My Supports

Within my environment, i receive support from my pastor, cousins, daughter, friend, mother, sisters, and employer as well as from the media/press. My pastor support me physically by encouraging and advising me, emotionally and spiritually. My cousins support me socially, financially and materially. They are always there to talk to me and assist me to over come difficult moment. They do not hesitate to provide my financial needs. They are one reason i am able to survive here.They guide me in making choices. My daughter’s support is limitless. She is always concern about my well being. My mother and sister  me.support me materially; they send me a lot of food when ever possible.my fried advice, guide, and offer suggestions and opinions in relation to my needs. He sacrifice much of his time to work me through especially as concern computer technology. Without his support, i am not sure of what i could do especially with my studies even though i still face some challenges.  My employer organizes  a variety of trainings sessions and workshops led by my supervisor that enable me  to better perform my job and improve on my skills. she organizes social gathering for all the  staff such as pinic, christmas,  and labor parties that promote a kind of bonding with colleagues and positively influenced my work environment.  I am knowledgeable about essential events happening on daily basis the world over , thanks to the support of press and media. The entire Walden Community ranging from my lecturers, education advisory team, to student support team support me variously. They promptly attend to me in moments of need and  provide solutions to my questions. The career service team offer webinars that help me to improve on my studies. Through my supports, i receive social, spiritual, financial, physical and material support that help protect me, relief me from stress, enable me sustain daily life, provide me with needed skills and make me happy and it will be difficult for me to survive without. Knowing that there is always some one to talk to is relieving. my financial support help me to deal with poor physical health and motivate me to keep on.

A challenge i have is that some times I feel like am a burden to my cousins, friends and family and even lack independence. A few months ago my car was down and I depended my cousins and friends for rides. I felt so terrible. I just thought i was bordering them much. This was a challenge to me because i did not have my personal program. My program depended on their availability to give me a ride which at one point was so frustrating. I was doing two jobs and had daily activities to carry on. My pastor is my spiritual leader. She orientate me and her continuous prayers for me is a mighty support. My daughter makes me feel recognized. My cousins supports me financially, materially, and socially. My friend guides me, gives me a lot of ideas to help me make decisions on related issues and supports me morally and socially. The media/press not only keep me updated on the events and issues around, they also provide me with statistics. All these support are very important as they influenced my well being and daily life and i can not imagine how possible i can sustain life without them.

My Connections to Play

 

 

“It is becoming increasingly clear through research on the brain as well as in other areas of study, that childhood need play. Play act as a forward feed mechanism in to courageous, creative, rigorous thinking in adulthood”.

Tina Bruce, Professor, London Metropolitan University.

 

“Play is a major avenue for learning to manage anxiety. It gives the child a safe space where she can experiment at will, suspending the rules and constraints of physical and social reality. In play, the child becomes master rather than subject…. play allows the child to transcend passivity and to become the active doer of what happens around her.

 Alicia F. Lieberman, author, The emotional life-of the Toddler

 

Play Items: Jump-ropes, and mancala board play pieces.

    

 

 

 

I grew up in a vast and opened environment that supported both indoor and out door play. I was supported in play by both my parents, brothers, and all around me. As a child, i was engaged in different types of play, ranging from hide and seek, jump-ropes,mancala games, cooking with mud, playing with dolls and playing scrabbles with stones. I was provided with play materials that i needed like ropes, clothes for dolls, and mancala boards though most of the time, my brothers dug mancala rows on the ground for use during the day. My parents provided me with a safe environment in which to explore. Some times when playing hie-and-seek with my play mates, my mother will show me a strategic place to hide where i will not been seen. She also played mancala game with me some night. In jump rope, my step sister taught me some rhymes to recite while jumping. My brother some times played with me and he taught me how to play mancala on two-row- board of 6rows and even more. play is essential for children as it is the easiest way for them to engage in the world. it helps stimulate the brain and provides them with the ability to solve problems.

 

Play is similar to the play i was engaged in as children are still engaged in same types of play like hide-and-seek, jump-ropes, play with toys among others. On the other hand, i feel it is some how different as children now our days have diverse play materials that are more advanced. some of their play materials are electronically active. They use video games, television, and computer games which i did not have access to when i was growing plus their play is most often structured and coordinated. With all these play materials, i hope play will enable children to be more creative and at the same time thinking that their use of computer and video games be limited.

