Reflecting on Learning

I cannot believe that we are already on the last week of class. When reflecting on all of the knowledge and information gained from the class and my peers, I am left with several hopes for the future for early childhood professionals, children, and their families. However, one hope that I am most passionate about its that all early childhood educators, individuals working in the field of education, and society in general will be given the opportunity to learn as we have about anti-biased strategies, “isms”, discrimination, and diversity. With this knowledge, I have become a better professional in the field of early childhood, friend, mentor, and member of society. I truly and passionately hope that others could benefit the same from the knowledge and information.

Finally, I would like to personally thank everyone in class that has allowed me to learn, grown, and become more competent in this subject matter. Every member of this classroom has made this experience a pleasure and has equally contributed to who I am today. So again, Thank you. 

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

Share with your colleagues the area of the world you chose and why.

The area that I selected was the Middle East and North Africa. I selected this region because I have always been intrigued by its history. However, I know very little about this region in terms of education and early childhood practices.

Describe in detail some of the challenges that children in this region of the world are confronting.

According to UNICEF (2012) poverty and inequity are two of the biggest challenges that children face in this region.

Explain how these experiences might have an effect on children’s emotional wellbeing and development.

Poverty is likely to impact the children’s’ access to resources, health, stability, healthy development on a social, physical, and cognitive level. Inequity is likely to have a negative impact on females or certain race groups in terms of their cognitive development, emotional development, social development, and identity development.

Include a personal and professional reflection. Explain the insights you gained and the influences they may have on you as a person and as an early childhood professional.

One of the biggest insights gained from learning about this region is that no matter where children are located in the world, poverty and inequity are issues to a certain degree. However, in this region, these issues have a tendency to be more prevalent and severe than others. In learning this, I will be more sensitive to the needs of all children, but especially those from this region in a professional capacity.

References

UNICEF. (2012).  Middle East and North Africa. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/northafrica.html. 

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

After reading the book expert by Levin (2009), I was taken back by some of the examples, but not surprised. I think the topic of sexualization of early childhood or sexualization of childhood in general is a critical concern of all professionals and parents that must be addressed immediately.  Although I have not encountered this topic to the degree discussed by Levin (2009) personally, I have encountered traces of it. For example, one of my neighbor’s children who is age six dresses and acts as though she is a tween. If I didn’t know she was six years old, I it would be hard to believe. However, another neighbor’s child looks as if I were when I was six years old. This is mostly because her parents closely monitor what she is exposed to via media sources and encourages her to act like a little girl. A second example of the sexualization of early childhood is watching the show Toddler’s in Tiaras. I am almost disgusted every time that I see this show. These girls wear more make-up than I do as an adult and are dancing in a manner that most high schools would have seen as being unacceptable when I was in school.  Music, I am finding is a major concern for all parents and early childhood educators. Without thinking, parents will allow their children to listed to everything that is on the radio without realizing the worlds contained in the song and how receptive their child is too them.  Although the melody is fun and catchy, the messages contained in these songs are damaging to the healthy development of young children. I was in awe when I found out that one of my friends let her little one sing along and listen to Lady Gaga songs. My friend that it was cute that her and her daughter were both fans of the same artist and that brought them together.

As mentioned, all of these examples and the sexualization of early childhood will and does have negative implications on children.  In addition to damaging their self-esteem and self-image, this exposure can cause these children to be experienced to subject matter and peer pressure that they are not ready to handle. I think the best way to address this issue is threefold: Observation/Awareness, Responsibility, and control. Parents and early childhood professionals should observe and be aware of all of the content that children are exposed to. Parents and early childhood professionals should be responsible to take action to ensure that children are encouraged to be children. They should also be responsible in their actions and what they watch or listen to in front of children. Finally, parents and early childhood professionals should be willing to and able to control what children are exposed to.

In order to reach these objectives, it may be necessary for early childhood professionals to become advocates on the issue and offer training courses for parents and caregivers within the community. Every parent now a days wants to be the “cool” parent. However, the reality of this role must be understood and changed for the healthy development of children.

In closing, my awareness about the topic of sexualization of early childhood has been further supported and heightened this week. I was aware it was a concern, but now I know it is a critical issues.

References

Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1–8). New York: Ballantine Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf