Besides the educational, economical, and social development of child, it is essential to bring about the holistic development. There have been a number of factors that play a role in the holistic development of a child such as family, community, educational institutions, learning, technology, science, religion, and culture. In India, in most of their rural areas, most of the individuals are still living in deprived, socio-economic backward sections of the society. Many are poverty stricken, living in impoverished neighborhoods, and lack the opportunities to go to school. More so, many lack basic literacy skills which are essential to development. While there is a larger emphasis placed on the holistic development of children in the USA and other more developed countries, many third world countries still struggle. Many do not view a child has a person or value their opinions or mind.

I chose poverty because it is something I can personally relate to. Growing up in an under served neighbor, I experience and saw poverty all around me. It affected the way we grew up, the things we had access to, and could easily predict our outcomes. Children will definitely be impacted growing up in poverty. The socioeconomic challenges they will face will affect their physical, social, and cognitive development. Africa is a country that I am all too familiar with when it comes to poverty. Many of the countries in Africa are third world, facing harsh poverty. There isn’t enough being done to aid those countries and as a result they continue to face generational issues.

The most recent measles outbreak not only gave a scare but vividly showed us that preventable diseases can quickly turn around negatively. Immunization of children throughout their life span is important to positive health outcomes. We need to train parents to be advocates of their children and vaccines. The media can sometimes portray immunizations and vaccines in a negative light. But, vaccines really do work. The 2014 Ebola outbreak is a great example of what a lack of resources can result in. There were no vaccines available or accessible to West Africans during the time of the outbreak and over 9,000 people died. Those deaths were unnecessary and even more important, preventable. I hope that everyone learns from this example and many others and properly educate themselves on vaccines.

My first childbirth experience occurred at a very young age. As a result, I did not get the option of having a home or natural birth. To avoid any complications, I was strongly encouraged to have my son as a hospital. 3 children later, I wanted to have my final experience at home or a birthing center. My husband wasn’t a fan of a home birth so we opted for a birthing suite. It was the calmest and serene experience I have ever encountered. The aromatherapy and warmth of the room really helped me through childbirth. I felt like my son was born into a warm and loving atmosphere without all the lights, sounds, and hassle of hospital births.

In West Africa, home births are normalized. Due to lack of resources, many pregnant women do not have the luxury of giving birth in a hospital or having a board certified OBGYN deliver their baby. Many babies are delivered by midwives in their bedrooms. The children are born healthy and well as these women have been delivery children for many many years. Being that I have African roots, I admire this process. Many of these midwives are not medically trained or have much education, but they deliver babies with love and a deep passion to do so.

In the NAEYC and DEC code of ethics, three of their core values resonate with me as an early childhood educator.

1. Appreciating the bond between child and family. Sometimes understanding relationships between children and their families can be frustrating especially if it does not fit the dynamics that you are used to. Keeping an open mind and being understanding of different cultures can help navigate the challenges found in this.
2. Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual child .
3. Demonstrate in our behavior and language respect and appreciation for the unique value and human potential of each child. Appreciating the bond between child and family. Sometimes understanding relationships between children and their families can be frustrating especially if it does not fit the dynamics that you are used to. Keeping an open mind and being understanding of different cultures can help navigate the challenges found in this. There is power in the tongue. Speaking positively into a child’s life I have found can make all the difference.

Click to access USW1_EDUC_6005_naeyc_dap_position_statement.pdf

Click to access USW1_EDUC_6005_naeyc_childabusestand.pdf

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I don’t think if you take somebody’s temperature a lot that will make them well- Edward Zigler.

This quote was easy to relate to for me because my mother always used to say ‘a watched pot won’t boil”. This means that patience is a virtue. We all want things now and rarely want to wait. However, life doesn’t work that way. The most beautiful and worthy things take time and patience, similar to a child’s development.

A kid’s emotions and personality are just as important as their IQ- Edward Zigler.

This quote means there is more to a child than how “smart” they are on paper. The brightest children are the ones that are innovative, inquisitive, and curious.

This space is dedicated to the people who helped shape me into the woman that I am today.

Teresa Thomas- My mother is the most hardworking and resilient woman I have ever met. Her work ethic and dedication to her family is unmatched. My mother raised 4 children on her own and never once complained. She taught me how to turn lemons into lemonade (literally) and how to face my fears. She continues to support me in my journey as a wife, mother, sister, and friend.

Patricia Whitehead- My sister influenced my growth significantly. Even though she is my little sister, I call her my little big sister. She taught me patience, love, and kindness as I played a major role in raising her as a child. However, she helped me develop in my childhood by teaching me responsibility. I admire her tenacity as she plowed through undergrad with two children a masters degree with 3!

Chris Gordon- My little big brother taught me how to be tough as a child. Growing up in Philadelphia was no easy adventure, but he showed me how to stand up for myself. As a military officer, my brother has shown me that there are no shortcuts in life and everything must be earned!

Grandmother- Rest her soul, my grandmother was an amazing woman. When my mother had me at a young age, my grandmother stepped in to help support her. I recall spending many summers with my grandmother learning how to cook, bake, sew, knit, and sit out on her porch to people watch. She not only helped my mother raise her children but helped me until her last days in raising mine.

Dawn Blyter- Cousin are like your siblings, especially the ones you grew up. Growing up with my cousin/sister was the best time of our lives. We did everything together! She taught me the true definition of friendship and was always loyal. We experience accomplishments and disappointments together, but what was important was that were always together.

“Unless someone like you cares an AWFUL lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not”- Lorax- Dr. Seuss.

This quote unpretentiously means that you have to be the change you want to see in the world. Yes, there is a lot of bad going on in the world. Our children are experiencing things that they should not as children. However, if someone doesn’t care enough, change will not happen.