When I Think of Research...

When first starting this class I was unsure of what to expect because of my unfamiliarity with research design and especially involving the topic of early childhood. During this course I have learned the process of research design and now understand the concepts of research which once seemed so complicated. For instance, narrowing a topic in to sub topics, learning to transform a research question in to a hypothesis, and choosing appropriate methods of which conduct a simulation project. I have learned that research derives from a comparison of people who are considered of the “norm”, with the intent to create change or govern behavior. I appreciate the regulations that have been placed on research of children in areas of ethics, consent and deciding if the benefit of research outweigh the risks. The challenges that I encountered were in deciding what method of research would appropriately fit my simulation. I found my self debating between a mixed method design and mufti method design of qualitative research. In order to decide the best method I attempted to learn as much as possible about the two methodological choices and compare ways that both of them would fit in to my research simulation. I decided using a mixed method design of both qualitative and quantitative data best fit because of because it would provide a accurate measurement of data and deep observations and discussions. I have learned that early child hood professionals who conduct research are especially valuable because they provide insight and standards in to the field for other professionals to build upon. I have also found a new respect for those conducting research who spend great lengths of time and dedication to seeking outcomes that add value and enhancement to the early childhood field.

Research Around the World

The research topics that I found on Early Childhood Virtual University SSA web page were committed to the educational efforts of numerous countries and communities by devotion to children's development and family/ community Awareness relevant in those particular Rural and urban areas. For example , one particular study ;The Development of an Integrated Early Childhood Development Urban Model Training Program for Informal Minders and Community Volunteers in Ghana. This program is Holistic development of the child through training those working in childcare centers such as child minders and community volunteers in urban/slum communities on appropriate curricula methods and materials to be used (health, nutrition,and, psycho-social development).

Health Issues

Immunization

Common childhood illnesses – identification, causes, prevention and treatment (traditional and orthodox) Safe water and sanitation

Personal cleanliness (care of the body) and clothing

Environmental cleanliness

First aid treatment

Child growth and development (basic needs)

Self-help skills and health habits (for children and the IMs and CVs)

Oral health 
 Nutritional Issues

Education about nutrition and key food groups required for optimum child development

Developmentally adequate diet and feeding the preschooler (what to eat, when, how)

Link between physical ailments and micro-nutrients

Preparation of food for the preschooler

Psychosocial Development

Interaction with children – child stimulation activities

Play and its importance in the life of the child

Identification of play activities (traditional and foreign)

Materials children play with (traditional and foreign)

Preparation of play materials

Attitudes/practices towards encouraging children to interact with each other and with adults

Gender issues – equal treatment for boys and girls

In Nigeria, a study,"Involving Fathers in Early Childhood Care and Development" is highlighted of fathers and their involvement in child upbringing. It also examines the extent to which culture, beliefs and other influences affect fathers’ involvement in childcare. The study examines fathers’ role in early childhood care and development in Shanna Community, a Tiv tribe in Benue State, Nigeria. An area of question was whether the role accorded to men is actually being carried out fully by the men. Recommendations involved development of a project to focus on fathers’ involvement initiatives in a community; formalized education training in the area of parent involvement; building a stronger connection when developing an initiative that can be clearly implemented to the community; and, that such activities must move slowly, beginning by building a male-friendly environment that facilitates the culture of male involvement in the program.

Overall I feel this website is a useful tool of knowledge for many people of Sub-Saharan Africa. It's involves learnig experiences of people directly connected to these various communities and groups of people and applies this information in a non-traditional learning manner. This online program provides many the opportunity for educational awareness that can be applied to the good of developing in those communities. Also there are courses available by qualified professional which blends the teaching approaches. I especially enjoyed reading the particular stories of those who have completed the course work of this online program and are serving their communities through educational leadership.



