"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."
- Frederick Douglass
"Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.
- Dr. Hiam Ginnot
"All of us have moments in our childhood where we come alive for the first time. And we go back to those moments and think, 'This is when I became myself.'"
- Rita Dove
I really enjoyed working with everyone throughout this course. Thank each of you for the time you spent responding to my discussion post and blog post. Everything that was discussed in class has made me stronger and has opened my eyes to view child development differently. I pray everyone have a merry and safe Christmas! I look forward exchanging knowledge in our next class.
I've really enjoyed reading the blog assignments.
Crystal Riddick
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Teacher said "Test" and I said "Why?"
I can study and study and know that I know my information. It's just something about that moment when the test is in front of me that I second guess myself. Is this a normal part of testing or was it just me? I can study with my sons all week before they take a test and on test day I can say "Are you ready?" and they will say "no", but I know they are ready because I've sat with them a whole week and studied the information. After they finish the test I can say "how did you do son?" and his answer is " I guess I past, or I forgot this part or that part." When the teacher sends the information home and I review the answers he got wrong and he get it right then I will ask, why didn't you answer correctly during the test, I know you knew this, and he will say "my mind just went blank!"
So question, how can one test determine if you have obtained the knowledge needed. There are many people who does not test well, and it's not fair to have a test to determine pass or fail. I feel that a test should be given at the beginning of the year. This is just to see how much information the person already knows, test throughout the year and a test at the end to compare what the child knew at the start of the year and the knowledge obtained through out the year. I feel that some verbal test should be given, along with papers and reports.
Many people say they love true and false type of test. But personally I dislike them. I do not do well with true or false.
So question, how can one test determine if you have obtained the knowledge needed. There are many people who does not test well, and it's not fair to have a test to determine pass or fail. I feel that a test should be given at the beginning of the year. This is just to see how much information the person already knows, test throughout the year and a test at the end to compare what the child knew at the start of the year and the knowledge obtained through out the year. I feel that some verbal test should be given, along with papers and reports.
Many people say they love true and false type of test. But personally I dislike them. I do not do well with true or false.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development
Violence
As a child I dealt with domestic violence. I grew up in a house hold that was loving, caring and very supportive. Sounds so contradictive right? Many would expect me to say I lived in a home where one parent did not get along with the other and was always fussing. Well in my household it was not like that. I seldom heard my parents fuss. So I was very surprised that Sunday when the family was sitting around the t.v. watching a movie, when my father jumped on my mother. This was new for my siblings as well as myself. How did we handle it the first time? They ran to get help and I jumped on his back, screaming at him to get off my mother. I never saw his next action coming. He grabbed me by my arm and threw me from one room to the next. From that day I hated him with a hate that was unbearable. None of the neighbors came running over to the house to help us! No one came to our rescue! This was the first of many times this happen. We dealt with it by not dealing with it. No answers came after the questions because no one knew what was going on (years later we found out that he was upset with some male friends and could not handle them and bought his anger home and took it out on us). My mom forgave him and moved on. I never did. I lost a part of me that day. I lost my trust, faith , and my idea of family was ruined. I never understood why my mother stayed with him and at any given moment he was subject to go off. So as a result my siblings and I went into protective mood and stayed alert for him to go off. My mom slept on the couch. I spent my nights on the couch across from her. As a child until my parents got a divorce I had to deal with the stress of domestic violence but being looked at as having the perfect family. I coped by not telling anyone. It was too embarrassing to tell. I dealt with this stressor by trying not to deal with it. It was nothing I or my brothers and sister could do. So I spent my childhood wishing and praying that my father would just die (sounds bad I know but death was the only way I thought the stress would go away). Due to not wanting to tell anyone, I had no resources for help or support.
