Reflecting on Learning

My greatest hope for the future is that all parents would try to teach their kids the right way. Some parents believe that what they say is right and nothing is they say is wrong. As an advocate for the future of anti-bias education, I will continue to work tirelessly for the children to be taught the right way. We as anti-bias educator should always make it a point to keep up with all the things that will help to make a change for the kids of the future, this means all the laws and legislation that will affect our kids. Anyone who want a completely anti-bias education should make sure that they keep communication open between home, family and community.
To my colleagues, I have enjoyed reading your blog post and learning from each other. Hopefully, we keep in touch and continue to read each other blogs as we process through our college careers and afterward. Good to ALL OF YOU.

Impacts on Early Emotional Development on East Africa and the Pacific

The area that I chose to write about is East Asia and the Pacific. "Violence against children – “encompassing physical or mental violence, injury and abuse,
neglect or negligent treatment, and maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse”–
is prevalent in all societies (UN CRC, 1989; Gilbert et al., 2009; Krug et al., 2002; Pinheiro,
2006). Meta-analyses of estimates show that violence against children is widespread across the
region, with 17-35% prevalence for both boys and girls in low and lower middle income
countries and lower prevalence rates (1-13%) in upper middle and high-income countries.
Fairly consistent findings across the region highlight that nearly three out of every four
children experience violent discipline." ( http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/).This is really sad, these children have to constantly struggle everyday to survive. The abuse is having a very bad effect on the mental and physical health of these children, they are struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, as well as smoking at a young age. All of this can have a detrimental effect on their long term health and well being, they can have problems that can range from cancer to Hepatitis to AIDS to depression all because of continual use of drugs and alcohol at such a young age.
The situation with these kids sadden me deeply. I would like very much like to help these kids and do something to change the situation that they are faced with. Children deserve to be able to play, laugh and learn and these kids are not able to do that because they are constantly fighting everyday to survive instead of being children and leading a normal life.

East Africa and the Pacific retrieved on October 18, 2014 from  http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/.

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

"Children growing up today are bombarded from a very early age with graphic messages about sex and
sexiness in the media and popular culture." (Levin, 2009). Today children are exposed to so much sex it is ridiculous. From the shows they watch, to the songs they sing, to the friends they hang with. Children are constantly put in a position where they are exposed to sexy dance moves, kissing, hugging and sex. If they choose not to participate they are talked about by thier friends and treated bad. Some are ostracized and made to feel worthless. As a teenage, my mom did not let me date or watch the kind of shows that are on now, but I cannot keep my kids from being exposed when it is constantly all around them. I have tried to watch some of these shows and to tell you to truth i can't believe what I see. Kids as young as nine and ten are dressed or should I say half dressed and moving in a way that make me blush and leave the room. The things they are doing should be kept to the privacy of a bedroom and the moves should not be done by a child their age and they should not even know anything about them.

 These stats about teen pregnancy are amazing:

  Despite declines in rates of teen pregnancy in the U.S., about 820,000 teens become pregnant each   year. That means that 34 percent of teenagers have at least one pregnancy before they turn 20. 

• 79 percent of teenagers who become pregnant are unmarried. 
• Utah's teen pregnancy rate is high, as well as Southern teen pregnancy but these are areas where women still get married prior to the age of 20 with some regularity (although this is changing). 
• 80 percent of teenage pregnancies are unintended. 
• Nearly four in ten teenage girls whose first intercourse experience happened at 13 or 14 report that the sex was unwanted or involuntary. 
• The main rise in the teen pregnancy rate is among girls younger than 15* 
• Close to 25 percent of teen mothers have a second child within two years of the first birth.*  

Children should be able to enjoy their lives and teenage years and not have to care for a child when they are just a child themselves. My hope is that my children be as careful as possible and try to make the right decison amid all the peer pressure and media exposure.