Retrved from Early Childhood Development Virtual University, ECDVU Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).  School Of Child and Youth Care University Of Victoria  http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php 

Research that Benefits Children and Families

There have have been several studies regarding children with ADHD and successful treatments and interventions. It seems the number of children diagnosed with this disorder has increased in numbers over the years. Parents are faced with decisions that will not only benefit their children with ADHD but also have to consider the safety of treatment, more specifically medication treatments. I do know personally some parents who have struggled with the decision of weather or not to try medication as a treatment for their child with ADHD. When researching the types of medications used in clinical approaches one would find all effects, results, and out comes experienced by each participant in the study listed as potential side effects or risk of taking that medication; despite the likeliness of that same side effect or negative outcome occurring. Reading this information can be scary for a parent making the decision, and understanding the likeliness of the risks may be difficult with out medical guidance. I found an article discussing a study of adolescents taking ADHD medication and severe cardiovascular events. Previous studies had indicated drugs used to treat ADHD can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure in children. This led to concerns that medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) could increase the risk of cardiovascular events in children and adolescents. An observational study conducted by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (http://www.med.upenn.edu/) and HealthCore Inc. concluded, they are no more likely to die from a severe cardiovascular events than those who do not take the medications(Targeted News Service,2011). Researchers found in reports 28 deaths in the group exposed to ADHD medications (incidence 1.79 per 10,000 person-years) and 607 in the control group, or those not exposed (incidence 3.00 per 10,000 person-years) (Targeted News Service, 2001). Sean Hennessy, PhD, an associate professor of Epidemiology at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania believes the findings of this study should reassure parents and caregivers of the safety from cardiovascular perspective (Targeted News Service, 2011). Researchers did not identify those who were exposed to ADHD medications have an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes related to these medications. This topic of concern continues to be examined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

No Increase in Severe Cardiovascular Events for Children, Adolescents Taking ADHD Medications, Penn Study Finds. (2011, May 16). Targeted News Service,Retrieved May 22, 2011, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 2348890541).

My Personal Research Journey

The topic I have chosen for simulation is Autism in early childhood settings.  This topic is dear to me because of my connection to individuals with disabilities in my professional work experience.  I have worked with several individuals with Autistic spectrum disorder and have knowledge of clinical views and practices when supporting adults who are diagnosed.  I would like to expand my outlook of this disorder from a clinical experience to a educational outlook when meeting early childhood needs.  There has been much controversy over the years of the cause and treatment of this disorder which I would like to compare to classroom settings.  The subtopics I have included are:    
Addressing Physical and Emotional Needs

Children with autistic spectrum disorder have physical and emotional needs that differ from those of most children in early childhood educational settings.  The idea behind this subtopic is to understand the facts and myths about these children’s needs and what it takes for a classroom to support those needs.

Inclusive Teaching Strategies

This subtopic attempts to define effective teaching strategies in combined classrooms that benefit not only children with autism but also everyone in the group.

Benefits and Challenges of Socialization

Isolation of children with autism does not sound like the best way to help integrate them as individuals in the larger society.  Thus providing opportunities for socialization with other children seems to be important in helping autistic children develop social skills.  However, challenges also exist when reaping the benefits of socialization that parents and educators need to understand and consider when developing strategies for integration in early childhood settings.

Coming from a background of case management and counseling, it is important for me to incorporate my knowledge and experience in to my new ventures.  My future goal is to open an inclusive child care/ learning center.  Has any one had any experiences teaching children with this particular disorder?  If so, I would appreciate any insight or sharing of your experiences.  Or perhaps any research of which may be beneficial.

"My Supports"

Supports are necessary through life’s journey.  I have many daily supports that I depend on and probably take for granted at times.  I depend greatly on my family for support in a variety of ways.  My husband and my mother are the main family supports.  They help me care for my son, and of course my husband helps me provide for our family.   They are my largest moral supports as well.  When I told my husband that I want to go back to school, he gave me the encouragement I needed to follow through with my goals.    If I did not have my mother or husband, life would not be the same.  There are many single parents in the world and I commend them for being in that challenging position.  It would definitely be a struggle for me to adjust to that life.  I find relief knowing that I have a family who is willing to help me in any way possible. 

My spiritual support comes in my Christian beliefs.   My parents and grandparents have encouraged my Christian beliefs, starting at an early age.  This has been an important support throughout my life.  I pray daily and depend on my relationship with God to lead me when making difficult decisions and in times of despair. 

