Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

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Childbirth In Your Life and Around the World

I have two amazing sons!!! My birthing experiences were different with both of my children. Babies are such a blessing from God. I can remember with my older I was at home when my water broke, but I had no idea that was happening to me. My husband and I went to the hospital, the nurse checked me and said your water broke and you are here to stay. I went into labor two weeks early. The pain was sooooooooooooo miserable because I didn't get an epidural until the end of the labor. I got to the hospital around 11:30 on a Monday night and I delivered my baby on a Tuesday at 9:00 am. I was in labor for about 8 hours. Which was good compared to most women being in labor for 12 plus hours. As the doctor  came in to check the baby monitor, he noticed my babies' breathing was going up and down. So, the doctor had to turn me side to side to help my baby breathe the right way. That was a little scary, but I continued to pray that God would take care of us. I guess to keep me from panicking my husband and mother were asked to leave the room. So, I had to deliver all alone. This birthing experience different from my 8 month old. This time I was induced on a Monday. I had to be at the hospital at 5:00 am. I was so excited to drop that load!!! I had no pain. Around 9am the doctor came in to break my water. No pain!!! Around 9:30 I got my epidural. I was feeling great!!!!!!!! Extremely numb, but great!! I had the baby around 7:30 that night. I was so hungry!!! The labor was breeze, but the delievery was different from my oldest son. With my oldest son I only had to push once. With my 8 month old son I was pushing seemed like forever. This time my husband and mother was able to share in the experience!! I remember both times laying on the delivery bed just praising and thanking God for these blessings he gave to me and my husband. God kept me safe with both labor and deliveries.

Birth in Africa
Traditionally, women in Kenya have given birth at home. In this rural culture, birth is a meaning-laden event not only for a woman and her extended family but also for the entire community. Children are viewed as a blessing, a gift from God. A pregnant woman is supported by older women in the community and cared for by traditional birth attendant (TBA). They continue to play a vital role in the African communities. Because of the 40% unemployment and widespread poverty, medical care is often unaffordable or unavailable. This is the reason why many women in Africa turn to TBAs   for assistance or birth at home.  The women of Africa give birth sitting on a hand carved birthing stool, on the knees or crouching. This helps the uterus dilate and make it easier for the baby to emerge. Kenyan fathers/partners are enthuisatic and committed to involvemen in the birth experience. In South Africa epidural are very hard to come by. Doctors recommend cesearan birth because of dangers of vaginal birth. They also recommend induction on at 38 weeks.

In conclusion, birthing children is a blessing from God. God has given mothers that blessing, and that is why mother's should take good care of the blessing that God has given. It is important we give our children the proper nourishment they did to become successful children and adults.


References:
The Journal of Perinatal Education: Birth and Vision: Lamaze Childbirth Education in Kenya, East Africa.  Summer 2004.
www.pregnancy-info.net/birthingmethods.html

www.pregnancy-info.net/birthing

Child Development and Public Health

Nutrition/Malnutrition I chose nutrition as a topic because a good nutrition helps the child develop mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is very vital that a child practices good nutrition so he or she can be healthy.Child malnutrition is the single biggest contributor to under five morality due to greater susceptibility to infections and slow recovery from illness. Child malnutrition has an impact on education attainment. Studies show that stunted children in the first two years of life have lower cognitive test scores, delayed enrollment, higher absenteeism and more class repetition compared with non stunted children. Over the centuries, low-income families encouraged their children to eat, protecting them against famine. Even today in the poorest nations, malnutrition beginning in infancy and continuing through early childhood contributes to one-third of all deaths and slows later growth, including growth of the brain. For instance, according to a study of hungry young children in Ghana, many became depressed or mentally impaired adolescents, although few became delinquents perhaps they lacked the energy. In Brazil 30 years ago, the most common nutritional problem was undernutrition; now it is overnutrition, with low-income Brazilians particularly vulnerable. Here are some things you didn't know about malnutrition: 1. If a child becomes malnourished in the womb or before the age of two the damage can be irreparable. 2. Solutions are simple. There are 13 direct interventions, such as vitamin A that are proven to have an impact on the nutrition and health of children and mothers. 3. Improving nutrition is good investment well-nourished children are less prone to diseases and illness and are more able to concentrate at school. 4. Targeting support at pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 2 can make a difference. 5. Tackling child malnutrition is the right thing to do. Children shouldn't be going to bed hungry every night. This topic is so meaningful to me because I see children come to school hungry everyday. It's so sad to see them eating like it is their last meal. It is so important that all children eat a healthy meal so they can grow strong and think well. References: www.motherchildnutrition.org Berger, K (2012). The developing person through childhood (6th ed.) New York, NY: Worth Publishers

A Note of Thanks and Support

Thank you so much for posting your early childhood experiences, suggestions and advice. I have learned so much from this course! It has been a great learning experience for me! I appreciate especially from Catherine's posting and Yee Joyce posting. I will now take what I've learned into the classroom with me each and everyday. Both of your postings you shared has helped me to be a better educator to my students, parents, and community. Thank you, thank you, thank you and I hope you the best for you in your the field of early childhood education!         

