Final Blog Assignment

We should remember that there is no creativity in the child if there is no creativity in the adult: the competent and creative child exists if there is a competent and creative adult." (Rinaldi, p120, In Dialogue With Reggio Emilia)

We have reached week 8 and the final blog for the Issues and Trends class.  I have gained new knowledge and I am excited about everything I have learned this semester.  The issues and trends we are faced with in the United States are more common then I have believed.  I was not able to make any connections with the international contacts I reached out to.  I learned so much through listening to the podcasts as well as exploring websites.

Throughout this course I have been driven to focus on the quality of a child care system.  All children deserve high quality care, and I now realize that high quality care is not available for all children.

I have also learned of how politics, economics and neuroscience affects early childhood. .  The economist understand the community and what needs the community has, so the politicians can work with this knowledge gained from the economists to know what areas need more financial help.  Politicians work together with neurosciences to better understand malnutrition and a child’s development to better create programs to benefit children. Politicians need to be aware of a child’s development and issues and trends that are affecting the children of their area if they wish to remain in office.

Some other things that I have learned from exploring websites:

•   Intervention during the early years can assist in the healthy development of children cognitively, socially, emotionally and physically.

•    Participation in preschool programs promotes cognitive development in the short term and prepares children to succeed in school.

•   Early childhood programs can reduce educational inequalities.

•   Interventions can raise the status of mothers in the home and community. Interventions reduce gender inequalities.

•   Early interventions generate economic returns and reduce social costs by reducing grade retention, special education placement, juvenile delinquency, and substance abuse.

•   Early childhood development and care in the early years can do much to prevent malnutrition and increase children's chances of survival.

My goal as a Early Childhood profession is to become more involved in the community and help low income families and children receive the best education possible by providing families with resources that will allow families access to high-quality early childhood programs.