Sharing Web Resources
This week I found the information shared by Dr Grace on the media segment most relevant to my current professional development. The Zero to three website shares much information that also connects what I have leaned this week about the new supporters of early childhood. The website provides facts about the early years and the importance of investing in early childhood. For example, an article on human brain development illustrates that during the remarkable first three years of life, the brain creates 700 new neural connections every second.Synapse formation for functions such as hearing, language, and cognition peak during this period before children reach preschool. These peak periods create the important foundation for higher level functions that will be built on top of them. During this sensitive period, early experiences influence whether this important foundation will be strong or fragile. The early years thus present a prime opportunity to positively influence the course of a young child’s life.
The article also highlights the support of the politicians. Matthew Melmed, Executive Director of ZERO TO THREE. applauded President Obama for his leadership in emphasizing how important it is as a nation for us to begin where learning begins – at birth. He shared that the President’s plan for Early Education for all Americans is the road map for the early learning components of the budget. The budget includes $1.4 billion to expand the comprehensive supports offered to the most vulnerable families through Early Head Start – which for almost 20 years has proven it improves both child and parental outcomes. The plan would provide $200 million in 2014 specifically to create more high-quality child care options for babies and toddlers with working parents, using Early Head Start’s quality benchmarks, expertise, and resources. Looking ahead, the budget proposal provides for $7 billion over 10 years to ensure young children and families have access to high-quality child care.
There are many other insightful pieces that are found on the website, however the one that I found most interesting is the the article on child mental health. I learned that infant and early childhood mental health includes a full spectrum of social and emotional functioning. This ranges from the ability to form satisfying relationships with others, play, communicate, learn, and express emotions, to the disorders of very early childhood.
Zero to Three website http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/
Hi Nicola,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog which prompted me to revisit some history regarding the head start programs here in the U.S.
I think that it is great that our current presidential administration continues with the previous educational head start programs which were first put into action in an attempt to stamp out poverty. I am grateful for our government’s investment into the future generations’ education. In 1964, the Federal Government created a panel of child development experts to design a program to help communities overcome the barriers of young children living in poverty. The findings of that panel report became the blueprint for Project Head Start.
In the years to follow and with each president progress in the educational department has continued. The first Head Start program was an eight-week summer assistance project for low-income children who would enter public school in the fall of 1965. Also, American Indian and Alaskan Native programs began in 14 states in 1965. In 1966, Congress authorized a fully funded, year-round Head Start program. In 1969, President Richard Nixon moved Head Start to the Office of Child Development. In August 1972, the Economic Opportunity Act called for the Head Start program to expand its opportunities for children with disabilities and mandated that at least 10 percent of the enrollment across the nation should consist of children with disabilities. Head Start added a home-based program in 1973. This program added services for children from birth to age 3, and included services for pregnant women. In 1977, Head Start began offering bilingual and bi-cultural programs. In 1998, Head Start was reauthorized and added full-day and year-round services. And in 2007, President George W. Bush updated the re-authorization of Head Start to include services for homeless children with several provisions to strengthen Head Start quality. Programs which would be required to demonstrate they are of high quality or a competitive grant opportunity would be made available within the community. In 2009, under the Obama administration, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act added more than 64,000 slots for Early Head Start and Head Start programs. Investing in the future or our children through educational programs and the added services for children from birth to age 3, which also includes services for pregnant women is I feel, one of the strongest moves towards winning the battle on poverty. It will take a long time as it is evident by the history so far; however I feel that much progress has been made and if our government continues on with their investment in the education and other related services to future generations, we might just succeed in our struggle to reduce poverty.
Resources
http://www.ehow.com/about_5388062_history-head-start-programs.html#ixzz2aL5DZHEZ
History - Head Start - United States Department of Health and ...
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about/history
Hi Nicola,
ReplyDeleteGood post! I agree that Dr. Grace presented some good points in the media segment this week. I truly believe that a strong foundation leads to a successful future. In saying this, I admire Zero to Three for taking the time to stress the importance of a strong foundation and the importance of school readiness for infants and toddlers. It is never to early to invest in a child's education. Thank you for sharing!
Ashley T.