My most passionate hope for my future as an early childhood professional is that I am able to touch the lives of the children I work with and provide them with an anti-bias education. I hope that I am able to make a difference in their lives and provide them with all the skills and knowledge they need to become successful citizens of the world. I hope that I am able to help the children I encounter reach their highest potential and develop a positive identify of themselves. My passion is to give children back their childhood and allow them to develop confidence within themselves. For the families, I want to be an alley. Someone they can come to with their questions and needs.
To my colleagues, I would like to thank you for all your support and knowledge. I would not have been able to get through this without your help and I am so thankful to have had you through this journey.
The region I decided to focus on was Eastern and Southern Africa. I would be lying if I said I had some profound reason as to why I chose to select this region, but I don't. The decision really came simple to me. It was the one region I have always wished to visit. What better time to gather information on the children of an area that I one day hope to help. I wish I could say that I am surprised at the many issue the children in this are face. This children suffer from malnutrition, AIDS, unsanitary water, inadequate protection, and lack of immunization. Children are suffering from chronic malnutrition. About 25 million or 40 percent of children under five years of age are suffering from it. These children have limited access to foods and sometimes go days without eating. The children also have limited access to medicine and education. In some areas of this region, there are a higher percentage of boys in school than girls. For secondary education, rates are significantly lower. The regional averages
for enrolment are 32 and 29 percent for boys and girls, respectively, and an
even smaller proportion actually attends school (UNICEF, n.d). In this area there has also been efforts to prevent and respond to violations of children's rights. Public campaigns have been used to help shed the spotlight on violence against children. These issues can have lasting affects on children's emotional well being and development. They may have issues forming lasting relationships with other because of the rapid death rate due to diseases that plague the region. When I read about children in these harsh situation, it increases my passion to work with children less fortune than I. I would love to one day visit the poverty areas of Africa and be able to contribute to their lives in some way. Until that dream is made a reality, I hope the work I do within my community can have a lasting effect on today's youth. I hope I am able to touch the lives of those in need by giving back.
UNICEF-Children of Eastern and Southern Africa. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org
In today's society children have too much exposer to sex and violence.
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 & Kilbourne, 2009). Children are not longer being kept away from adult images and adult languages. It has become such an issue that children are having sex and having children at younger ages then we may have during our youth. Children are encountering these issues before that are fully able to understand and deal with them. Children exposed to images of sexual behavior devoid of emotions, attachment, or consequences. They learn that sex defines relationships and friend ships. They also learn that sex is often a direct correlation to violence. Young girls get the idea that their physical appearance and the right products with being sexy and successful. Such lessons will shape their gender identity, sexual attitudes, and values, and their capacity for relationships, for love and connections, that they take into adulthood (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009). Children are being robbed with the ability to just be kids and enjoy age-appropriate task.
Learning about this topic has made me more aware of how it effects children and their development. It has opened my eyes to how big of an issue this is for children and focus on my role in correcting the wrong that's being done.
Its amazing how many videos you can find that promote sex and encourage inappropriate behavior in little children.
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
Describe in detail the consequences you might expect
for the children and families with whom you work while you experience specific
"–ism(s)" in your own life. Include specific examples either those you have
and/or are experiencing or ones you would anticipate.
Okay this week's blog has given me the opportunity to address some bias issues that I am having with one my parents. Recently a parent had asked another teacher to tutor their child. His reasoning was because he wanted his child to be able to read and apparently he believed that this other teacher would be able to help his child more than I would. The other teacher is older and it seems at times that he does not feel that I am fully capable to teach his child. He now goes out of his was to have discussions with this teacher about his child's progress and problems. At first I tried to not let it bother me but I can't help but feel unappreciated and over looked because of my age. I feel that I have always tried to keep open communication with my parents but he will not address his concerns with me. The child's mother has not problem communicating with me, its just him. I have always tried to communicate with my parents and see what expectations they have for me when it pertains to their child. This situation, I am not sure how to address this situation.