As a child I dealt with domestic violence. I grew up in a house hold that was loving, caring and very supportive. Sounds so contradictive right? Many would expect me to say I lived in a home where one parent did not get along with the other and was always fussing. Well in my household it was not like that. I seldom heard my parents fuss. So I was very surprised that Sunday when the family was sitting around the t.v. watching a movie, when my father jumped on my mother. This was new for my siblings as well as myself. How did we handle it the first time? They ran to get help and I jumped on his back, screaming at him to get off my mother. I never saw his next action coming. He grabbed me by my arm and threw me from one room to the next. From that day I hated him with a hate that was unbearable. None of the neighbors came running over to the house to help us! No one came to our rescue! This was the first of many times this happen. We dealt with it by not dealing with it. No answers came after the questions because no one knew what was going on (years later we found out that he was upset with some male friends and could not handle them and bought his anger home and took it out on us). My mom forgave him and moved on. I never did. I lost a part of me that day. I lost my trust, faith , and my idea of family was ruined. I never understood why my mother stayed with him and at any given moment he was subject to go off. So as a result my siblings and I went into protective mood and stayed alert for him to go off. My mom slept on the couch. I spent my nights on the couch across from her. As a child until my parents got a divorce I had to deal with the stress of domestic violence but being looked at as having the perfect family. I coped by not telling anyone. It was too embarrassing to tell. I dealt with this stressor by trying not to deal with it. It was nothing I or my brothers and sister could do. So I spent my childhood wishing and praying that my father would just die (sounds bad I know but death was the only way I thought the stress would go away). Due to not wanting to tell anyone, I had no resources for help or support.
A stressor that impacts development in children in Jamaica is community violence. Many of the children had witnessed severe acts of physical violence such as robbery, shooting and gang wars, a fifth had been victims of serious threats or robbery and one in every twelve had been stabbed. Children's experiences of witnessing violence occurred chiefly in their communities but their personal experiences of violence occurred at school. Children attending primary school had greater exposure to violence as witnesses and victims. Exposure to violence in childhood has been associated with aggressive and antisocial behavior in childhood. The consequences of childhood exposure to violence, includes antisocial behavior, aggression, anxiety, depression, drug use and suicide. Another important consequence of exposure to violence as witness or victim in the early years is the intention to use violence to resolve inter-personal conflict in later adolescence. The Jamaican government is using multiple approaches, such as anger management, assertion, social skills and empathy training, peer mediation and parent training to try and intervene with the community violence.
Reference: Mansingh A, Ramphal P. The nature of interpersonal violence in Jamaica and its strain on the national health service. West Indian Med J 1993
Friday, November 11, 2011
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is de
fi ned as “the sudden death of any infant under one year of age which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including complete postmortem examination, review of clinical history and examination of death scene.This topic is very important to me, being the owner of a child care facility and having another person's infant in my care for more than 12 hours a day. When I first took a SIDS training this issue really bothered me because I did not want anything happening to anyone's child even if it the circumstances were out of my hands. I know that you are suppose to lay the child on their back to sleep and on their stomachs to play. I have all the charts up in my infant rooms at the center. It's really hard explaining to parents that although their child might sleep better and longer on their stomachs, it's for their protection that they sleep on thier backs. SIDS is a very touchy subject for me. I take it very serously. I wish their was more precauticons that can be taken to keep SIDS from taking place.
In 1994 A national campaign (the "Back to Sleep" campaign) was launched to promote supine positioning during sleep. This really helped out the infant death rate. What bothers me the most about SIDS is that there really is not a known reason for it. The main focus is on smokers. This area is very touchy for me, considering we are dealing with infants. Babies who have no control of how they are layed down to sleep but parents who will still lay thier children on their stomachs because quote " it helps them sleep better" unquote.
Pediatricians and health providers in developing countries, such as Brazil, have little knowledge on risk fi rst year of life. Studies have shown that it has been hard to determine if SIDS is the cause of death for the third world countries
factors for SIDS since it is not seen as an important cause of death in the
because the risk factors for SIDS is similar to those found for non-SIDS cases in developing countries since they are closely associated with poverty. its characteristics and incidence rates are still not known in developing countries, characterized by very low income population.
As infant mortality is still quite high in poor countries and generally associated with infectious diseases and malnutrition, pediatricians and health providers have little knowledge on SIDS. Consequently, SIDS is often misdiagnosed and information about SIDS risk factors is not usually provided to parents.
After during research on SIDS in underdevelop countries I found it very distrubing that there is not a lot of information about SIDS to be able to prevent it from happening.
As a daycare provider, I continue to give my parents information about SIDS to assist in preventing it from happening.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Parting is such sweet sorrow!
