Research that Benefits Children and Families

For this assignment I chose to do option two.  I chose this topic as I wanted to really think outside of the box and push the limits since I would have the knowledge and abilities to research anything without the real negative impacts to children.  The research topic I would pick if there were no limits or restrictions of today and I had the ability and the means to research anything would be to research how to reverse negative changes in brain development such as how the "wiring" of a child's brain changes due to the lack of brain stimulation within certain areas of the brain.   The research would involve the actual "re-wiring" of the brain and to determine if the reversal would be successful in changing the brain to function as a fully stimulation brain.  This would provide tremendous benefits to children as it would reserve the negative impacts on the brain from the adverse living conditions that some children live in.  Toxic stress, a depressed mother, and unsecure attachments are known to cause the wiring of the brain to actually change and sometimes replicate those in their living environment.  Imagine how the life of a child could be changed by having a stimulated brain that is ready to learn!    These children would have no emotional damage, no delays in their  learning, therefore they would have the proper foundation they need to live a happy, healthy and successful life. 

My Personal Research Journey

The topic I have chosen for research simulation is resiliency.  In particular looking at the research of genetics vs. environment in regards to what impacts/promotes the development of resiliency.    Resiliency can be described as one's ability to overcome adversity or "bounce back".   I am very interested in this topic as I have always wanted to learn more about how some people are able to overcome adversity and how others are not.  I believe this is important information as a professional in the field of early childhood education as the more we as educators know about what influences the development of resiliency the more we will be able to assist and promote the development of resiliency.  Resiliency is an important characteristic to develop.  It is was enables people to overcome the hard times in their lives.   I work with children and families that face much adversity.  The children and families I work with live in poverty and face many other hardships as a result.  For these families to rise above poverty and to have a chance at a better life, they need to be able to overcome such adversities they are facing.   The earlier children can develop characteristics of resiliency the more likely they are able to overcome adversity throughout their life and be able to become and maintain being healthy, productive citizens.  Adversity comes in all shapes and forms and it is something that affects everyone at some point and time in life.  The ability to overcome "what life throws at us" is what allows us to survive and become stronger for it.  I also feel that the more we as a society learn about resiliency will allow us to be more productive in how we can break the generational cycles of those living in adverse conditions. 

 My experience with this research simulation has been a bit of a roller coaster for me.  I have gained new insights in regards to identifying creditable resources and feel comfortable with now finding creditable information.  However, I am still feeling overwhelmed in the aspects of developing a strong understanding of the process.  I am still not sure of the narrowing down of  my topic to the point where research could actually be done and  understanding the terminology enough in being able to decide the direction in which this research should go, such as what type of method(s) would be the best to use.   I have found a lot of resources in my research topic, yet not sure exactly sure of how to use it effectively.

 I am happy to offer help with resources however I feel my skills have not quite developed as far as assisting with the process, though I am happy to try.  If anyone has any suggestions I am very happy to hear from you.  I wish everyone the best with their research simulation project.