Research that benefits Children and Families

Option # 2

"Positive Reinforcement" with Children

Positive Reinforcement with children has been a topic of interest to me since I have been working in the early childhood field. I was told that rewarding a child for bad behavior is not healthy. But personally I see things differently. I believe that children who portray bad behavior at an early age should be encouraged to positive-motivate reinforcement. I’m not a researcher and I have not done a study on this particular topic, but working in the early childhood field, you come in contact with children who maybe more challenging than others; with this being said, we must find methods to work with children on all levels.

I do believe that a child who continuously shows bad behavior should not be rewarded, if this behavior has become a pattern, than other options should be seek. This child will start to realize that he/she can continue to show bad behavior and still be rewarded for it; which is not healthy.

Now on the other hand, when it comes to “positive reinforcement”, research states that you run a very hi risk of training them to just grow-up to be approval seekers who won’t be self-motivated to do things as they grow up to be adults, unless they are  highly motivated and rewarded.

The bigger problem is that there really seems to be a lot of evidence that suggests that positive reinforcement as a technique for getting a child to do something actually trains them to be extrinsically motivated… meaning they’ll grow up to be the kind of adult who won’t do anything unless they have something to gain for it.
And the evidence seems to suggest that these types of children grow up to be adults who won’t share, help, or give their all, unless they’re being compensated fairly to do so; instead of growing up to be intrinsically motivated to do things, even if there’s not an immediate payoff.

The Positive Contribution

Even though there have been some studies on positive reinforcement and the affect it has on children; my theory of positive reinforcement would be the term “favorable.” If encouraging children to do well by rewarding them with incentives such as happy face stickers, treats, and high fives than I will continue to do so. I work with Pre-school children and some are more challenging than others, whether it’s with learning or behavior issues. I encourage positive behavior with my children through stickers, favorite treats, games, and etc. I find these to be motivating and encouraging. And the children who are more challenging than others are the ones I implement this to the most. And I really see a difference. As children become adolescence, I believe they will learn very quickly that society will not be rewarded them for negative or bad behavior. This is why children should be taught early in life the does and don’ts in what are expected of them. I have had parents to tell me that they see a difference in their child abilities to do well in school and with their peers, and that their behavior has changed a great deal than before. I hope to continue to do research and studies on "Positive Reinforcement" in the early childhood field; for I believe that it is very important to understand that children and families need to know what works for their child/children to be motivated.

Natural and Social Reinforcement are to reinforcements that I highly recommend and utilize in my classroom.

*Natural Reinforcement occurs when a natural consequence for a certain behavior increases, hoping the behavior will occur in the future.

*Social Reinforcement entails consequences for behavior such as a smile, high five, and a tickle.     

Using Positive Reinforcement to increase Desired Behavior, Dr. Debra Leach EdD, BCBA

www.centralreach.com/articles/using-positive-reinforcement-to-increase-desired-behaviors/www.centralreach.com/articles/using-positive-reinforcement-to-increase-desired-behaviors/

My Personal Research Journal

The topic of interest is "Poverty" and the total affects it has on children and their families from coginitve developmental delays to social and emtional barriers. I believe this issue is so important because there are many children in America who are suffering from poverty. I work in a low-income community, and many parents are receiving some type of government assistance to help take care of their families. I feel if I can offer children and families the best quality care in early childhood education programs, than I'm helping to break the cycle of longivity of poverty. Making the difference in the lives of these children and families is what I plan on doing.

Research states that children who are born into poverty grow-up as adults in poverty. I personally feel that this is a myth. I believe the cycle of poverty can end with the help of politicians, neuroscientist, early educators and all who make important decisions in this field of study. My dream is that one day research is revised and seen as a myth. This epidemic can stop, if children and families best interest to heart is taken into consideration.

If children are introduced to high quality education taught by highly qualified teachers and teachers with many years of experience; than children would be able to reach their highest potential when entering into Kindergarten and elementary school. Research shows that children who graduate high school and go on to college are more than likely to get higher paying job that increase their salaries; so they can provide for themselves. While providing high quality education to children, I hope to be able in providing families with reliable resources within the community that they may benefit from. Some families just need a helping hand to encourage them to do better. My passion as well as my mission is to do just that.

Grasping research and understanding the importance of it to my career in early childhood field. Always staying ahead with new information/data is another way of providing the best quality care for children and families.

Sharing Resources is another way to help colleagues better understand the importance of helping to fight the cause of poverty.
The Children Defense fund a non-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., USA, that advocates on behalf of children through a variety of activities http://www.cdf.com/ is an excellent website that offers up to date information on children and familes dealing with poverty.

What have you found to be difficult?

What has help you so far with research?

Please share resources?
      