I believe that through play, the brain and body can be relaxed and stimulated . It thus enable the development of children’s imagination, it promotes creativity and learning and provide the the ability to solve problems. It further allow the children to discover for themselves. as children negotiates roles and interact in them, they improve their communication skills. educators as well as parents should acknowledge the importance of play  and encourage them to fully use the various play materials.

Relationship Reflection

 

Relationship Reflection

 

       A relationship is an important aspect within the human society. As human beings, we need contacts and social net works which can only be set up via relationships. Even though relationships can some times be stressful, life can be very empty, boring,  and lonely if i have no relationship. I have found a lot of fulfillment in my relationship with my parents, cousin and wife and my daughter. my relationship with them are very important to me. They offer me a lot of support, encouragement and love that i very much needed to move on with life. My relationship with them highly influence my success. they are always there to support and encourage me in all that i do and when am down, they always come in to lift me up. they are the closet friends i have. They support me spiritually, financially, socially, and emotionally. They always play an important role to help relive me from stress. Relationships are also important to be cause i see it as a source of learning. The strength of my relationship with my cousin and wife deeply influence the hopefulness i need to be curious and open to new experiences. They inspire me so much. They make me to see the possibility to every situation. Relationships makes communication easier. In a relationship,issues are easily discussed, it ease negotiation and decisions are easily made. A relationship can animate us and allow us to feel loved and that we have a purpose in life.

       Currently, i have positive relationships with my parents, cousin and wife, and my daughter.

       I have a cordial and friendly relationship with my parents. my parents are hard working, kind, honest, loving and caring. Through them, i have been able to inculcate these attributes. they provided for me, were involved and concern about my health, education and social interactions. my relationship with them influence my academic success and modeled my social behavior. They are competent and always demonstrate self confidence and provided me with a sense of security and identity. knowing that they were there to provide for me made me comfortable and confidence in exploring every opportunity that comes my way. Through them, i learned how to move even when things are so difficult. Even though they were so loving and caring, they did not hesitate to use harsh methods and corporal punishment on me to discipline me. My parents listened to me and my opinion was counted when it came to making choices on what to cook. Even though my father is resting in the Lord, acknowledge and appreciate every time spent together.

       My relationship with my cousin and wife ( Gideon & Evert) is that which can not be measured. in terms of words. They are so caring, loving and concern about everything i do. I call them my mentors. They are very supportive, encouraging, and friendly.They have highly contributed to my success. They provide for me just like am a child. They are so inspirational and have inspire me to always strive for the best. They always respond promptly to my issues, advice and connect me to sources that can be helpful. My relationship with them is an important source of learning to me. They have opened my mind to new thoughts and experiences and it has helped me to move on. I always tell them my relationship with them was destined by God, My number one inspirational leader..

       My relationship with my daughter is enjoyable and superb. We both love and feel for each other. i listen to her, and respect her ideas. We share our concerns. Our relationship is characterized by love, self confidence, honesty, and respect.We both discuss our issues, negotiate, compromise and make decisions. Some times we get in to mild conflicts then resolve them.

       Regarding challenges to developing and maintaining relationships, i have gained insights on how to develop an effective working relationship in spite of the problems and conflicting perceptions and understanding that may be present in a relationship.I have also learned the importance of relationships and have understood that a consistent relationship with an adult is important to healthy development and growth.more over, i have gained insight on some stressors like the difficulty in connecting to some relationships and the challenge of maintaining objectivity in a relationship.I have also learned some important characteristics that can help me establish important and meaningful relationships like being competent, love, respect, support and honesty.

       Special characteristics of a relationship includes: love, support, kindness, patience, empathy, respect, honesty and the ability to communicate.