There are also material supports that play important roles in my life.   I rely on my car for transportation back and forth to work and my son’s day care.   I also use my car for work when meeting with my client’s in the community.  I depend on technology for various tasks such as paying bills, communicating, and continuing my education.  I especially depend on my cell phone, every single day!   Without these supports I would have difficulty with meeting my daily needs and this would change my daily life. 

"My Connections to Play."

"Play is a major avenue for learning to manage anxiety. It gives the child a safe space
where she can experiment at will, suspending the rules and constraints of physical and
social reality. In play, the child becomes master rather than subject.... Play allows the
child to transcend passivity and to become the active doer of what happens around her."

--Alicia F. Lieberman, author, The Emotional Life --

of the Toddler

 

“When kids play, they remember. They may not be aware they are learning, but they sure
are aware they are having fun. When you have a good belly laugh with your siblings or
parents or friends, that stays with you. And the great thing is that is comes so naturally…
if we only let it.”

--Rebecca Krook, play facilitator for kids with

disabilities

 

 

Each of these images remind me of my childhood.  I was the only child until the age of 5.  During this time so enjoyed being the "girl" in my dad's life.  My dad would take me to Toys R Us just about every week to pick out a my little pony.  I had a very large collection.  When my cousins would come over, we played for hours pretending to be different characters with these ponies. 

 

At age 5 my brother was born.  Two years later another brother was born and a year after my parents adopted my sister.  In the back yard of our home my dad built a play set with a swing, slide , and fort.  We spent hours playing on this set.  Some times my mother would have to make us come in from playing so long.  Also my neighborhood friends enjoyed the play set as well.

 

When I was 6 I began playing T-Ball.  My dad being an athlete himself loved sports and I instantly fell in love with the game as well.  It came very natural to me and was extremely fun as a child.  This sport had so much influence on my childhood that it became a large part of what molded me in to the person I am and the life I have today.  I played through college and continue to play in adult leagues.

 

I believe that play today has changed for children because of the advancement in technology.  There is more television watching an vidiogame playing than what I remember as a child.  Also thinking back to my childhood,  all of the neighborhood children would play out side for hours at a time and this is something that I don't see as much in my neighborhood now.  On the other hand, as a parent today, I'm not sure that I would give my child the independent freedom of play that I was given years ago.

Relationship Reflection

My husband is the closest relationship and partnership that I have today.  We met 13 yrs ago in college and married in 2006.  We have a 3 yrs old son together and through our commitment to each other in addition to parenting responsibilities our relationship has evolved from young care free teens into committed parents and business partners.  Along the way the changes in our relationship have been learning experiences of each other.  At one time we were associates who grew in to friends and now we have gone further in having shared legal responsibilities.  We have not always agreed on decision making processes or roles, or even shared the same views.  In our commitment of marriage and family we lave learned new expectations of each other and and discovered the true meaning of compromise and the importance of communication.  In order to grow together we needed to invest in rediscovering each other in alternative ways. Seeing each other in a new light has made me respect his entrepreneur spirit, and he appreciates my concrete thinking style.  I expect as we continue to grow our relationship will continue to change in ways ; but just as we have made adjustments in the past I believe we will continue the same in the future in order to maintain our commitment.  The great thing is that we understand the commonality of the goals we share but realize our views of how to reach the goal may differ.  I believe that this relationship has prepared me for the early child hood field because I have learned what a true partnership means and realized my way is not the only way.  I have learned one of the most effective tools of communication, which is listening to others.  This is imperative with creating partnership with other parents who's opinions are just as valuable as mine.  I plan to use my partnership experience when entering the early childhood field.

My relationship with my mom is the longest of my life.  She gave birth to me at 15yrs and we have been joined at the hip since.  Although very close, at times our closeness feels like a sister connection rather than mom and daughter; but none the less, truly best friends and still to this day.  We have both changed very much over the years and had similar goals of making changes in our lives, such as educational goals to encounter better success.  For example we both were enrolled in school at the same time but thankfully at different institutions.  I believe that my relationship with my mom prepares me for the early child hood field by eliminating presumptions of young mothers.  There are many young mothers today who are challenged by parenthood but I understand that this does not limit their lives or futures.  I understand the challenges and situations young single mothers are faced with and will be more encouraging to them as a support because I have seen the struggle and the glory first hand.