Final Blog Assignment Week 8

Unfortunately, I never received feed back from any of the International contacts that I emailed. Thank you Dr. Klein for the alternatives websites and podcast.


                                                      Three Consequences


*One consequence would be the affect poverty have on children, not just here in America but all around the world. China, and Africa are two other countries that have issues with poverty and lack of heath care. When we think of Issues and Trends in the early childhood area, we think about what is going on right here at home. Never does it cross our minds that children/families in other countries are suffering from the same issues that Americans are suffering from also. Poverty is a Worldwide issue and not just one nation issue. We must join toughener to end this epidemic.

*It was not until I entered Walden University and enrolled in Early Child Development field; were I have been introduced to many issues and trends that affect the lives of many families across the country.You don't really understand what children/families endure until you read, research and gain knowledge of the issues that come a long with being a early childhood educator. One thing that I have learned in this field is to never judge people, for we never know how their lives are outside of the center. It is very important to treat people according to the way you want to be treated. We must take off our blind folds to children and families who do not share the same cultural as ourselves. We all are unique and have something to give and take from other nationalities. In this field, we as educators must always make sure we stay as professional and productive as possible. Children and families should always be able to look up to us and not look down on us; for we play a very crucial role in their lives.

*Health care is a another major concern with children and families around the world. If children are not able to be provided with the proper healthcare; which can cause lack of immunizations than we are looking for   nonproductive children in the future to come or more children dying from lack of proper health care. We must advocate to politicians for the well-fare of all children around the globe.


                                                              Goal 


We as early childhood educator's maybe in different parts of the country, but share many related issues and trends in the early childhood field. It is good to know what is going on in other parts of the world pertaining to issues and trends in the early childhood field. My goal is to continue to reach out to other's in different parts of the country to relate, understand, and collaborate in  hopes of making a difference to help change policies, and procedures that affect the lives of children in other countries as well as my own country.

  

My Thoughts on the EC Field...

I just wanted to share with Dr. Klein and colleagues a major issue/concern that is being addressed under the TN Licensure Law for the well-fare and well-being of children in Memphis, TN.

*Issue regarding quality and early childhood professionals being discussed where I work:

One of the local issues that have been a major concern in the City of Memphis is Corporal punishment. In the last six months to a year there have been complaints from children and parents around Memphis, TN area, stating Children are being neglected, mistreated and corporal punishment has been inflected on some children. The City of Memphis Licensure has sent out emails and flyers with policies, procedures and guidelines when disciplining a child under the TN Licensure law. Now this is another issue on top of  tunes of inequality children and their family has to endure, when enrolling their child/children in childcare in TN.

                             *What opportunities or requirements for professional development exist:

With child abuse and neglect towards children has always been a major concern for me, I feel that teachers “NEED/MUST” be screened and background checks should be mandatory in every state. And when I say screened, I’m talking more along the lines as psychological screening. Many EC educators that are not experienced or have the education to understand/work with children or not equipped to handle the challenges that comes along with the job. Professionally speaking; extended training and highly effective training should be giving at least once a year for educators to continuously understand the ever changing field.

                                                                *My Professional goals:

I have many professional goals, but my major professional goals would be to continue working hard to make EC development fun and exciting for children. Always remember that the job I do is not about me, but all about children and their families. I look forward to many changes in this field; some good and some bad, but I will take the good and make do with the bad, to strive for a better future when working with children. My long-term professional goal; would be contributing as much as I can so that children and families will benefit from it. As Dr. Vasquez stated, “contribution today will pay off for tomorrow.”

                                 Professional Hopes, Dreams, and Challenges:

I hope that one day the early childhood field want be so complex; reasoning being research and studies has shown that children need to be introduced to early child education, so that they can develop high cognitive, social and emotional skills. EC education is so important in a child’s life.

My dream is to see the early childhood field prosper and recognized like any other field/career. And that children and families across this nation will be respected and welcomed into EC programs because we all want what is best for our children; and cultural has nothing to do with that.

Challenges: Because EC education has been so complicated for many many years, it will take just as long to fix, reinforce and demand policies and put them into practice to change the stigma/reputation placed on this field. And this is from EC educators pay, politicians laws, to issues with enforcing these laws. The list goes on. There will forever be challenges that we must face in this ever changing field. As EC educators, knowing and staying up-to-date on what is going on locally and internationally is imperative.

Getting to know International Contacts Part 3

Hello fellow Colleagues, unfortunately I have yet to hear from any of the International contacts that I contacted in week 1 of the course. I have been utilizing most of the alternatives web links. I chose to read/review the issues pertaining to monitoring children closely for their well being depends on it; under UNESCO website.


                   Title: Better monitoring the insight for the well-being of the children.

