Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

Question: Imagine that you possess the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the early childhood field. Imagine further that you are not restricted by the reality of the present. Imagine that your study will make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and/or their families. What topic would you choose? What can you imagine the positive contribution(s) would be?

As I think about this weeks blog questions, I thought about what would be a relevant and meaningful topic to my life right now in regards to young children and early childhood. I think about the ongoing pandemic that we are working through. Yes, things seem to have gotten better, but we are not yet through it. And unfortunately, I do not think that we are going to see the full extent and long-term negative social-emotional side effects on everyone (but for the purpose of this, young children) for years to come. If I had the ability, means, resources, etc. to conduct a research study, I would focus on the lasting impacts of a child's social-emotional wellbeing. We know that children are resilient, but how do tough events, stress, trauma etc. affect them in the long term? It's hard to truly answer this question because there are so many variables and factors that would play a huge role in the reliability and outcomes of this study. But with the idea that "there would be no restrictions" I'd love to see how that research plays out. I'd love to have a better understanding on this to be able to help little ones and their families work through this tough time.

This topic is meaningful to me for a few reasons. First, because as a mom of an almost 2 and almost 4 year old, I have concerns with how this pandemic has negatively impacted them in ways I don't even know or understand. But then I think about the children and families in my programs and wonder about them. How will they recover from these last 18 months? Will the mandatory mask wearing negatively impact them down the road? How will their social emotional development be delayed due to less interactions and opportunities to be out in public in larger groups? How will the stress of job loss impact their families overall health? There are just so many unknowns with how a pandemic will affect young children. Sometimes I wonder if because my children specifically were so young when it started, that maybe they won't have any struggles in it? Sometimes I feel incredible amounts of guilt and stress that my son who was only 6 months when this started, is somehow missing key social-emotional experiences will be hard to catch up on later? I'd love to be able to dive in and conduct research to know. So that we can begin to help these little ones work through it. 

Personal Research Journey

 For my research simulation I will be focusing on promoting equity through intentional teaching in the early childhood classroom. This is an important topic for me because as a leader overseeing multiple programs, I am often looking at the big picture of the students and classrooms in my center and see the gaps that begin to develop for some students even from such a young age. I want every student that I serve and have the opportunity to interact with to be successful and happy just as I want those things for my own children. I see so many children come through my program with parents that love them, but don't know how to support, or advocate, or even acknowledge the inequities their students face, and as time goes on that student is going to fall further and further behind without someone stepping in to help.

As I am about to start another school year with my staff and teachers, I will be focusing on providing an equitable educational experience for all students in our programs and look forward to the first hand, real life learning and experience I will gain while leading my staff through this focus. But mostly, I'm excited for the positive impact this focus will have on the kiddos (and their families) in my program. 

I am a firm believer that we all have a lot to teach and share with each other, especially as we are all in different areas of this field with different experiences and backgrounds. As I begin to dive further into this topic and I'd love to hear from any of you on any insights or advice you might have on this topic. Please share anything that you think may be helpful in the comments! 

Final Blog Assignment...

Over the past 8 weeks we've learned a lot about current issues and trends in the field of early childhood. For the most part we looked at programs and issues in the united states, however there was a also a focus on looking at early childhood programs/education internationally. 

As I reflect on what I've learned during this course, overall my heart just hurts for young children. I want every child to have the very best options, opportunities, and resources available to them to be happy and successful, and more and more I am learning that that is not the experience that many young children have in our country but also worldwide. Some takeaways of learning about the international early childhood field for your professional and personal development would be:

• Going into this class I assumed that the US was doing well in regards to early childhood education when you compare us to other countries worldwide. However, the more I read and dove into this topic, the more I realized that this was not the case. According to www.aft.org: "Countries around the world are exploring how to provide high-quality early childhood education and care (ECE). The United States lags behind many developed nations in both access to ECE and in the quality of education and care provided. The United States ranks 28th out of 38 industrialized countries for the share of 4–year-olds enrolled in early childhood education, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development" (https://www.aft.org/position/early-childhood-education-home-and-abroad). 
• We have got to do better, we have to develop universal funding, expectations, and guidelines to ensure that all children are offered the same strong foundation to have a healthy and thriving early childhood experience. Professionally I want to find ways to help make this happen and advocate for it's importance. Personally, it frustrates me that great nation can't do more for our youngest learners. 
• Secondly, poverty is an ongoing global concern that affects young children's health and development for many years to come. It is not news that poverty is a concern worldwide, we know this. However, it is clear that coming out of an 18 month pandemic is only going to worsen poverty in our country but also worldwide. Family members have become sick and/or passed away, cities and towns were shut down or on lock down for months-- meaning many families sources of income were cut off or severely lessened. People fortunate enough to having savings accounts have had to deplete them to provide for their family through this pandemic... people losing their homes and not knowing where their next meal will come from. Absolutely heartbreaking and leaves you feeling a bit helpless and unsure how to help, especially when you think about these affects on countries that were already struggling. 
• Lastly, I walk away from this course wanting to help children with disabilities. I think about children in my programs that have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities and I work with their parents on getting them the supports, resources, therapies, and/or materials needed to help them be successful. When I think about children in other counties, specifically underdeveloped or coming from families that don't have insurance or the means to provide these types of supports to their children, I am just so sad. Sad that from the very beginning of their little lives, they don't have the tools and supports needed to be successful and that from the beginning they are at an unfair disadvantage. I am so happy that I learned about the wonderful organizations locally and worldwide that are there to help families and children to get them what they need. It is my hope that they will become more and more available so that more kids and families can utilize their help. I have felt a push to help sponsor organizations like this, if everyone can donate a little consistently, bigger changes and help can happen and that empowers me!

Goal for the field: I think early childhood professionals/ educators need to get involved in these organizations that help young children and their families internationally. You can get involved in so many ways both near and far, based on what you're able to do. Donating time to advocate and get the word out there, donating funds to help do the work, and get involved by going and doing the work hands on!