The title of my post is how I really feel. I really enjoyed the past six weeks. I enjoyed interacting with each and everyone of you. I enjoyed reading your post, responding to them, and reading all the comments that were directed towards me. We really made this class. I felt as if we established a professional bond. This bond helped each of us push and complete the course. I stated that it's such sweet sorrow because I am excited about my first course coming to an end because it means I have accomplish a part of my goal (to obtain my masters) but I connected with everyone on a level that I wish we could stay collaborating in each course. I look forward to interacting in our next classes. Mine is early childhood development.
Stay motivated and passionate about everything you do!
Crystal Riddick
Stay motivated and passionate about everything you do!
Crystal Riddick
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Examining Codes of Ethics
Three ideals contained in the NAEYC and DEC codes of ethics that are meaningful to me are....
1. From NAEYC
1.2—To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines, as well as on particular knowledge of each child.
1. From DEC
Professional and Interpersonal Behavior:
We shall strive for the highest level of personal and professional competence by seeking and
using new evidence based information to improve our practices while also responding openly to
This ideal is very significant to me because it goes beyond just obtaining knowledge but staying up with knowledge and training and then applying the information. Many times people can get knew information and just keep their knowledge in their heads or do not use the information to better their program. Also, use this new knowledge and training while working with each child on an individual level. This is very significant to my professional life because with operating a childcare center I have to have 12 hours of training yearly. After taking the classes I could be lazy and not use the information but the extra knowledge and training is helpful. I have learned and applied so much information that I have learned from this class to my business as well as with the children and families that I work with at my church. I applied this knowledge and it has helped.
Both of these ideals deal with gaining and using knowledge to better the program for the children and their families as well as ourselves.
2.
From NAEYC
I-1.10—To ensure that each child’s culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and valued in the program.
From DEC
Professional Collaboration:
We shall honor and respect the diverse backgrounds of our colleagues including such diverse
characteristics as sexual orientation, race, national origin, religious beliefs, or other affiliations.
This is very important to me because I feel that every child's culture should be respected. I like to take a month out the year and focus on the different cultures that I have in the daycare. This way every child gets a chance to be prideful of their heritage. As an early childhood educator it's my responsibility to make sure the children in my care are proud of their backgrounds. Doing this helps build a child's self-esteem.
Not only is respecting the diverse backgrounds of the children is important but also our colleagues. We have to work with them in the same setting and have to show them respect just as we would want it.
3. From NAEYC
1.11—To provide all children with experiences in a language that they know, as well as support children in maintaining the use of their home language and in learning English.
This is very significant to me because I only speak English but I feel that if I had a child in my program that spoke another language; it would not be fair to him or her to have their language pushed to the side and only heard English throughout the day. I would do everything in my power to accommodate that child or explain to the parent that another center might be better to ensure the child's language being taught. This ideal goes hand in hand with the previous one.
4. From DEC
We shall be responsible for maintaining the appropriate national, state, or other credential or
licensure requirements for the services we provide while maintaining our competence in practice
and research by ongoing participation in professional development and education activities.
Owning a childcare center this is very important. There are many requirements that must be kept up to date, although stressful at times, I've learned that these requirements are very important not only to keep my program operating but for the enhancement of the children.
1. From NAEYC
1.2—To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines, as well as on particular knowledge of each child.
1. From DEC
Professional and Interpersonal Behavior:
We shall strive for the highest level of personal and professional competence by seeking and
using new evidence based information to improve our practices while also responding openly to
This ideal is very significant to me because it goes beyond just obtaining knowledge but staying up with knowledge and training and then applying the information. Many times people can get knew information and just keep their knowledge in their heads or do not use the information to better their program. Also, use this new knowledge and training while working with each child on an individual level. This is very significant to my professional life because with operating a childcare center I have to have 12 hours of training yearly. After taking the classes I could be lazy and not use the information but the extra knowledge and training is helpful. I have learned and applied so much information that I have learned from this class to my business as well as with the children and families that I work with at my church. I applied this knowledge and it has helped.
Both of these ideals deal with gaining and using knowledge to better the program for the children and their families as well as ourselves.
2.
From NAEYC
I-1.10—To ensure that each child’s culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and valued in the program.
From DEC
Professional Collaboration:
We shall honor and respect the diverse backgrounds of our colleagues including such diverse
characteristics as sexual orientation, race, national origin, religious beliefs, or other affiliations.
