Nutrition and Malnutrition

Before you can understand how nutrition/malnutrition impacts the development of a child, you must first understand nutrition and malnutrition. Nutrition refers to the consumption of materials necessary to support a healthy life. Malnutrition is the condition that comes from the lack of nutrients in diet, too high of an intake or the wrong proportions are being consumed. Both nutrition and malnutrition play a huge role in the development of children. Proper nutrition provides children with the energy and nutrients needed to meet their physical and mental potential. The lack of nutrients present in a child’s diet is damaging because their bodies are constantly changing, going through different stages of development.

Whether we realize it or not, a child’s diet affects them on a daily basis. Students that get the proper nutrients and the proper amount are providing their bodies with the fuel needed to grow their minds and body. Children with a healthy diet tend to be more focused and have a longer attention span. Children that are malnourished experience fatigue, low energy, and are more perceptible to infection and sickness.

Malnutrition in Central America

Malnutrition has never been a huge problem in Central America until now. Recently, chronic malnutrition has been as prevalent in Central America as it is in Africa and South Asia. In Guatemala, half of all children under five years are chronically malnourished.  In El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, one out of every three children under five years is affected.  There has been no improvement in reducing malnutrition in these four countries for over a decade. Malnutrition in these countries is a direct reflection of increased poverty and has a negative effect on the economic growth. Children that live in poor and rural areas suffer more from malnutrition.

Reference:

Pitts, N.(2012) Central America. Malnutrition and Poverty threaten to the region yet. Retrieved from http://www.jpic-jp.org/71-en.html

The Child Birthing Experience

My personal experience with child birthing is limited. My knowledge of my own birth is limited and I haven't had the pleasure of giving birth. I have had one experience and that one still surprises me til this day. The one experience I have with child birthing happened when I was in college. It wasn't like it was a close friend, it actually was my boyfriend's (at the time) sister. It was kind of one of those situations where you want to be helpful but the awkwardness is kind of overwhelming. I can say the event was one to remember. I remember getting a phone call from my boyfriend saying his sister was going into labor and their was no one that could be their with her, so he asked me to go. My first reaction was pure shock because me and his sister weren't like the best of friends. When I arrived at the hospital, she was in the room and apparently had been in labor for a while. At this point they where monitoring the babies heart rate and trying to get the baby to change its position. I worried that their would be complications and I wasn't sure how to handle it, if their was. Eventually the babies position changed and they ended up inducing her labor. A few hours had passed before she started delivery.I could tell she was in so much pain. Finally, the baby arrived. They weighed him and I was able to take the first picture. While this experience started off awkward, it was a true learning experience. 
I think birth is a special and precious event that occurs. It plays a huge role in the development of the child. Things that happen during the pregnancy effects how the child grows. The chooses people make during prenatal development can have an everlasting effect on how a child learns, behaves, and interacts with others.

Ethiopia's View

Child birth in Ethiopia is different then that of the United States. When a woman is pregnant it is not talked about until she is showing. She is expected to continue working and doing chores until she gives birth. During the eighth month of pregnancy the woman goes and lives with her parents to prepare for the birth. Unlike most people in the United States, items are not purchased for the baby until its born. During the labor the expecting mother, along with family and friends drink coffee and burn incenses as a ritual. This is completely different then what happens here in the United States or at least from my one experienced. Surprisingly in this culture men are not involved in the delivery of their child. In our culture, the role of the husband (or father of child) during delivery is important to most couples. In the rural areas, midwives are used to assist in child birthing. My experience was  different from the child birthing experience of an Ethiopian woman. Different cultures have different views on the process of child birthing but also have many similarities. The main goal is to ensure a safe delivery for the mother and child.

         

Reference:
Molakign, A. (1996) Ethiopian cultural profile: Information about Ethiopian history, culture and  
           community with emphasis on health related issues. Retrieved from EthnoMed website: 
           http://ethnomed.org/culture/ethiopian/copy_of_ethiopian-cultural-profile 

Reflection on the Code of Ethics

After reviewing the code of ethics, these are the three that stood out to me.

 

P-1.2—We shall care for and educate children in

positive emotional and social environments that are

cognitively stimulating and that support each child’s

culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure.

 

I-1.5—To create and maintain safe and healthy settings

that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and

physical development and that respect their dignity

and their contributions.

It is important that children have a safe enviornment to learn in. As educators we have a duty to provide a learning enviroment that supports the children in all ways.

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.

As educators, it is also important that we continue to increase our knowlege. We should be informed of all issues that involve the early childhood profession.

The Passion for Early Childhood Quotes

"We as professional in the early Childhood Field have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better." 

-Sandy Escobido

"You've got to take your ego out of it and think about what's best for the child."

-Renatta M. Cooper

Food for Thought

When sensitive caregivers meet individual needs, they also may be

meeting cultural needs. However,without specific cultural information, caregivers can inadvertently use practices that undermine parents’ efforts and tread on their cultural values. (Mena & Bhavnagri 2006) 

...early childhood teacher preparation and 

professional development must help all teachers gain knowledge and practice skills that contribute to the educational achievement of all children.

(Ray, Bowman, & Robbins, 2006)

Resources

Mena, J.G, Bhavnagri, N. P. (2006) Diversity in Infant/Toddler Caregiving. Reprinted from A World of Difference, chapter 8, 2003. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from http://www.pakeys.org/uploadedcontent/Docs/Higher%20Ed/2011%20Conference/LL%20Szczurek%20Embracing%20Family%20Diversity%20Handouts.pdf

Ray, A., Bowman, B., Robbins, J. (2006) Preparing Early Childhood Teachers to Successfully Educate all Children: The Contribution of Four-Year Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Programs. Retrieved November 21, 2012 from http://www.erikson.edu/PageContent/en-us/Documents/pubs/Teachered.pdf

Personal Childhood Web

This is a picture of me, my brother and my mother. My mom has always been there for me. She has taught me a lot. Growing up I could always count on my mom to help me through anything. She always made sure I had any and everything I wanted. She made sure I kept up with school and even got me involved in different after school activities. She made sure me and my brother didn't want for anything. My mom always makes sure that I'm okay, no matter where I am. She checks on me frequently and always asks about my day. My senior year of high school my mom had an aneurysm. That was the scariest moment in my life. The doctors told us she wasn't going to make it and as a teenage girl that broke my heart. To think that the person I loved and cared so much about might not make it, but she did. I'm so blessed to have this women in my life. I don't know what I would do without her.

 Growing up my big brother was my protector. He always made sure that no one harmed me and that I was taken care of. I remember one day I was walking home from school and this boy started picking on me and out of nowhere my brother pulled up. He jumped out the car and stopped the boy from messing with me. No matter what was going on my brother was there for me, especially when no one else was. Now our relationship isn't as strong as it use to be. He now lives in Chicago and we haven't seen each other or spoken to each other in a while. Even though we are far apart in my mind he is still my protector.

This is a picture of me and my father when I graduated from college. As a child, my father wasn't around a lot. It wasn't because he didn't want to be but he was (and still is) a truck driver, so I didn't see him that often. Even though he was gone a lot, I always knew he cared. When he could visit he did, and when he couldn't I did. As a child he lived back in Houston, Texas and I lived in Atlanta, Georgia, so whenever I had a vacation or break from school I visited him. I always knew he cared for me because he would call and just talk to me about school or anything I wanted. Now, as an adult our relationship is even better. He still drives trucks but he now lives here in Atlanta. We have a strong relationship. He is my best friend. I can talk to him about any and everything. We talk often and if our schedules permit we have daddy-daughter day. That usually involves us going to church and out to lunch. When we get together we just sit and talk about whats been going on in our lives. 

This is my favorite cousin/big sister. When I was younger she lived with us. As a baby I use to sleep in her room and everywhere she went I wanted to go.   As a little girl I wanted to be just like her. Growing up she taught me a lot about how to be a strong women and how to never give up during hard times. She was my role model and still is. She encourages me and gives me advice. My big cousin is not just my big cousin but she is my sister. To this day, I still call her just to let her know whats new in my life and when I doubt myself she   encourages me to keep moving forward. I wish we didn't live so far apart but I know I can always count on her for anything.

This is my step-father. He has been apart of my life since I was about 5 years old. Honestly, growing up I didn't really care for my step-father. I guess as a child I thought he was trying to take the place of my father. So, I will admit I gave him a hard time, sometimes. No matter what I did though, he still showed me love and affection. He was there for me and taught me a lot about  being independent. When my father couldn't be there, he was not matter what the occasion was. As I got older I started to see how much he cared and loved me. He treated me like I was his child. In a way I am, I mean he has been around for majority of my life. He has supported me and taught me a lot of life long lessons. 

My Love

One of my joys in life is my family. Most important my neices and nephews. Here is a picture of my neice Azanae...I love here like she was my own...oh this is a old picture but one of my favorites.