       My experiences with relationships/partnerships, as an effective early childhood professional, with an understanding of the various interrelated relationships associated with early interventions, i will include in my programs activities that will enable children to participate in learning, routines, and activities to create a link of support for children, their families and all who support them to be able to attend an efficient level of service ( Edelman, 2004). Also, with an understanding  that individual characteristics children bring to their relationship is necessary, as an early childhood professional, i will consider what each child brings to the relationship and how the relationship is affected by the context in which it is embedded. It is always easy to relate with some children than others; but as a professionals, it is essential that we examine what we bring in to a relationship and ask for support as needed so as to help children and their families. Also it will enable me to used required skills to bring in relationship based practices in early intervention  such as being competent in my discipline, listen carefully, and observe and high light parent/child relationship among others (Edelman, 2004). And understanding that successful early childhood education depends on partnerships with children families and communities, and understanding  the important and complex characteristics of children families and communities, i will be able to create respectful reciprocal relationships that will support and empower families and involve all families in their children development and learning.

Reference

Eldelman, L. (2003). A relationship-based approach to early intervention. Resources and Connections, 3(2). Retrieved from http://olms.cte.jhu.edu/olms/data/resource/1144/A%20Relationship-based%20Approach%20to%20Early%20Intervention.pdf.

 

 

      

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Hello every bod…

Hello every body. I am happy to meet you all and to study EDU-6161-4, Effective programs & practice course with you all. I am a humble learner and open to corrections and criticism. so feel free to make comments for there will help me to learn more. I wish you all the best success as we journey together in this course.

Thanks

QUOTE ABOUT CHILDREN

One important quote about children i chose is:

 “We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is some one today”.

     By Stacia Tauscher.

I chose this quote because it is so meaningful to me. Bearing in mind that the solution future adult problems depends on a large measure upon how our children grow up today, we need not to ignore how important children are to us today. Children are a special and precious gift from God. Looking at biblical times, we can realize the importance of children in the lives of Elizabeth, Zacharias and Mary among others. God loves and value children so we must view them as important being. Children are important for they brings a lot of changes, and hope in our lives. for instance, a baby can melt the heart of an adult and can arrest the attention of who ever is beside him/her. Children also bring a lot of joy and love to us as individuals and to our families. My entire house hold was filled with joy when i had my daughter. This was the fulfillment of God’s desire for me as a woman. Thus children are important for what they are and what they brings to our lives. There for while thinking about their future, we have to recognize and appreciate the important role they play in our lives, families and society, giving them the attention, correction, instruction and the discipline they need.

Another quote that i chose is:

“An aware parent loves all children he/she interact with – for you are a care taker for those moments in time.”

By Doc Childre, founder of the non profit Institute Heartmath, a research and education organization.

I chose this quote because it will guide me as care giver and educator of children. i believe that it is important for us to view all children within our care as our own children and thus give them the care and education we will want for our children, establish good relationships with them so they can be able to freely explore and thrive as they grow through various developmental stages.

TESTING FOR INTERLLIGENCE

     Considering a commitment for viewing young children holistically, important aspects in children like behavior  should be assessed.This can enable teachers to determine what a child can do and know his/her abilities. For instance, in an observation of a child recounting what happened say yesterday at home with a smile and expressive language is a good measure of oral language skill than when he is ask to retell a story in an unfamiliar setting. Also to be assessed is a child’s physical and socio-cultural environment. Children’s social relationships can have a considerable effect on their cognitive growth. More over, a child’s cognitive development can be assessed so as to know his progress and performance and determine how ready he is for preschool or elementary school enrollment. Further more, children psycho-social and emotional aspects can be assessed. To be note is that some times emotions serve as the language of the young child especially where verbal skills are lacking and are also meaningful and show the child  feelings. Also, children’s needs can be assessed in order to have an understanding of their developmental status and condition so as to be able to define the areas like physical,fine and gross motor skills, social,cognitive and language development  that are in most need of attention.

     School-aged children are assessed in Cameroon in the following ways:

1). Informal assessment: With this method children are evaluated on aspects that personal and meaning full. Check-list and open ended questions are used to measure student’s performance.

2). Formal assessment: It is a nation wide testing and include the use of evaluation tools to measure students knowledge and application of skills against specific criteria.

3). observations enable the teacher to be able to measure a child’s ability and developmental progress.

4). Running records. With this method of assessment, the observer objectively writes a narrative format of the child’s activities at a give time. This help to analyze social  skills and development.

