all infants and toddlers to have access to affordable high quality childcare.  The only way programs and services can address the diverse needs of the families is with a strong infrastructure.  The resources listed below can assist early childhood professionals enhance high quality prenatal to five services where you live.
• Policy Guide is the Early Experiences Matter Policy Guide provides policy briefs, useful tools and comprehensive policy papers.
• Baby Matters:  A Gateway to State Policies and Initiatives is the Baby Matters database with information on state policies and opportunities which affect infants, toddlers and their families.
• Professional Resources is a great information source to enhance early childhood programs.

www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/building-early-childhood-systems

Infants-Toddlers Policy Issues uses the science of early childhood development.  The whole child philosophy was used when developing this detailed resources for families with infants and toddlers to assist then by providing techniques which ensure healthy overall development of their child.

Good Health is a resource to support overall healthy development.

Strong Families is a resource to assist with developing a strong family foundation and with unique needs of the families with young children.

Positive Early Learning Experiences is a resource which gives examples of positive early learning experiences. 

www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/infant-toddler-policy-issues/

I have not received a newsletter yet.  I did receive the Zero to Three Insider.  It has wonderful resources.  The resources they focus on divorce and young children, working with special needs children, resource guide to assist early childhood professionals, evidence based practice, reflective supervision and child's play.  Another article listed in the insider deals with babies that are in foster care in the hospital.  The Insider mentions an article in May 2012 journal which addresses how young children can remain emotionally connected when their parents are away for prolonged amount of time or repeated experiences of separation like military deployment.  Parent-child separation is very stressful.  The article provides techniques for early childhood professionals to support families with young children during these stressful moments in their lives.

www.zerotothree.org

"It takes a village to raise a child." -African Proverb-

Getting to Know Your International Contacts Part 2

Unfortunately, the international early childhood professionals I contacted did not respond.  I will continue to try and make a contact with at least one international professional.

This week the topic of discussion was equity in early childhood education.  The young children with special needs have many challenges which creates concerns about receiving an equal opportunity to succeed like their typically developing peers.  I inquired about the "Working Group on including children with Special Needs".  In the world, there are approximately 650 million persons with disabilities.  Unfortunately, children which have special needs experience being excluded, hidden, left to survive on their own placed in a institution and treated horribly.  Over 97 percent of children with disabilities do not go to school. 

Even though every country has its unique challenges, they are some issues that are shared.  Many countries find it challenging to access and improve funding.  The use of certain terms are not constant throughout.  A positive way to help society in all countries find ways to deal with stigma and negative ideas about disabilities.  Several countries have trouble locating staff which are trained and training staff effectively.  Many countries are finding it difficult to have policies coincide with the best practices.  It is disheartening that other countries face helping families in poverty without having enough resources.

I have joined the mission to regain the vision of inclusion in their country.  I am looking forward to working with my colleagues in other countries to ensure that our youngest children are included on matter their disability throughout the world.

www.worldforumfoundation.org

The global children's initiative concentrates on finding ways to open global dialogue to educate essential international agencies on the necessity of investing in the earliest years of a child's life.  Another important mission is to ensure that the health and development of young children are being met by making sure countries are providing quality childcare programs, researching disease control, and providing the necessary interventions for quality preschool. 

Mental health in children is an issue that has not been explored in depth across the countries.  More research opportunities are being developed which will influence policy and services provided to children with various background.  Even though the Global Children's initiative has several priorities, the main focus is to build an infrastructure that will work with educators in a setting with global diversity.  Leadership training will be provided for researchers, policy makers and institutions located in the major areas of the world.

www.developingchildharvard.edu

As I read about early childhood professionals around the world, many countries have the same issues we have the United States.  Many countries are finding ways to make sure the young children have quality education and are healthy overall.  Young children and their families around the world are facing challenging due to poverty, opportunities and resources.  Urban areas have the more of the resources needed to provide quality education to their young children throughout the world.  Harvard University Center on the Developing Child is working with the majority of countries around the world to find techniques through research to solve the issues plaguing the early childhood field.

"It takes a village to raise a child." -African Proverb-