Growing Your Collection of Resources

I love reading this book to my children entitled: "Corduroy" by Don Freeman


"Children are precious in the eyes of Jesus. He said "let them come," and at the same time taught each of us a valuable lesson in child-like faith. www.cmalliance.org/resources/children



Guidance works best when the adult and the child feel like they're on the same side of the problem (Carlsson-Paige 2008).  www.cfu.tufts.edu/external.asp?url=http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/&prev=http://www.cfu.tufts.edu/?/category/young-children/17/=

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Two quotes of Susan Bredekamp:

"Child-initiated activity is all that's important and that teacher-directed instruction or any form of teacher-directed activity is not appropriate."

"Children benefit most from teachers who have the skills, knowledge, and judgement to make good decisons and are given the opportunity to use them."




Two quotes of Lillian Katz:

"We are doing earlier to children what we shouldn't do later."

"Of course children benefit from positive feedback. But praise and rewards are not the only methods of reinforcement. More emphasis should be place on appreciation reinforcement related explicitly and directly to the content of the child's interest and efforts."



The Passion for Early Childhood:
Louise Derman-Sparks
"I always wanted to be a teacher because I had a built-in passion to make a contribution to the world."
"Children are still trying to figure out their own different identities."
"Teaching made me feel whole and creative."
"My passion is to create a safer more just world for our children."

Sandy Escobido
"My passion stems from my personal experiences growing up."
"Seeing how involved my parents were made me want to become an early childhood educator."
"We as educators have an opportunity to shape a child's life."

Raymond Hernandez
"My passion come from my intrinstic motivation for my field of work."
"I'm not here to save the world, but to make a difference in it."

Renatta M. Cooper
"It's not all about you, you must take your eagle out of it to do what's best for the child."
"Education is equity work."

Leticia Lara
"Embrace who I am and what I was taught creates a foundation for my passion."
"My experiences with my parents and grandparents help to stem my passion."
"At a young age I learned that families need support."
"My passion is to bring my ideas into changing policy and to changing practice and research."


  

Personal Childhood Web

There are five special people in my life that influenced me through my childhood and even still today. Those five people include my mother, father, grandmother, my kindergarten teacher/school staff, and godparents.
I can remember my mother was/is so loving, caring, and nurturting. She always made sure I had everything I needed. She helped me with my homework, made sure I had healthy meals, and attended my school activites. She always encouraged me to be the very best that I can be. My mother and father raised me to love the Lord which is most important. They taught me the ways of the Lord and that I could do nothing without God. So true still this day I'm still serving the Lord from what they both taught me years ago. They both nurtured me in many ways, but most they were both always there when I needed to cry, begin to crawl, walk, talk, and sing. They took me to school so I wouldn't have to ride public transportation. They always made sure I was safe and secure.I always appreciated my father, who lived in the home with me which I'm very grateful for. I can remember my father would let me ride on his back. We would play hide and seek, laugh and joke. I appreciate that relationship because it taught me that oneday when I get married that was something I could look forward to with my husband. My father taught me what to look for in a husband even as a little girl. He said a good man must be a priest of your home, a provider, and  protector. Not only did he teach me this but he showed it in our home to my mother and our family. I carried this standard with me as a little girl to adulthood. I now am married to a wonderful man with all the descriptions my father told me to look for. This made me feel so special. This special relationship I had/have with my parents shaped me into the woman that I am now.

My grandmother was a special woman. She always taught me to be the best that I can be. She taught me in all that you do God comes first. Our relationship was special because she would sing with me, taught me how to act like a lady, and taught me to cook and how to keep a house clean. Not sure I really learned how to cook though! I will never forget when she taught me to always say "thank you" because no one as to be nice. She used to say always be kind because your education might not get you there but your kindness might get you where you need to be. My grandmother was the one that always said I was going to be a teacher because I would always want to be in charge of my other cousins. Here I am years later, an early childhood educator. I am still influenced by what she taught me and I truly appreciate her shaping me into the lady I am today.

My kindergarten/school staff were so very loving and compassionate. I remember feeling a sense of safety, love, and positive feedback when I entered the classroom. My kindergarten teacher always taught me I can achieve what I want if I put my mind to it. I love when she would read my favorite storybook "The Little Engine That Could."  This storybook still influences my life in a positive way. It is still my favorite book. I appreciate how fun my kindergarten teacher made learning.


My godparents were special to me because they would pick me up and spend time with me. They would encourage me to reach above the stars.  They would always embrace me with hugs and kisses. I always felt safe with them.


All these special people in my life in different ways help to nurture me. They showed me love, now I can give love back. They all gave me positive feedback and to this day I'm always talking positive to myself and others. They encouraged me to get an education, and now I'm blessed to be working on my master's. They all played a special role in my childhood development and I now appreciate what I have achieved and willl achieve in my future. Most importantly I'm glad they all taught me about God. As a little girl and now even as an adult I'm so glad I have a relationship with the Lord. I will forever remember them all for teaching me what was most important; I can't do nothing without God. I'm also glad I learned to use my manners. My grandmother use to say "manners can take you along way."  Thank you to all the special people that help to shape me into the lady I am now.