This is very important to me because I feel that every child's culture should be respected. I like to take a month out the year and focus on the different cultures that I have in the daycare. This way every child gets a chance to be prideful of their heritage. As an early childhood educator it's my responsibility to make sure the children in my care are proud of their backgrounds. Doing this helps build a child's self-esteem.
Not only is respecting the diverse backgrounds of the children is important but also our colleagues. We have to work with them in the same setting and have to show them respect just as we would want it.
3. From NAEYC
1.11—To provide all children with experiences in a language that they know, as well as support children in maintaining the use of their home language and in learning English.
This is very significant to me because I only speak English but I feel that if I had a child in my program that spoke another language; it would not be fair to him or her to have their language pushed to the side and only heard English throughout the day. I would do everything in my power to accommodate that child or explain to the parent that another center might be better to ensure the child's language being taught. This ideal goes hand in hand with the previous one.
4. From DEC
We shall be responsible for maintaining the appropriate national, state, or other credential or
licensure requirements for the services we provide while maintaining our competence in practice
and research by ongoing participation in professional development and education activities.
Owning a childcare center this is very important. There are many requirements that must be kept up to date, although stressful at times, I've learned that these requirements are very important not only to keep my program operating but for the enhancement of the children.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Early Childhood Resource Section
Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices
5. Personal Additional Resources
1. Motivating Learning InYoung Children
www.nasponline.org/resources/home.../earlychildmotiv_ho.aspx -
2. Working With Children, Young People and Families: A Course Book for Foundation Degrees
3.Early Childhood News: Men in Early Childhood: Fathers and Teachers
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=400
An article discussing men in the early childhood field.
- NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
- 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 school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.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. (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
- 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
- Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
- FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being - Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
- Websites:
- World Forum Foundation
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage - World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep-usnc.org/
Read about OMEP’s mission. - Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/about/
Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.
- World Forum Foundation
- Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/ - The Division for Early Childhood
http://www.dec-sped.org/ - Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/ - WESTED
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm - Harvard Education Letter
http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85 - FPG Child Development Institute
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm - Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/ - HighScope
http://www.highscope.org/ - Children’s Defense Fund
http://www.childrensdefense.org/ - Center for Child Care Workforce
http://www.ccw.org/ - Council for Exceptional Children
http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home - Institute for Women’s Policy Research
http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm - National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/ - National Child Care Association
http://www.nccanet.org/ - National Institute for Early Education Research
http://nieer.org/ - Pre[K]Now
http://www.preknow.org/ - Voices for America’s Children
http://www.voices.org/ - The Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.)
- YC Young Children
- Childhood
- Journal of Child & Family Studies
- Child Study Journal
- Multicultural Education
- Early Childhood Education Journal
- Journal of Early Childhood Research
- International Journal of Early Childhood
- Early Childhood Research Quarterly
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Studies
- Maternal & Child Health Journal
- International Journal of Early Years Education
5. Personal Additional Resources
1. Motivating Learning InYoung Children
www.nasponline.org/resources/home.../earlychildmotiv_ho.aspx -
2. Working With Children, Young People and Families: A Course Book for Foundation Degrees
This book provide reading for anyone studying and working in the new integrated children s services. The Children s Workforce Development Strategy sets out the basic skills and knowledge needed by people whose work brings them into regular contact with children, young people and their families. Built around this Common Core of Skills and Knowledge and packed with case studies and reflective exercises, this book helps students and practitioners understand the theory behind these issues and develop strategies for embedding them within their own practice.
