This week while exploring through the website of the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) I spent more time on the publications section. In particular the different journals and articles related to infants, toddlers and preschoolers. I also explored through the Global Gateway section. This section has much information about Education Around the World, International Comparisons and Scenarios, Research and Statistics, Professional Development, Early Childhood Development, International Exchange and General Links and Resources.
I did not come across anything in particular that I found to be controversial. There is so much information on this website it is impossible to review all the articles, resources and links within a few days. I believe this website will be one that I will utilize throughout my career as it pertains to national and global issues and trends and has new information posted on a regular basis. For example in reviewing through the various sections I came across an article titled Every Child's Potential: Integrating Nutrition and Early Childhood Development Interventions. I found this to be of interest as I am a strong believer of comprehensive services in the early years. The area of nutrition is so important in promoting healthy growth and development of children. With so many children living in poverty in our nation and around the world this is a global concern.
Through exploring the website and various resources and their links to further information I was led to information in regards to investing in early childhood education and programs. The brief by the Center of the Developing Child at Harvard University was a resource from a previous course however I did review a section again titled Early Childhood Program Effectiveness which discusses program policies and practices that are needed in order to have effective early childhood programs. This included early intervention, building of relationships, environment and supports needed to provide a positive stimulating environment. The end of the brief discusses the benefits to society of having effective, quality early childhood education and programs.
"Effective early childhood programs
generate benefits to society that far exceed program costs. Responsible investments focus on effective
programs that are staffed appropriately, implemented well, and improved
continuously. Extensive analysis by economists has shown that education and
development investments in the earliest years of life produce the greatest
returns. Most of those returns, which can range from $4 to $9 per dollar
invested, benefit the community through reduced crime, welfare, and educational
remediation, as well as increased tax revenues on higher incomes for the
participants of early childhood programs when they reach adulthood." (Center of the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2011).
Another insight I gained from this website is the
publications that focus on infants and toddlers. I work with preschool
children and through my learning with this Master's Degree program I have been
"brought back" to the stages of infants and toddlers as well as
prenatal care. After all this is where the beginning of each developmental
domain begins. This is where either positive or negative experiences will
start to design the brain, give each person their identity, and begin to define
who they are. It is important to remember this as working with any age
group of children. This is the child's blue print and gives us as
educators some insight on the "why" to what is child is doing or not
doing. For example I found an article titled Emerging Reading
Behaviors: What Parents and Caregivers See and Hear Toddlers Do. This
article gave insights on what behaviors you will see as toddlers engage in
reading and how adults can be responsive and can promote the development of
literacy and language.
References
Center of the Developing Child at Harvard University.
(2011). Inbrief Series: Early Childhood Program
Effectiveness. Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/resources/briefs/inbrief_series/
Thanks for sharing such a valuable web resource. Seems like I can gain alot of new information and insight. I will be most definitely checking into this resource more often.
ReplyDeleteRhonda,
ReplyDeleteI found your post to be very informative. I too can't really say that I found anything in the website that I looked at to be very controversial. I do find it very interesting this week about the economics of early childhood education. It is something I ha never put much thought into before. Through the post that your put on you blog about what the return on investment I see a clearer picture that the return investment on early childhood education is one that can be difficult to measure in this moment because we will have to wait until the children are adults to see how society has changed for the better and there are less social problems to spend money on. Thanks-Jolene Hernandez-Romero
Hello Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the article "Every Child's Potential: Integrating Nutrition and Early Childhood Development Interventions". this ties in beautifully with our current issue and trend this week. Children need to receive proper, healthy and adequate nutrition, which helps with their growing brains and body. There are so many children who's main meals come from the school breakfast and lunch programs.This website has so many great resources, yes I agree we have come full circle reconnecting with prenatal, infants and toddlers in this program, which has given me a deeper understanding of the early years! thanks for sharing!