Reference

 Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf

Teen Pregnancy Statistics - Teen Pregnancy   

retrieved on October 12, 2014 from

www.teenhelp.com/teen-pregnancy/teen-pregnancy-statistics.html

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

The ism that I encounter everyday is racism. Everyday everyone say that it is getting better or that I don't exist anymore this is a story. "Racism has existed throughout human history. It may be defined as the hatred of one person by another -- or the belief that another person is less than human -- because of skin color, language, customs, place of birth or any factor that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that person. It has influenced wars, slavery, the formation of nations, and legal codes." (www.adl,org, 2001).Racism is still a major problem from trying to purchase a house to trying to get a job or promotion. On my job it took a long time for the supervisor to recognize the work I do and give me credit for a job well done and a promotion. Whites don't want to think that a African American is as smart as or smarter than them.
My experience with people on my job may cause me to believe that all Whites are this way and cause me to treat my students of this race with disdain and even loathing because of the way I am being treated. I may not give them the time and attention that I know that I should and may give them all the benefits of my knowledge. We, as educator are suppose to treat everyone the same and show respect for all, but if all you encounter everyday from a certain race is racism and you are feeling like you are being looked over and looked down at that will sooner or later start to affect your mind, body and soul. No child is to blame for what thier parents feel and think and I would try my best to get past my feelings and give the best education I can.

Observing Communication

The place that I observed a parent and child was at a gas station. The child was about 7 years old and seem to be very used to getting his way. The child wanted some candy and kept going over to the rack and picking it up. The parent took the candy away and told the child that they could not have it because they was going home to have dinner. The child start to cry and stomp his feet. Everyone started looking at them and you could tell that the parent was becoming embarrassed, she finally purchased the candy and took the child back to the car. This was not very good at all because the parent should have made a point of letting the child know that just because he cry and stomp his feet that he cannot get everything that he wants. According this article,  "Do not reward your child's tantrum by giving in. This will only prove to your little one that the tantrum was effective. Instead, verbally praise a child for regaining control. Also, kids may be especially vulnerable after a tantrum when they know they've been less than adorable. Now (when your child is calm) is the time for a hug and reassurance that your child is loved, no matter what."(Heath, 2010).  "Effective parent-child communication is the basis of positive parent-child interactions and high self-esteem in children. Furthermore, effective communication between parents and children prevents problematic behavior and helps children understand how to interact effectively with others.(kidshealth, 2014). If this parent learn how to communicate effectively this child will go up to be a very productive adult.

References
Effective Communication with Children | Education.com retrieved on September 20, 2014 from
http://www.education.com/reference/article/effective-parent-child-communication/

Temper Tantrums - KidsHealth retrieved on September 20, 2014 from
kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/tantrums.html

Creating Affirming Environments

For my family care home, I would have everything needed to make sure that my surrounding is completely suited to everyone.  The definition of a family care provider " is a person who uses their residence to provide paid child care on a regular, ongoing basis. Children are brought to the caregiver's home for care (vs. a caregiver who goes to the child's home to provide care).(www.about.com, 2014.) My house will consist of everything from books that depicts stories about different races and cultures to stories of struggles, triumphs, and tragedy, so that kids can learn about and be proud of their heritage. We would play music from different countries and watch different types of movies and videos that teach different languages for the kids to learn. We will have fun by playing with dolls, coloring pictures, doing plays to the girls and boys will enjoy. No one will be made to play with different types of toys according to their age or sex. If a boy want to play with a doll, he can and if a girl want to play with a car, she can without feeling like they will be teased or ridiculed. We will play, laugh, sing, dance, read, build and talk about whatever we are feeling. My house will feel like their house and no one will ever be made to feel like and outsider. In my family care home, everyone is family.

References
What is a Family Child Care Provider? - About
childcare.about.com  › In-Home Child Care

What I have learned

The one hope that I have when working with children and families from a diverse background is that they are all given a chance and opportunity to learn. I want these children and their families to be treated the same as kids from a more privilege background who may have better resources and people to help them. I hope that the educators will not show them any bias and they will treat them equally and fairly and help them to develop the self-confidence to handle any situation that they may encounter. I wish that early childhood leaders and instructors will pay more attention to the fact that diversity is something that is not going away. People of all types, groups, colors, and blended families are having kids, teaching, and opening day cares, so more laws and rules need to be made so that some of these children and families will not be made to feel like they are outcasts and treated different because of their diversity.
To my classmates, good luck and god sped, it has been a pleasure to get to know you through our blogs and discussions post. I enjoyed seeing pictures of your family and home life. I hope that you complete this course and get your degree and make all of your dreams come ture.