I think my favorite birth story is that of my 3rd baby, my daughter Averie.  I had 2 boys and was due to have another one on Mother's day 2001.  I was of course huge, hot and miserable and ready to pop!  We took a family boat cruise that Sunday to celebrate mother's day (many people thought I was crazy to go on an afternoon boat cruise when I could go into laber at any time) and then fortunately the next morning my doctor started the induction process.  Bless her heart she came in that morning with her own son in a front pack because she knew how ready I was to have this baby!  The gel started my labor slowly, and the room was full of my family.  I was pretty relaxed and comfortable as I knew some of what to expect in labor and had developed a birthing plan I was pleased with.  (This was the first time I opted for an epideral.)  Labor progressed as I visited with family, took a relaxing bath and sat on the birthing ball which I had never done before.  Needless to say I passed the point of being able to get an epideral without needing it at all!  The labor was very painful for the last 15 minutes or so and then I pushed quickly and my beautiful baby girl was born at 5:30 p.m.  I think the labor went the best for me because I was not as anxious and knew what to expect, I had my support system there, a doctor that knew me and the birthing ball and bath that kept me as relaxed as I could be.  I said a few times that I could have many more babies if all my labors went this easy!

I enjoyed reading about labors and deliveries in Australia.  Most often families are encouraged to stay home and labor as long as they are able to, and then come in for just the last part before the delivery.  In each story that I read on http://www.birthcenter.com/ the woman mentioned the importance of the midwife or midwives present at the birth.  The doctor and nurse were still attending but midwives were there to support the women in labor.  The significant difference I think was the sense of calm that I felt when reading the stories; I felt such a support system with each woman and her midwife that I think not everyone here experiences.  I was lucky enough to have that support system in my family there but I think felt less support by hospital staff and definitely did not feel like the staff was there to support my experience but was there for the baby.

My birthing experience connects to the family support I have in my life and in my children's lives that definitely have a positive impact on my children and me.  I feel incredible support from those around me and have a network of loved ones that surround my children and are involved in their upbringing and effect their growth in development.  I also think the way in which the children in Australia were brought into this world, in a calm and supportive environment will help them not start their life with risk factors

The items included in the NAEYC and DEC Codes of Conduct that spoke most to me were:

1. The value to base our work on knowledge of how chldren develop and learn, continually reflecting and assessing teaching techniques
2.  The value to appreciate and support the bond between the child and family
3. Respecting the dignity, worth and uniqueness of each individual- working to build individual relationships with each child
4.  The importance of using assessment information to understand and support children's development and learning to support instruction, and to identify children who may need additional services.
5.  The importance Caring and educating children in positive emotional and social environments that are cognitively stimulating and that support each child.
6.  The importance of referring families to community resources and support services.
7.  The importance of collaboration among professionals
 The one I would like tocontinue to  work on the most is serving as advocates for children and serving as a leader/mentor in the early childhood field

Reference List

• Minnesota Department of Education Website
• http://education.state.mn.us/mde/index.html

National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/

Pacer: assistance for children with disabilities www.pacer.org

Fun Learning Activities:

www.sesamestreet.org

www.pbskids.org

www.create-a-reader.com

www.coolmathgames.com

www.funschool.com

www.nickjr.com

www.makinglearningfun.com

www.fisherprice.com

www.crayola.com

www.preschoolexpress.com

www.preschooleducation.com

www.preschoolfun.net


Family Resources:

www.education.com

www.familyeducation.com

www.sandbox-learning.com

www.momenough.com

www.workingfam.org

www.helpmegrow.com

www.headstartbodystart.com

http://www.cherishspringfield.org/pages/read


http://www.skiptomylou.org/2011/09/15/shape-stretchies/

http://fun.familyeducation.com/toddler/music/37371.html





Fun and Educational and Free Apps for Kids
Dog Story (about opposites)

MyFirstBooks (community helpers) Fun story and lots of things to talk about.

Grasshopper Apps has great story books with real pictures of people and things, and simple puzzles

Super Match Madness

FreePreschool IMM (matching)

PuzzlerFarm

Abby ABC Puzzle Lite

Timmy’s Preschool Adventure Lite

My Playhome

ABC Magnetic Alphabet

Vocab PCS

I Hear Ewe

Scribble Kid

imazing

Tozzle Lite

Toddler Teasers- Shapes

Draw Cast


Listed below are five web sites for parents to learn more about literacy and educational resources for young children with and without special needs.

1. Center for Early Education and Development (CEED) - www.cehd.umn.edu/CEED/

Developed by the University of Minnesota, this website provides Information about education and literacy for young children, including children with special needs.

2. Center for Early Literacy Learning www.earlyliteracylearning.org

Valuable tips and literacy resources for early childhood intervention practitioners, parents, and other caregivers of children, birth to five years of age

3. Is Your Child Ready - www.isyourchildready.com

Take a 5-minute online quiz that will help you gauge your child's readiness for Kindergarten. Find resources to help you find early care and education opportunities in your community.

4. Minnesota Parents Know - www.parentsknow.state.mn.us

On this website you will find age-specific early childhood information from the Minnesota Department of Education

5. Reading Rockets - www.readingrockets.org

This website offers fantastic resources and booklists to help parents with young and struggling readers.

• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
  
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
  
  
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  
  
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  
  
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
  
  
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
  
  
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
  
  
• Children’s Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
  
  
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
  
  
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
  
  
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
  
  
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
  
  
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
  
  
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
  
  
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.preknow.org/
  
  
• Voices for America’s Children
  http://www.voices.org/
  
  
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/
  

Another idea worth thinking about...

Dr. T.  Brazelton still sees his most important mission as fostering a sense of competent, loving, joyful parenting.    (That says it all to me!)


 Thomas Berry Brazelton Biography (1918-) http://www.faqs.org/health/bios/49/Thomas-Berry-Brazelton.html#ixzz1pmDcsioS

My favorite quotes....

Quotes from NAEYC (Susan Bredekamp, Ph. D)

"Children benefit most from teachers who have the skills, knowledge, and judgment to make good decisions and are given the opportunity to use them." – NAEYC, Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8 (2009)

"We are decision makers. As adults caring for children, it is our responsibility to seek out and intentionally plan the best opportunities for children that support their over-all well being and healthy development. Developmentally appropriate practice, commonly known as DAP, is a comprehensive educational perspective that supports optimal healthy development for every child. Understanding DAP - its meaning and intentional practices - is essential in guiding the decisions we make for young children". ~NAEYC article

"...most joyful experience.  Everything in me was being called to teach."

"...rewarding, made me feel whole, made me feel creative."

My favorite thoughts from Early Childhood Professional Louise Derman-Sparks

For me, as well as Renatta Cooper, "It's about whats best for the child.......the Early Childhood Experience opens up the world for you."  In my current position I have learned also about supporting families and agree with Leticia Lara as she "realized families needed support.......with resources and access to resources.  I feel lead similarly to Leticia to change practice and policy.  I could also relate to Raymond Hernandea when he saw the importance in showing a "committment to services I want to give them opportunities, open doors, create opportunities for parents and their children....helping them learn about the resources for their children."  He went into administration to have a larger impact, in order to shape programs to benefit not only the children but the families as well.  This was my favorite quote from him: "I'm not here to save the world, I'm here to make a difference in the community I live in"  That is related to the quote that moved me from Louise Derman Sparks: "I had....a built-in passion that it was important to make a real contribution to the world....to fix the injustices in the world....through teaching." It is imperative that we provide the tools for the entire family as it has been her passion to "make sure that all children were taught in environments and ways that trully nurtured their ability to grow and develop to their fullest ability."