5) Teacher Rating: A way to organize ideas of children’s development in to scales.e.g. recording children’s grades in to report cards

Portforlios: The collection of work samples indicating different dimension of their learning and focus on their strength and demonstration of knowledge and skills over time

     To be noted here is the fact that assessment are used to identify specific areas where children may need additional support, they may also be evaluated for other things like developmental disability or special need classes and the more information we get regarding children’s progress in learning, the more focused lessons can be developed to meet their needs

References

1). DVD: “The journey through the life span” (Disc 2)

2). Berger, K. S. The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers

3). Assessing young children (2004). Pearson education, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.pearsonassessments.com/NR/rdonlyres/FD21F05l1-A5AD-42

4). Guyatt, H. L., Brooker, S. Donnnelly, C.A. Observation: Scholarly articles for methods of assessing school-aged children in Cameroon.

5). Rufffieux, N., Njamnshi, A. K., Mayer, E., Sztajzel, R., Eta, S.C., Doh, R. F., Kengne, A. M., Ngamaleu, R. N., Chanal, J. Neuropsychology in Cameroon: First normative data for cognitive test among school-aged children.

Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

A friend in the name  of Mbong Alice experienced a natural disaster. This natural disaster involved the seismic explosion of methane gas of lake Nyos  in August 21st 1986. This is a cradle lake in the North West region of Cameroon.Alice experienced this gas explosion and this has been a source of concern to her and for many living around it still remember the seismic eruption of the lake which led to many people and animals being burnt to death by the hot lavae forced out by the erupting lake.   Recalling the event, when she woke up that morning, she was having difficulties breathing. She went to her brother’s room saw him sleeping but she did not know he was death. Later, she realized that there was massive  death of people and animals. There was fear, panic, surviving people were evacuated to the hospital including her and later resettle temporarily to a nearby village. Before being evacuated to the hospital, they were given red palm oil as first aid against the inhaled poisonous gas.  There was general support  from the various churches, communities and the government in terms of money and material items.  A seismograph have also been installed in the lake to help notify and indicate a possible gas explosion in the future.

The country i have chosen is Cameroon. The common stressors that impact the development of children

in Cameroon are poverty and disease.

Poverty in Cameroon is experienced in different fields and areas that relates to child growth and development characterized by poor nutrition and malnutrition, poor health and poor road infrastructure among others. recent survey shows that there is no region in Cameroon that is untouched by poverty, the North west being one of the most affected with inadequate road infrastructure. According to the International fund for Agricultural development (IFAD), poverty in the region has worsened in the past 10 years and several studies and surveys shows that children and women are the most hard-hit. Energy poverty is also identify in Cameroon as approximately 90% of the rural population and 74% of the total population lack access to electricity which is the main source of energy. Kerosene is the most common form of fuel based lighting in the country but it is expensive and endangers the environment, health and safety of children and families.  The poverty level in Cameroon can negatively affect brain development in early childhood as a result of lack of proper nutrition and quality care and can also increase depression, substance abuse and social isolation  in parents. There is also high risk of child abuse and neglect within poor families in Cameroon and abuse is seen to have  affected children’s abilities to establish healthy attachments and can led to depression, anxiety propensity for violence. More over, poor families in Cameroon lives in over crowded, polluted, high crime,  and shanty areas, the case of mokolo and Melang in Yaounde  as such have failed to afford proper child care. Worse of all, poverty in Cameroon has contributed to sickness, and increase child mortality rate. also, most children do not have access to the media be it television or radio not to mention the internet and thus do not benefit from the numerous educative media programs that can influence their growth and development. To minimize the harm of poverty,the following measures are being taken:

– Attempts are made to modernize agriculture which is the main occupation of about 90% of the population with the subsidization of agricultural tools.

– Most roads linking urban towns and rural areas are under the process of reconstruction for example the Bamenda – Kumbo road.

– Light Africa is on the process to implement the use of firefly solar lamps to provide clean, efficient and reliable off grid lighting that is less expensive than kerosene to African consumers including Cameroon. Also most families have resorted to the use of generator machines for electricity supply.

