Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Many years ago in my home town we had a chemical plant Woolfolk that was started operation in 1920 during WWII that manufactured different pesticides.  Fort Valley is a small community in Ga. And we had to travel in the area of this plant to get to places we needed to go. This plant was in operation for many years. My grandfather, father and several other family members worked in this plant. It was also located on the same street where my family went to church.

In the early 1980’s  after people in the community that died had arsenic in their system an inspection was done on the plant and revealed that arsenic and other chemicals had seeped into the ground and ground water. Several people in the community became ill and homes and surrounding businesses destroyed due to the EPA’s findings. People in the community became concern about their safety and any health issues that may occur from the contamination. The entire community was under stress wondering what and how much damage the plant had caused and if our community was even safe.

Africa is a country that I would definitely like to learn more about, because of the number of plants they have. Because of the number of plants in Africa could this be part of why so much sickness and disease occurs in this country. Chemical companies are making efforts to reduce the effects of chemical plants globally.

http://www.grida.no/publications/et/ep3/page/2617.aspx

http://www.epa.gov/superfund/programs/recycle/live/casestudy_woolfolk.html

http://www.epa.gov/region4/superfund/sites/npl/georgia/wolchemga.html

Child Development and Public Health

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) the quiet killer is a topic of importance to me because I had a dear friend who had twins who died a week apart from SIDS. I also believe that we can change the number of death and reduce the risk related to SIDS by educating parents, family members, and childcare providers. Research has shown that babies who are placed on their backs to sleep are less likely to die from SIDS. Always place your baby on his/her back to sleep unless health issues diagnosed by a physician prevent you from doing so. Breastfeeding, Smoke-free environments, keeping your baby close, temperature, and regular doctor visits are factors that can lower the risk of SIDS.

 

    In Maori, New Zealand, SIDS has been the leading cause of preventable death.  According to a 2005 survey, these mothers had poor knowledge of SIDS prevention, they also had a higher rate of maternal smoking, stop breastfeeding to early, and shared beds with their infants. Health promotion has become more difficult because of poor socioeconomic conditions and the mothers lack adequate access to health care.

 

Tipene-Leach, D., Hutchison, L., Tangiora, A., Rea, C., White, R., Stewart, A., & Mitchell, E. (2010). SIDS-related knowledge and infant care practices among maori mothers. The New Zealand Medical Journal (Online), 123(1326), 88-96. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1034261563?accountid=14872

Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World

I chose this experience because I would like to share my personal birth experience. In June of 1990 I gave birth to my son by emergency c-section. This was the second of five experiences. I could remember being excited throughout my pregnancy and waiting on his arrival. After months of prenatal care and doctor’s visit on my 34 week visit to the doctor I was asked if I could feel him moving and how often he was moving because he appeared lazy on the ultrasound. I told the doctor that I mostly felt him move at night and he informed me that this was not normal. So I was scheduled to have a more in depth ultrasound and follow up with the doctor following the ultrasound. The ultra sound required me to lay flat on my back for over an hour. When I arrived at the doctor’s office the doctor told me that something was wrong and that I was being admitted in the hospital for further testing. After being admitted, hooked up to the fetal monitor and before any test could be run, the nurse asked if I realized that I was having contractions. I was not aware that I was in labor. She proceeded to call the doctor to see what he wanted to do.  They did not stop the contractions and my labor continued. After careful watch on the monitor from the staff and my mom, the doctor informed me I would have to have an emergency C-section because my contraction would cause his heart rate to go up and because he was hydrocephalic it could cause intensive damage. Because I was put to sleep for the operation I can’t remember much about the birth and what happened afterwards. I also did not see him because he was placed in the NICU. I do remember waking up and my mother standing over me smiling. Not knowing at that time that she was told by the doctor’s not to tell me that my baby was not suppose to live through the night. The next day I was able to go see him in the NICU, I was told he was not eating or responding to the nurses. So one of the nurses placed him in my arms and I gave him his bottle and he did exceptionally well. So every feeding I was allowed to go feed him trying to hide my emotions and be strong for him despite what the doctors were saying. After three days I was released and had to leave him at the hospital because they had no place for mothers to stay. This was very hard for me so I chose not to go see him before I left after getting and trying to heal from the surgery my grandmother would not allow me out the house so my family took turns at the hospital while I continued to heal. After a few days He was moved to the children’s hospital and I was able to stay overnight with him. I was there for a few days and was made to go home and get some rest and finish recovering by his pediatrician. He told me I was not any good to him if I was not getting any rest and not taking care of myself. Coming up to his second week in the hospital he had major surgery where they placed a shunt in his head to drain fluid off his brain to keep his head from swelling any larger. My son is now 22 years old.

I want other parents to know and understand the importance of the bond that a child has with their parents even before birth. Children sense all types of emotions. For a long time I could not understand why my child would not do certain things when he was first born, but now I understand when I our bond was broken after I gave birth and did not see him for a while he was missing something important. We had been attached to each other for 35 weeks and that bond was broken during his birth, but after we were able to reconnect things began to turn around.

Examining Codes of Ethics

I understand that this career choice I have made involves me ensuring I am trained and knowledgeable enough to help children and their families as they transition through their early childhood educational career. I also deeply believe parental involvement will play a major role in young children’s educational journey, and is key to them being successful and that children should always be safe.

I-1.1 To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.

P-2.4—We shall involve the family in significant decisions

affecting their child.

P-1.1—Above all, we shall not harm children. We shall not participate in practices that are emotionally damaging, physically harmful, disrespectful, degrading, dangerous, exploitative, or intimidating to children.

References

NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://laureate.ecollege.comnaeyc_dap_position_statement.pdf

NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf

NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.zerotothree.org/

 

Websites:

World Forum Foundation
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us

World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep-usnc.org/

Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/

 

National Black Child Development Institutehttp://nbcdi.org/
(Newsletter: http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/ )

National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencieshttp://www.naccrra.org/
(Newsletter: http://capwiz.com/naccrra/mlm/signup/ )

National Institute for Early Education Researchhttp://nieer.org/(Newsletter: http://nieer.org/resources/newsletter/index.php )

The National Association for the Education of Young Children

http://www.naeyc.org/

National Child Care Association
http://www.nccanet.org/

National Institute for Early Education Research
http://nieer.org/

 

 

LIlian Katz Quotes

"Experts generally agree that taking all opportunities to read books and other material aloud to children is the best preparation for their learning to read. The pleasures of being read to are far more likely to strengthen a child's desire to learn to read than are repetitions of sounds, alphabet drills, and deciphering uninteresting word". Lilian Katz

 "Each of us must come to care about everyone else's children. We must recognize that the welfare of our children is intimately linked to the welfare of all other people's children. After all, when one of our children needs life-saving surgery, someone else's child will perform it. If one of our children is harmed by violence, someone else's child will be responsible for the violent act. The good life for our own children can be secured only if a good life is also secured for all other people's children." Lilian Katz

Susan Bredekamp Quotes

"Children benefit most from teachers who have the skills, knowledge, and judgment to make good decisions and are given the opportunity to use them." Susan Bredekamp

"The fact that not only do you have to consider children as individuals, but you also have to consider children as members of groups with their own cultural identities." Susan Bredekamp