Each Day, the Child Care Exchange sends out informational emails on the world of Early Childhood Development and Education, which I try to share with you. For more info, please see their website at www.childcareExchange.com.
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Teachers and child care workers who favor a child-centered approach in their classrooms often encourage children solve their own problems, be responsible for their own achievements. We know, however, that there are times when a little adult intervention may be what's necessary to aid a child "just enough."
According to Alice Honig in her book, Little Kids, Big Worries: Stress-Busting Tips for Early Childhood Classrooms,"Children can accomplish some tasks on their own after trying hard. Others are too easy or too difficult. Children get restless and bored when toys or tasks are too easy. They feel frustrated when tasks are too challenging. The Russian child-development theorist Vygotsky taught that adults or more capable peers are priceless in supporting child learning and accomplishment when a task is just a bit too difficult at the child's present level of development. Then a teaching adult provides just that bit of help that will result in further child learning and satisfaction. Vygotsky used the term 'zone of proximal development' for the difference between what a child can do on his or her own compared with what the child can do with adult help. With the assistance of an adult or more capable child, a child will be able to succeed at a cognitive or social learning task beyond what he or she could have accomplished alone."
They key is to allow the child to do what they can on their own, but to be there, available to help when necessary.
For 114 years, Deaconess has been transforming the lives of children in the Pacific Northwest by breaking the cycle of child abuse and neglect and putting Children First!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Impact of Early Childhood Poverty on Adult Attainment
A study, "Early-Childhood Poverty and Adult Attainment, Behavior and Health," reported in Education Week (March 3, 2010) concludes that living in poverty before age 5 can have a critical impact on children's earnings trajectories 30 years later. (The original study report can be found in Child Development, January/February 2010, Volume 81, Number 1, Pages 306–325.)
"Greg J. Duncan, an education professor at the University of California, Irvine, and his colleagues analyzed data on a nationally representative sample of people born between 1968 and 1975. More so than any other periods of childhood, the researchers found, poverty in early childhood was strongly linked to having lower earnings and fewer work hours 30 years later. The researchers estimate that a $3,000 annual increase in family income between a child's prenatal year and 5th birthday is associated with a 19 percent increase in earnings and an additional 135 work hours a year for that child down the road."
"Greg J. Duncan, an education professor at the University of California, Irvine, and his colleagues analyzed data on a nationally representative sample of people born between 1968 and 1975. More so than any other periods of childhood, the researchers found, poverty in early childhood was strongly linked to having lower earnings and fewer work hours 30 years later. The researchers estimate that a $3,000 annual increase in family income between a child's prenatal year and 5th birthday is associated with a 19 percent increase in earnings and an additional 135 work hours a year for that child down the road."
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
No ties on Father’s Day. Just a thanks to Dad for calling the Poison Center
No ties on Father’s Day. Just a thanks to Dad for calling the Poison Center
It’s a good thing Mr. Yuk is around when trouble finds its way into the home of an unsuspecting dad. Luckily for thousands of dads that have needed help, the Poison Information Specialists at the Washington Poison Center (WAPC) have remained a free phone call away.
In 2009, just over 6,000 fathers called the Poison Hotline, 1-800-222-1222, in need of information to help their children. Dads calling the Poison Center account for 9% of the total calls of human exposures. This year is looking to be on a similar track of calls from fathers to the WAPC.
“As a father myself, I know how hard it can be to manage the house,” said Jim Williams, Executive Director of the Washington Poison Center. “What all dads need to remember is whatever just happened, it is likely another dad has recently called the Poison Center for it, too.”
The top substances fathers have recently called the WAPC for are: medications, cosmetic/personal care products, household cleaning products and foreign bodies.
“I panicked,” said Devon McCollum of Kent and 39-year-old father of a 4 ½-year-old son. “We were preparing our elderly cat’s medication, which gets dissolved in water and put in a syringe. The next thing I knew, my 3-year-old son, Matthew is spitting something out and telling me how disgusting it tasted. I saw the empty syringe of cat medication nearby.”
When his son was born, McCollum programmed the number for Poison Control into his cell phone which he used to dial for help the day his son ingested the cat medication.
“I got an expert on the line who told me the cat medicine wouldn't be harmful this one time,” recalls McCollum. “I was told Matthew would be pretty drowsy, but it wasn’t an emergency room visit or stomach pump situation. Sure enough, the kid was out like a light with no other side effects. Thank goodness someone was able to help us so quickly and we were able to avoid an unnecessary 9-1-1 call. The specialist also calmed my nerves because I knew they were experts and had great credibility.”
Every dad should have easy access to the Poison Hotline toll-free number, 1-800-222-1222. McCollum recommends all fathers program the number into their cell phone “just in case.” Displaying the Mr. Yuk stickers and/or magnets in your home is also an easy way to keep the number within reach. To get stickers and magnets for your home, call the WAPC at 1-800-222-1222 and ask – it does not have to be an emergency to call.
“Don’t be afraid, or hesitate to give our experts a call,” Williams said. “Just remember many fathers have been in a similar position and called the WAPC during a difficult situation.”
Calls to the Poison Center are free and confidential (a $30 credit card fee will apply to calls regarding animals). Services are available for non-English speakers and for the deaf and hearing impaired. For more information, visit www.wapc.org.
It’s a good thing Mr. Yuk is around when trouble finds its way into the home of an unsuspecting dad. Luckily for thousands of dads that have needed help, the Poison Information Specialists at the Washington Poison Center (WAPC) have remained a free phone call away.
In 2009, just over 6,000 fathers called the Poison Hotline, 1-800-222-1222, in need of information to help their children. Dads calling the Poison Center account for 9% of the total calls of human exposures. This year is looking to be on a similar track of calls from fathers to the WAPC.
“As a father myself, I know how hard it can be to manage the house,” said Jim Williams, Executive Director of the Washington Poison Center. “What all dads need to remember is whatever just happened, it is likely another dad has recently called the Poison Center for it, too.”
The top substances fathers have recently called the WAPC for are: medications, cosmetic/personal care products, household cleaning products and foreign bodies.
“I panicked,” said Devon McCollum of Kent and 39-year-old father of a 4 ½-year-old son. “We were preparing our elderly cat’s medication, which gets dissolved in water and put in a syringe. The next thing I knew, my 3-year-old son, Matthew is spitting something out and telling me how disgusting it tasted. I saw the empty syringe of cat medication nearby.”
When his son was born, McCollum programmed the number for Poison Control into his cell phone which he used to dial for help the day his son ingested the cat medication.
“I got an expert on the line who told me the cat medicine wouldn't be harmful this one time,” recalls McCollum. “I was told Matthew would be pretty drowsy, but it wasn’t an emergency room visit or stomach pump situation. Sure enough, the kid was out like a light with no other side effects. Thank goodness someone was able to help us so quickly and we were able to avoid an unnecessary 9-1-1 call. The specialist also calmed my nerves because I knew they were experts and had great credibility.”
Every dad should have easy access to the Poison Hotline toll-free number, 1-800-222-1222. McCollum recommends all fathers program the number into their cell phone “just in case.” Displaying the Mr. Yuk stickers and/or magnets in your home is also an easy way to keep the number within reach. To get stickers and magnets for your home, call the WAPC at 1-800-222-1222 and ask – it does not have to be an emergency to call.
“Don’t be afraid, or hesitate to give our experts a call,” Williams said. “Just remember many fathers have been in a similar position and called the WAPC during a difficult situation.”
Calls to the Poison Center are free and confidential (a $30 credit card fee will apply to calls regarding animals). Services are available for non-English speakers and for the deaf and hearing impaired. For more information, visit www.wapc.org.
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