The prevalence of disease is another stressor that impact the development of children in Cameroon. Example of such diseases include but not limited: water borne diseases like diarrhea and cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid,  yellow fever, mealses, minigititis, leukemia  and AIDS. According to UNICEF, about 5 out of every 200 children 0-59 months who contact diarrhea die from it. Many children die of diarrhea because of unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices. Leukemia is still a deathly disease in Yaounde as studies carried out in the Pediatric unit of the University teaching hospital center of Yaounde proved that 9 out of 11 children  of age 5years and below had lymphoblastic leukemia in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon. Also AIDS is another killer disease that is highly impacting the development of many children. Generally, it gets to a child from the mother either during pregnancy, labor or after birth via breast feeding. It can cause childhood illness and common opportunistic infections likepneumonia and tuberculosis.  These diseases can impact the development of children as children living with them especially AIDS often have a number of physical problems that can cause them to grow poorly.  There also negatively effect a child’s appetite and digestive system as a whole and such children always have trouble gaining or keeping weight. Cognitively, disease infested children perform negatively against peers and socially such children are delayed in their development especially children affected by AIDS.

The following measures have been taken to minimize the harm by disease in Cameroon:

1) Hand washing  with soap at key times has been implemented by UNICEF in Cameroon to all children, schools, families and communities and diarrhea have been reduced by 48%. Also as an innovative initiative for hand washing at schools, the ministry of Basic Education and the complexe Chimique Cameroon  (CCC) , a soap producing company has partnered with UNICEF to provide supplies in 300 schools across the country for the hand washing initiative.

2). Hygiene and sanitation is taught in schools as part of the national curriculum.

3). Vaccination campaigns and immunization of children as more than 80% of children 0 – 5 years are vaccinated each year against diseases like measles, typhoid, polio, hepatitis B, yellow fever with UNICEF support. Mosquitoes nets are also distributed to mosquitoes infested areas to prevent malaria.

4). Essential nutrition services are provided in priority health district where children’s malnutrition is a problem.

5). PLS  promotes the use of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc and household water treatment by distributing point-of-use household water treatment products. The use of zinc and ORS was also recommended by WHO and UNICEF in 2004 as the best way to reduce diarrhea.

6). UNICEF also worked with the government to secure 120 million Euros from global fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria with the aim to increase bed net coverage from 13% to over 80% by 2015.

 

References:

1. United Nations  Children’s Fund and World Head Organization, WHO/UNICEF joint statement: Clinical management of acute diarrhea, UNICEF, New York, 2004.

2. Pediatric service, university teaching hospital center ( UTHC), Yaounde, Cameroon.

3. http://www.unicef.org/wcaro/2009-3650.html(UNICEFWCARO-mediacenter-Cameroon:childrenfight…

4. How does HIV Affect Children?/eHow.com

5. The influence of the environment in early years of childhood.

6. Cameroon: Nascent solutions- Bui- Cameroon.

 

 

 

Immunization

      The topic I have chosen is immunization. This is the situation where by the body immune system is stimulated to defend and fight against attack by particular contagious diseases like measles, polio, hepatitis B, mumps, tetanus,, pertussis or whooping cough and rubella among others. (Berger, 2009). It is also called vaccination that protect the body against diseases.  Two types of immunizations that is Active and passive have been identified. (Wikipedia). It is worth of mention that immunization is very important to both the adult and child because it enable the immune system to fight against on coming diseases. It also protect children from diseases and serious complications like deafness, blindness, and brain damage and it prevent the spread of diseases. ( Berger, 2009).

      With immunization, some children diseases like small pox, rotovirus, polio, and measles, have become rare in most countries.

      Some problems identified with immunization is the fact that some parents do not follow up the vaccination of their children and end up not completing the required vaccines for the children that might adversely affect them, some focus and pay attention only to the side effects of the vaccine and some vaccines are not yet available . All these contribute to increase child mortality rate. ( Berger, 2009).

     Being aware of what immunization is and knowing the impacts if immunization, i will be able to create an awareness on children and parents on the need for it.  I will also create and implement immunization promotion curriculum in the learning program where disease control and immunization will be taught.

 

Reference

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed. ). New York, NY: Worth Publishers

WIKIPEDIA, The free encyclopedia

 

  

     

   

My Birth Experience

      My birth experience i had was that of my daughter. I was pregnant for her when i was 18. At the early stage of my pregnancy, i was so scare and nervous. I could only imagine child birth with knowledge from my biology lessons and from viewing images about child birth  that were so scaring. But then as time went on, I nursed a lot of positive thoughts about putting to birth and becoming a single mother. I believe what helped me was my continuous prayers and prenatal lessons i was receiving.

      Just like any woman, at the 9th of pregnancy, I was anxious for a spontaneous delivery and to see my baby. At this time I was also thinking of going continuing education after delivery. My due date came but nothing happened. I was worried something was wrong and also, school had started. Gosh, that was frustrating. I went for my weekly appointment and was told my baby was doing good. 

      Then comes the D – day. In the morning of September 10th, at 5:00, i woke up, used the bathroom but strangely, i started feeling a kind of sharp pain under my stomach, on and off and i was also frequently using the bathroom. After a few minutes, contractions started, i got up, prepared my bag then went back to bed. I didn’t tell any body what i was experiencing. My contractions were increasing. Any time there started, i will make a walk between the rooms then sit when it cools. This went on for two hours. Out of a sudden when i was making a walk around the yard, water poured out of me. I called my little sister and told her to get ready and go with me to the hospital.

      we left the house and walked to the hospital. On the way it was difficult for me to walk faster because, I had to stop walking any time my contractions increased. We reached the hospital and went directly to the maternity and I was send to the labor ward after being examined by the nurse on duty. She scared me when she said ” This is first case and I don’t like to delivering first cases” then she left and i was with two mid wives. She scared a hell out of me. I was confused. My little sister went and called my mother. They took me to the delivery room and on the bed. I lied on my back. My contractions were continuous. I could not help it. I even struggled to stand but only went as far as sitting just for few seconds. I was also pushing when i felt like to. The mid wife sent her hand in to me like she was trying to feel then ask me to push hard. this i did then my baby came out. Then I felt a big relive and no pain. My baby cried and she said to me, it’s a girl. I was so happy. She gave me the baby and i hold her on my arms. she was small but very cute.  At the same time my baby came out, my mother was by the door trying to get in but she was not allowed to. This was my birth experience, 14years ago. it is always fresh in my memory.

      My thought is that women should be strong and determine and try to avoid thinking about issues that might adversely affect them and their unborn child. They should also take good care of the selves, follow up medical appointments and eat nutritive food.

      Since I am not the native of the US and i have been here just for a year, I have chosen the USA. I ask two of my colleagues at work how birthing is done here. What i learned from them and also from reading a birthing experience online is that: Expectant mothers have private doctors and have to call them when when they starts to labor, have also learned of individual appointments with doctors, have learned of special individual classes meant to prepare the expectant mother against labor pain and relaxation and the use of epidura to ease pain.

      Comparing birthing in the USA and Cameroon my country, I realizes that they have certain things in common and some disparities. For instance, both experienced child labor, delivery and natural birth, but contrarily, in Cameroon, natural birth is the only means of delivery. C – section is used only in complicated cases but in the US, C-section is an option as some people may not want to go through the pain of child labor. Also both countries under go prenatal care and classes but in the US, women have their private doctors and every thing is between the while in Cameroon, prenatal classes, appointments etc is done in groups and open just like in a classroom setting. Women in Cameroon see doctors privately at first visit and those that see doctors at regular basis are those whose cases are complicated and might likely go through a c-section. They work with professional nurses and mid wives but that is not the case in the US.  More over, in Cameroon, Child labor and pain is normal but in the US, epidura is used to ease labor pain. further more, after child birth, the mother is not allowed to work or do any thing till when the belly button falls off and too at the same time the baby is to remain indoors where as in the USA, mothers are  encouraged to move around even with their babies and carry out their daily activities.

      The additional insight here is the importance of getting a good medical follow up at pregnancy. I believe that with that being put in place many issues and problems that could create an adverse impact on the development of the child will be taken care of and such impacts will be avoided. I also have an insight of what i can use to ease labor pain which is important especially to women who spend hours in labor.

Posted by Dor, V.  ( 2012. July).

Oral questioning to McCrary, F.  ( 2012. July).

 

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