Nutrition/malnutrition

Nutrition/Malnutrition

Nutrition is important to me because I have a child that I want to be healthy, I am currently pregnant with my 2^nd child and I have to make sure I am eating nutritious food so that she can be healthy, also I work with children who sometimes go without food.  It saddens me that some children must go without food. I plan to do missionary work in the future and Africa is a country I plan on going to. This information below will help me know where I should go to help and how I can help.

 

Hunger in Africa

http://www.consultancyafrica.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1122:food-insecurity-and-malnutrition-in-africa-current-trends-causes-and-consequences&catid=61:hiv-aids-discussion-papers&Itemid=268

Despite the general worldwide reduction in food insecurity,(2) Africa’s food security and nutrition situation is growing worse. Africa has been experiencing several episodes of acute food insecurity causing an immense loss of life and livelihoods over the past decade.(3) African countries have collectively made the least progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reducing hunger by half by 2015,(4) and currently close to one third of its population lives in chronic hunger.(5) In particular, the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions in West and East Africa are experiencing the worst food crises in recent years - 23 million people in 11 countries in the regions are affected by acute food insecurity and are facing malnutrition.(6) Factors that have contributed to this situation include exceptionally high population growth rates, political conflicts, climate changes and the endemic poverty in some regions.

The food security outlook in Africa is worrisome, as Africa’s population is expected to increase from 1.01 billion in 2009 to 2 billion in 2050 if current demographic conditions remain constant. Much of this growth will be concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where annual population growth rates are expected to range from between 1.6% to slightly more than 2.4% between 2010 and 2050.(7) How will Africa be able to cope with its food security challenge? This paper examines the scope, current trends and the vulnerabilities of Africa to the causes and consequences of food insecurity and malnutrition.

The Birth of my daughter Ni'yonna Serenity Gay

        

On August 4, 2010 I gave birth by emergency C-section to a 8lb 4oz baby girl at 1:05 pm at Rex hospital in Raleigh NC.  She was born 1 week and 3 days overdue. As a result she used the bathroom inside of me and she breathed it in causing her to have PPHN (Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn). My daughter was rushed to Wake Medical Hospital to the NICU where she spent 30 days. Rex did not have the machines she needed to stay alive so I was away from her for 3 days. I had my daughter on a Wednesday and my Dr. Released me on Friday so I could be with my daughter. Those were the longest and roughest 30 days of my life. I spent day and night at the hospital by her bedside. With the help God, my daughters father, my family, and, my close friends I was able to get through that difficult time. It made me stronger and appreciate life after our birth experience. She is now healthy and does not have any developmental delays. I chose my personal birth experience because it affected me as an individual and it really made my faith in God that much stronger.  Birth does impact child development however it does not determine the rest of your life. My daughter had to see a developmental specialist only because she was in the NICU however the specialist released my daughter from her care because she was so advanced. I feel if a baby is born unhealthy early intervention will help that child reach their best in development.

More Information on PPHN:
http://www.childrenscolorado.org/wellness/info/parents/20830.aspx

 Ni'yonna in the NICU week 1

 Ni'yonna in the NICU week 3

 Ni'yonna in the NICU week 3

 Ni'yonna Christmas 2010 (4months old)

 

 

Births in South Africa

 During the birth of a baby in South Africa a midwife, nurse, and/or doctor are present. There are birthing facilities, community health centers, and district hospitals where women can give birth. In rural areas, mothers may give birth in community health. District hospitals have high maternal mortality rates. In some areas pain medication is available for women giving birth. In the USA women can give birth at home and at a hospital as well as in South Africa. Pain medication is available at all hospitals in the USA but this is not the case in South Africa.

More information on giving birth in South Africa: http://www.midwiferytoday.com/international/SouthAfrica.asp

NAEYC and DEC codes of ethics

NAEYC Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment

1) Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage

of the human life cycle

2) Base our work on knowledge of how children develop

and learn

3) Appreciate and support the bond between the child

and families

The Division for Early Childhood Code of ethics.

1. We shall honor and respect our responsibilities to colleagues while upholding the dignity and

autonomy of colleagues and maintaining collegial interprofessional and intraprofessional

relationships.

2. We shall honor and respect the rights, knowledge, and skills of the multidisciplinary colleagues

with whom we work recognizing their unique contributions to children, families, and the field of

early childhood special education.

3. We shall honor and respect the diverse backgrounds of our colleagues including such diverse

characteristics as sexual orientation, race, national origin, religious beliefs, or other affiliations.

I work with children and families every day therefore these code of ethics are important and are followed by me!

Additional Helpful Early Childhood Resources

Preventing child sexual abuse

 

http://www.d2l.org/site/c.4dICIJOkGcISE/b.6035035/k.8258/Prevent_Child_Sexual_Abuse.htm

Activities for young Children

http://pinterest.com/alisha_033/early-childhood-education/

Resources for parents

http://onetoughjob.org/?gclid=CIemramQoLYCFQexnQodEHwAGg

 

Resources for the Early Childhood Field

 

       National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/

       The Division for Early Childhood
http://www.dec-sped.org/

       Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/

       WESTED
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm

       Harvard Education Letter
http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85

       FPG Child Development Institute
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/

       Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/

       HighScope
http://www.highscope.org/

       Children's Defense Fund
http://www.childrensdefense.org/

       Center for Child Care Workforce
http://www.ccw.org/

       Council for Exceptional Children
http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

       Institute for Women's Policy Research
http://www.iwpr.org/

       National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/

       National Child Care Association
http://www.nccanet.org/

       National Institute for Early Education Research
http://nieer.org/

       Pre[K]Now
http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067

       Voices for America's Children
http://www.voices.org/

       The Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/

World Forum Foundation
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage

World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep-usnc.org/
Read about OMEP's mission.

Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/
Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

       NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap

       NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf

       NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf

       NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf

       NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf

       NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf

       Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller

       FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf

 

Early Childhood Journals

       YC Young Children

       Childhood

       Journal of Child & Family Studies

       Child Study Journal

       Multicultural Education

       Early Childhood Education Journal

       Journal of Early Childhood Research

       International Journal of Early Childhood

       Early Childhood Research Quarterly

       Developmental Psychology

       Social Studies

       Maternal & Child Health Journal

       International Journal of Early Years Education

 

 

Quotes

ECT Interview: Sue Bredekamp & Susan Neuman on Learning to Read

By Early Childhood Today Editorial Staff

BREDEKAMP: Developmentally appropriate practices are ways of teaching that vary for or adapt to the age and experience of the individual learner. So fundamentally the definition has not changed. Instead, it has been expanded to include the fact that not only do you have to consider children as individuals, but you also have to consider children as members of groups with their own cultural identities.

"Children benefit most from teachers who have the skills, knowledge, and judgment to make good decisions and are given the opportunity to use them".–  Susan BredeKamp NAEYC, Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8 (2009)

 

 

multimedia segment week 2

“I always wanted to be a teacher”. Louise Derman Sparks

Personal Childhood Web

Mom (Keisha Lasane)

My mom gave birth to me, She loved me, she told me she loved me, she kissed my boo boo’s, she fed me, she clothed me, she sang to me, she read to me, she played with me, she worked so that she could take care of me and my siblings, she took me to the park, she took me to the store to let me get my favorite things, she did my hair pretty, she did my hair pretty, she kept pretty clothes on me, she made sure I spent time with my family, she took me to church, she made sure I got back and forth to school until Drugs took over her life.

Now my mom continues to offer her love and support for me in my adult life. She is such a good grandma to my daughter and her other grand kids. 

 <-----My Mom

 

My great Aunt Gloria –Adopted me and two of my brothers. She didn’t have children of her own but she took all 3 of us in. She kept me involved in extra curriculum such as Church activities, girl scouts, Delta carousel, and Eastern stars (gleaners).  She got us a dog when I was in the 4^th grade. She showered us with gifts, she stay involved with school activities, she cooked for me, she made sure we ate family style dinners, she raised me with morals and values, she taught me to always have respect, she taught me the value of money, the value of education. She made sure I spent time with my family, she made sure we had everything we needed and wanted. She made sure I traveled to places I had never been. She made sure I made friends in the neighborhood, she gave me responsibilities around the house , she gave me encouraging advice, she set rules that were to be followed in the home, she showed me tough love when I was in trouble. She made sure I understood actions had consequences.

My aunt is a major part of my life, I go to her for guidance, reassurance that I’m making the right decisions, she offers her love and support and everything that I do.   

 <------ My Aunt Gloria

 

Grandma Mont (Catherine Lasane)- Was my mother’s mother. She loved me just as my mother did. She was always there for me. She always made me laugh, she taught me the value of family and made sure we stayed close, She came to school events, she was always proud of me, in her eyes I could do no wrong, in fact in her eyes none of her grandkids could do any wrong, she always gave any body her last, she always cooked big meals for the whole family to come over and eat, she made strangers feel like family, she made my friends feel like they were her family, she always wanted her family to be together, she always drove us fun places, she introduced me to the oldies music. She took care of everyone else before she took care of herself; she showed me that being selfish was unfair. She made sure I was always protected and in a safe environment.

Up until my material’s grandmothers death she was a huge part of my life. I talked to her every day, I took care of her when she was sick, she cooked for us even when she was sick, she baby sat all of her great grandkids even when she was sick, she always gave me money even when I didn’t need it or ask for it.

Gma Mont -------> My mom <-------

                                                                                          ^ Gma Hermena (holding my daughter)
                                                                                          |

gma Mont-------><-------------- Gma Hermena

Great Grandma Hermena-  Always made sure I had fun while in her care. She made sure I always smiled and laughed. She offered caring suggestion, she was always there to listen to my problems and always had a good solution. She offered biblical guidance, she made sure I stayed grounded in the church. She always fed me even when I wasn’t hungry. She always shopped for me even if it were not a holiday. She always told me stories of how life was when she was a little girl. She taught me how to fold and wash clothes.  She always made sure I looked my best everywhere I went. She stressed the value of education to me. She taught me to be a giver.

Grand ma Hermena- is a major part of my life, I go to her for guidance, reassurance that I’m making the right decisions, she offers her love and support and everything that I do.   

Reggie (Big Brother) – my brother always listens to me. He makes sure I’m protected. He makes sure I always laugh. He always supports my decisions. He helped me with math homework. He showed me how to play basketball. He taught me how to be strong. He taught me how to stand up for myself.

My Brother------> <------ Me

Reggie is a huge part of my life. I talk to him just about everyday, we laugh, we joke, we hang out, we support each other in times of need, and our daughters act like sisters.