3.Early Childhood News: Men in Early Childhood: Fathers and Teachers
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=400
An article discussing men in the early childhood field.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Motivitonal Quotes
Parents can't afford to pay,
Teachers and providers can't afford to stay,
Help us find a better way.... Marcy Whitebook, Ph.D
We are also living at an incredible moral moment in history. Few human beings are blessed to anticipate or experience the beginning of a new century and millennium. How will we say thanks for the life, earth, nations, and children God has entrusted to our care? What legacies, principles, values, and deeds will we stand for and send to the future through our children to their children and to a spiritually confused, balkanized, and violent world desperately hungering for moral leadership and community? ... Marian Wright Edelman
Instead of playing house, I played school (teacher)... Louise Derman-Sparks
This really shows a true passion
Teachers and providers can't afford to stay,
Help us find a better way.... Marcy Whitebook, Ph.D
We are also living at an incredible moral moment in history. Few human beings are blessed to anticipate or experience the beginning of a new century and millennium. How will we say thanks for the life, earth, nations, and children God has entrusted to our care? What legacies, principles, values, and deeds will we stand for and send to the future through our children to their children and to a spiritually confused, balkanized, and violent world desperately hungering for moral leadership and community? ... Marian Wright Edelman
Instead of playing house, I played school (teacher)... Louise Derman-Sparks
This really shows a true passion
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Personal Childhood Web
This page is dedicated to the people who nutured and cared for me when I was a child! I love you guys sooooo much!
My mom has to be the first person that I talk about. She informed me that I could not put her picture on the internet and said she would be upset if I did. Good thing she does not know how to work a computer..lol! My mom was the nuturer. She was always there for me when I was growing up. We did not have a lot of money but she had more than enough love. She never withheld it from me, she always showed and told me. My mom is the type of person that does not often get upset. It takes a lot to push her to that point, but if you do... OMG... and yes I did one time. I watched my mother put herself on the back burner to make sure her children had everything we needed in life. We might not have always gotten what we wanted but there was not a need that went unmet. My mom made me feel special, beautiful, and loved when I was growing up(she still does to this day). She always told me that she was proud of me when I did something that made her proud. Even when I fell short of accomplishing something she knew exactly what to say to make me feel good about myself. She always encouraged and supported me. She never took up for me when I was wrong( I did not like this growing up). My mom was and still is the sparkle in my eye, she is the reason I can smile and smile from the heart. She taught me to love myself and if it was not for her I would not today. My moms influence stills continues to impact my life. I call myself LiL Linda. I always said I was going to show my children the same love and affection that she showed her children when we were younger. Even now when I am going through hard times or have a tought situation with one of my children I can call her and get advice and wisdom. I can remeber my mom always coming to anything I had at school(not just me but my brothers and sister) and she always made time to come outside and interact with us. She still does when we go to the house but now she includes the grandchildren. I really love my MOMMY and she taught me how to love!
I have an aunt named Sharon, OMG she was always there when I was younger. She showed me that she cared about me by letting me come stay at her house and by helping out my mom whenever she needed her. I would consider her my provider. (yes my dad was in the picture) I can remember in school, whenever I was going on a trip I would always call my aunt. I thought she was rich when I was a child because she always had money or anything I needed when I was growing up. She stepped in and helped my mother and that meant a lot to me. She was always my favorite aunt. She came around on the holidays and would spend the nights at my house. She was always an active part of my life. Even today she will call me once every other week just to check on me. Every holiday she still comes around and spends time with us. She showed me that love does not have to stop for a person just because they get old enough to take care of themselves. She has influenced me to always be there for other people when they are in a need.
I had a lot of people in my life when I was growing up, but not too many that I can say left a major impact or was there for me like that when I was younger.
My mom has to be the first person that I talk about. She informed me that I could not put her picture on the internet and said she would be upset if I did. Good thing she does not know how to work a computer..lol! My mom was the nuturer. She was always there for me when I was growing up. We did not have a lot of money but she had more than enough love. She never withheld it from me, she always showed and told me. My mom is the type of person that does not often get upset. It takes a lot to push her to that point, but if you do... OMG... and yes I did one time. I watched my mother put herself on the back burner to make sure her children had everything we needed in life. We might not have always gotten what we wanted but there was not a need that went unmet. My mom made me feel special, beautiful, and loved when I was growing up(she still does to this day). She always told me that she was proud of me when I did something that made her proud. Even when I fell short of accomplishing something she knew exactly what to say to make me feel good about myself. She always encouraged and supported me. She never took up for me when I was wrong( I did not like this growing up). My mom was and still is the sparkle in my eye, she is the reason I can smile and smile from the heart. She taught me to love myself and if it was not for her I would not today. My moms influence stills continues to impact my life. I call myself LiL Linda. I always said I was going to show my children the same love and affection that she showed her children when we were younger. Even now when I am going through hard times or have a tought situation with one of my children I can call her and get advice and wisdom. I can remeber my mom always coming to anything I had at school(not just me but my brothers and sister) and she always made time to come outside and interact with us. She still does when we go to the house but now she includes the grandchildren. I really love my MOMMY and she taught me how to love!
