When I was little I was encouraged to go outside and play.  I was outside as soon as I got up until it was dark outside.  When we couldn't go outside we played inside.  I remember we played school, restraurant, and played  with my dolls.  My dad would play games outside with us.

The problem today is children are not playing outside   Sometimes it is because of safety reasons other times the children are glued to the television or computer.  It is so important for children to be outside and get the chance to run around and use their imaginations.  In schools, recess is being taken away because the children are having to sit and learn more.  I believe this creates problems in children.  Most children are not able to sit for long periods of time.

It is important to play in childhood and in adulthood.  As adults, we have so many responsibilities but it is important to take the time to play with our children to show them we value them and their ideas.

Another place I placed a lot as a child was in our sand "box".  We had an area of sand we played in.  We had buckets, shovels, trucks, cars and whatever else we dragged in there to play with.

My brother and I spent a lot of time playing outside and one of our favorite places to play was in the woods.

Childhood Immunizations

Childhood immunizations are very important for children all over the world.  Every country has different requirements for what immunizations children should have when they are born.  Immunizations can help protect children from many common infections. These infections can lead to serious and even life threatening complications.

I believe immunizations are very important to keep children healthy.  Most immunizations have been around for years and have been through many years of research.  Research continues today to develop new immunizations. 

I work with child care providers.  It is required for providers to have up-to-date immunization records on each of the children in their care.  We make sure they have the most recent immunization information.

In Bolivia and Brazil it is required to be immunized for yellow fever, typhoid and rabies.  These are immunizations that are not required in the United States. 

                                                        The Value of Play

You say that you love your children, And are concerned that they learn today, As am I, that's why I'm providing A variety of kinds of play. You are asking what's the value Of having your children play? Your daughter's creating a tower, She may be a builder someday. You're asking me the value Of blocks and sand and clay. Your children are solving problems, They will use that skill every day. You're saying that you don't want your son To play in that sissy way. He's learning to cuddle a doll, He may be a father someday. You're questioning the interest centers, They just look like useless play. Your children are making choices, They'll be on their own someday. You're worried your children aren't learning And later they'll have to pay. They're learning a pattern for learning, For they'll be learners always. ~NAEYC I would like to thank everyone that has read my blog and made comments on it.  I can't believe this class is over already.  I have learned a lot in the last 8 weeks and am looking forward to the classes to come.   See you in the coming classes!


Testing for Intelligence

I believe it is important to look at the whole child. Teachers should be able to work with the children in their class and know what kind of learner they are and adjust their teaching styles to fit those children.   Teachers need to know that not all children learn the same way they (themselves) do.

I don't think standardized tests are completely accurate.   It doesn't give a complete picture of the child.   A problem our school had this past school year was after the state test was given, the state decided to change they way they graded it.  Our school did horrible!!  It was so obvious that the teachers only taught to the test and only focused on the parts that in previous years were graded higher.  Another problem is some children are not good test takers.  They freeze up but if a teacher were to ask them the same question they would get it correct.

In Germany, the school system is set up very differently then here in the United States. Children aged three to six may attend kindergarten. Children in 1st to 4th grade attend elementary school.. Then, after the 4th grade, they are separated according to how well they are doing in school and what their parents want, and  they attend one of three different kinds of schools. They could attend a school that teaches at a slower pace and has some vocational opportunities.  Or a school that has part-time vocational opportunities and if the students have higher academic success they can transfer to the next school that prepares them for college.  Some students start right out in the school preparing them for college.

Reference
http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/germanschools.html

Stress in childhood

When I was growing up, my mom was sick.  She was actually diagnosed before I was born.  She had syringomelia.  She spent a lot of my childhood in and out of hospitals.  When she was home she was in a wheelchair.  Her right arm and left leg were paralyzed.  I used to help her in and out of bed and in and out of the car. 

My mom was a great person.  She was very strong.  Her mind was fine it was her body that was useless.  When I was 12 years old, she went into the hospital for the last time.  She would spend the next 15 years in the hospital.  She passed away 11 years ago on Dec. 23, two days before Christmas. 

My father was and still is a wonderful man.  He raised my brother and I and had a sick wife.  Most men would not have hung around for that.  He went to see my mother almost everyday or every other day.  He brought us to see her on a regular basis. 

This was a stressor in my childhood because my mom was in my life but not right there when I need her.  I can't imagine how stressful this was for her.  To this day I still miss my mother and wish she was here to see her grandchildren grow up.

Children in China live in a very stressful world.  There is the stress and pressure from school and from their parents to do well.  There is a high suicide rate among post-secondary school-agers.

The stress can be related to China's one child rule.  Parents put everything they have into their one child.  China sees that there is a problem with stress in children but at this point have not found ways to help resolve it.

Reference
 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/7027377/Third-of-Chinese-primary-school-children-suffer-stress-study-finds.html