Poverty

I chose Kyrgyzstan, during the Soviet period, coal mining was the town’s main industry, but it is now dying out. Kokyangak is situated among the mountains, where there is very little land that is suitable for agricultural use, therefore the majority of the population depended on coal mining for their livelihood. The child I chose is  Bakyt he and his brothers are the primary money earners. His olders brothers work in the mines.The mines are dangerous and an unheathy place for anyone to work let alone children. His oldest brother hurts his back working in the same space.  The lack of support structures inside the mine mean that there is a very real danger that the tunnels could collapse at any time. Recently, Bakyt’s older brother hurt his back by carrying very heavy sacks of coal. He has not been to the doctor, though; instead, he rests at home.They rarely heat the house because they cannot afford to buy wood. Bakyt’s 13-year-old sister looks after their mother and grandmother, and often misses school for a month at a time because of her caring duties at home. Due to malnutrition and hard physical work, Bakyt and his sister are often ill, and last winter they both suffered from bronchitis. Children shouldn't have to worry about providing for their families. Education is so important and Bakyt can not attend due to work. Bakyt talks about hope for his  future, he prays it will be better. He would like to attend high school.There Mother is not sure how good their future can be without education

  At the time of writing, 100 Soms was equivalent to US $2.30 or £1.25.
Reference:
http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php?action=casestudy&id=137

Sharing web resources

I subcribe to everyday exchange:
http://www.childcareexchange.com/

Some of the topics recently:
Brainstorming
Holey Brain and article about children who have suffered trauma.
A message to Congress. Asking for support of early childhood programs.
Play and Science.

I belong to the NAEYC and receive there magazine. YC Young Child.
This month the focus is on  Supporting Dual Language Learners and their Families. On article is Where's your partner? Pairing Bilingual learners in preschool with primary grade dual language classrooms.  I love this idea. In the past I wanted to partner with high school students taking foreign language classes to help out with our families and children.
www.naeyc.org

Expanding Resources

I have belong to NAEYC for several years. There is a wealth of information on their website and in their magazine. www.naeyc.org  I receive daily newletters from childcareexchange. com. In working with Head Start I find information through the Office of Head Start http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc.
With Canada being so very close to me. I am interested in there early childhhod. I will follow these two sites. http://www.cayc.ca/indexjournal.html &http://www.cccf-fcsge.ca/

Establishing Professional Contacts

I chose to make contact with Robin McMillian of the Candian Child Care federation

http://www.cccf-fcsge.ca

rmcmillan@cccf-fcs

and with  the German National Committee for Early Childhood Education

 Mrs. Eva-Hammes-Di Bernardo

 Secretary: Ms. Ulrike Konrad-Ristau

 E-mail: agj@agj.de

 E-mail: ulrike.konrad-ristau@agj.de

I hope to hear from our fellow professionals.

The Canadian Child Care Federation website has a lot of information on current early childhood issues. I am very interested to read and find out as much information as I can through the site.

 

My Supports

My staff is a great support to me. Sharing the passion for these children is our common factor. They give to me as much as I try to be there for them. They are the ones working in the day to day classroom. I visit, observe and we work together to solve the problem or share in the achievement. Even though my children are grown and gone. They are my greatest supporters. They always have a positive message or make me laugh.
I have been dealing personally with fluid in my ears. It is painful for one and causes hear loss at times. I can't imagine what I would do with complete hearing loss. How would I communicate with others? I am most assured that my family would continue to be a support. However, I couldn't support others in the way that I do.  I feel that I couldn't work with children and families it could be a safety issue. I am glad it seems to be a condition that can be fixed.

Childhood Connections to Play

“Playing should be fun! In our great eagerness to teach our children we studiously look for 

‘educational’ toys, games with built-in lessons, books with a ‘message.’ Often these ‘tools’ are less 

interesting and stimulating than the child’s natural curiosity and playfulness. Play is by its very nature 

educational. And it should be pleasurable. When the fun goes out of play, most often so does the 

learning.” ~ Joanne E. Oppenheim (child development expert,  author)

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.

Fred Rogers
American television personality

• .I am not sure that my parents supported my play; I remember playing outside a lot, in all kinds of weather, snow, rain, sunny or cloudy.  I believe that my oldest sister taught me everything I needed to go to Kindergarten. We played hopscotch and tag. We made stores, wore dress up clothes and played school. We scooped, measured, poured in water and in the sand bikes and skateboards were ridden all around our neighborhood. We climbed fences and trees, we were also very lucky, our Grandparents had a dairy farm. We spent weekends, picking strawberries, milking cows and riding on tractors.
• When I was home with my children, I supported their play. We were exploring and creating all of the time. They did send a lot of time outside too. They still talk about making snow fort and riding bikes in the street. We lived on a dead end street.  The differences that I see from then to now, is that safety is an issue. Many children cannot play outside due to unsafe neighborhoods. I want to support children in the short 3 1/2 hours that they are in our care, giving them as many opportunities to cut and glue and dress up. To give them outdoor time that is safe, to climb, run and jump. Provide tricycles for them to ride. As my quote says "Play should be fun"

Relationship Reflection

The most important part of relationships whether good or bad, to learn from them and apply it to life. Everyone around us in in a relationship with us. Your spouse or partner, your children,  your family, coworkers, the children we teach. Some build you up and others tear you down.