I have an aunt named Sharon, OMG she was always there when I was younger. She showed me that she cared about me by letting me come stay at her house and by helping out my mom whenever she needed her. I would consider her my provider. (yes my dad was in the picture) I can remember in school, whenever I was going on a trip I would always call my aunt. I thought she was rich when I was a child because she always had money or anything I needed when I was growing up. She stepped in and helped my mother and that meant a lot to me. She was always my favorite aunt. She came around on the holidays and would spend the nights at my house. She was always an active part of my life. Even today she will call me once every other week just to check on me. Every holiday she still comes around and spends time with us. She showed me that love does not have to stop for a person just because they get old enough to take care of themselves. She has influenced me to always be there for other people when they are in a need.
I had a lot of people in my life when I was growing up, but not too many that I can say left a major impact or was there for me like that when I was younger.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Personalized to suit Me!
"Education is a journey, not a race!" - Author: Unknown
I really love this quote. I fell in love with it when I first heard it. I was at a head start meeting with one of my children years ago and the teacher quoted this. At the time it really hit due to the fact I was already thinking about how I could cram two to three years of knowledge into my five year old (due to him having to start school late) so that he could catch up with my sister's son. At the time I just wanted to show everyone that he could be on the same level if not in front of his cousin. My sister and I began to drill knowledge into our boys trying to out due the other. My son was slowly turning off from school because of this. Academic wise my son was on the same level but my nephew was more mature and fit for the higher grade. I was proving to my sister that although my son was younger he could grasp any knowledge her son could have. ( We both found out we were wrong). It was after hearing this quote that I understood that academics should be tailored to the child. It was a process my son would have to go through not a race to the finish.
In case you are wondering what this have to do with early childhood I'll explain. It's at the early stages that we educators began to teach our students. If we forget that each child is different and will get from point A to point B through out the journey. As a parent I did not have to push my son just to race my sister's son. While doing so I was turning him off from school, taking something that he once enjoyed and turning it into a competition. All to see which child would finish the race the quickest. The goal was jumping a grade. We did not realize that in each grade it's something very fundamental for each individual child.
My 4 year old son just started school. He brought home a picture (I tried to upload it but I could not get the scanner to work) in the picture was grey lines all over the paper. I asked him to tell me about the picture, He told me he drew waves. I asked him why the waves were grey and not blue. He said because he could not find the blue crayon and the teacher told him to use that one. I was waiting for him to tell me something else. I laughed after her told me only because he did not use the wrong color trying to make a statement or for any reason he knew the waves should have been blue but he used what he was given and used his creativity to draw his picture. The next day he said it was something else..LOL.. With a paper completely covered in grey, my guess is it can be whatever you want the picture to be at any given moment. Way to use the imagination. Things like this remind me of why i fell in love with early childhood. Children keep you happy.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Something to think about
In my childcare center I provide assistance for individuals who can not get help from DSS and can not pay for childcare. One of my parents asked today "Why I care so much, she wanted to know what I was profiting by helping her since I am not making the money?" I asked her which is worst... To see someone with a need and not help them or be the person with a need and to prideful to ask or take the assistance? To have a true passion for something is based on what you get from it... The joy you get from knowing you made a difference in some one's life! I explained to her that I do what I do because I care not because of the money!!!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Thoughts on Early Childhood
Hello Everyone! My name is Crystal Riddick. I created this blog to allow you entry into my mind regarding my thoughts about early childhood studies.The most important stage in life is early childhood. I am honored to be able to assist in the shaping and molding of the children in my care. I received a degree in social work from Elizabeth City State University. After obtaining my degree I worked as a case manager. I assisted individuals with emotional, social, and behavior disorders. I am currently a Sunday school and bible class teacher at my church. I work with teenagers and young adults. I enjoy working with them as well as working with the younger children. I really love advocating on behalf of young people. I think it's very important to be a positive voice for individuals with out a voice. I really love what I do. It's more than a job, it's truly a passion. I'm helping change some one's today for a brighter tomorrow. I am looking forward to interacting and exchanging thoughts with you.
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