On September 12-13 around thirty experts around the country joined together in UNESCO to develop a holistic index to improve states on how to help improve progress towards EC care and education (ECCE).   This is the first to the Education for All (EFA).

HECDI which stands for Holistic Early Childhood Development Index was created in December of 2010 and includes childhood development experts from the Bernard van Leer Foundation, Un Kilo de Ayuda (Mexico), Save the Children, UNESCO, UNICEF, the WFP, the WHO and the World Bank.

The HECDI intends to overcome the existing fragmented perspectives on EC by adopting a holistic vision of monitoring children from the prenatal period to age eight.


                                The Following Elements will be measured:


 *Integrated aspects of ECCE policy and programming at a national and subnational level

*Legal protection of children * social protection and child welfare


 *Social-emotional and cognitive development


*Access and quality of early childhood care and education


*Health and nutrition


Over one hundred members state and other EC educators stakeholders that are participating in this world conference on Early child Care and Education is existing challenges in improving the well-being of young children. 




Resource:


 http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

 

Sharing Web Resources Week 6

I chose this Website because I had never viewed it before. This website had information pertaining to children and poverty and the life long affects it have on the development of children. I thought this would be a very informative site to share with my colleagues.

The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) is an interdisciplinary organization of scientists, established in 1933 by the National Academy of Science.


Social Policy Report Food Insecurity is Harmful to Children Development:


                                                              Why Does This Matter
                                         
In 2009, 21.3 percent of American household with children experienced food insecurity, which means they had limited or uncertain economic downturn even more children may be at risk. Food insecurity is a public health problem with serious consequences for children including greater likelihood of depression, anxiety defects, poor academics performance, birth defects and behavior problems.



                                                              Policies Implications 


*Reduce Food insecurity and empower ourcomes for children; policy makers should work to assure that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) an entitlement that does not face budget cuts when it's reauthorized.
*Work to reach eligible families and programs; make public food assistance programs for families more accessible and less difficult to administer and reward state for streamlining enrollment and reaching eligible families.


 Poverty has been one of the Issues we have discussed  in today's society pertaining to development of Early Childhood:

*Society for Research supports efforts to reduce poverty since issues of hunger and uncertainty about food availability often though not always co-occur with poverty.

*Focus on both the public and private food support programs; with to improve connection  between public and private sector programs.


                                                                 Research says:


Children in food insecure households are at increased  risk for physical problems, Academic problems, Psych social difficulties.  


The website I chose at the beginning of the course was http://www.worldforumfoundation.org

Because Social Justice is a very important topic all over the "world" when implementing polices, procedures and other important issues pertaining to the betterment of children and families; this information under world forum foundation I found to be helpful from this website.

*The Capacity to Enhance Social Capital and Services Provision for families and young Children:

Worldwide, growing evidence attests to the importance of effective early care and education services. Initiatives such as the Early Excellence Centres in the UK suggest that access to, and awareness and responsiveness of community services are enhanced when the services are integrated. It is also possible that services integration has the potential  to build community social capital.

This information presents some of the findings from phase one of a collaborative study between QUT and several government and non-government organizations into establishment and ultimately, effectiveness, of two community hubs are focused on the provision  of integrated child care and early childhood services but include family support services, parenting support, health services, community activities and education services. This investigation was underpinned by social capital theory. The data gathered was collected from community surveys and interviews in a rural and urban Queen locality.

Information that added to my understanding of Equity and Excellence and Equity:

This website reminded me that Social Justice and the reinforcement of Excellence and Equity is imperative all around the world. Sometimes we can get caught up with issues and trends right here in America and have a tendency to not be mindful that it's other countries facing the same challenges that we face in advocating for Social Justice and excellence/equity for all children.

Insights: 
Understanding that Continuous effort in advocating/fighting for what is right for children and families all around the country is an long time commitment. And to know that we must never give up on making sure children and families who are not being seen or heard, but through our voices as early childhood educators, advocates and etc. I'm believing that fighting for equity and excellence for children and families will come to an end, but until that day comes; we are not to give up our duties, because children early childhood education and future for that matter depends upon it.     



 Resources:

http://www.worldforumfoundation.org

Society for Research in Child Developmenthttp://www.srcd.org/ 

Issues pertaining to Equity and Excellence

Children Mental Health has been an issue that been an interest of mine for many years. Mental Health is a concerned that massively under addresses issues that has significant implication for the broader health and development of children and societies. It is an urgent need to identify the scope of the problem across countries (Global Center Initiative, 2006).

Children in Crisis and Conflicts Situation Harvard Humanities Initiative and Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health, both of which have extensive experiences working in emergency situation across the world. The goal is to collaborate their science-base development perspective into assessment and management of child well-being; while focusing immediate circumstances and long-term adaption. 

Resource:

“Global Children’s Initiative” website (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/)