Issues and Trends

The Podcast that I listened to was Who Will Save Kindergarten? Posted on October 3, 2011 from NAEYC Radio by BAM Radio. By Jerlean Daniel, and Rae Pica with Vivian Gussin Paley . This stood out to me because I am a Kindergarten teacher. The speaker in the podcasts talks about some of her concerns for kindergarten and preschool teachers. Her main concern was that play is being taken away in Kindergarten because of the academics that are having to be taught. The speaker Vivian Gussin Paley talk about how, play is a natural way for children to express themselves. I think that this is very true. They are learning to use their imagination and if they don’t know how to express themselves through words they can use play. She also mentioned that teachers need to be able to figure out how to incorporate play into the classroom.This goes back to also finding a balance with what you have to teach to how can you teach it.  Some resources that can help you are your colleagues that teach the same grade that you do. 

The Global Children’s Initiative is a great. Looking at the website and all the programs that they are trying to set up and work with leaders of other organizations to get these programs started and running in other countries. One essential, cross-cutting aspect of the Center’s approach is its commitment to work collaboratively across disciplines and institutions, drawing together the best and most creative expertise available to achieve the Initiative’s goals. (www.Developingchild.harvard.edu, para 2, 2014)

One thing that stood out are the programs that they are setting up to help children's mental health. On the Global Children’s Initiative Fact Sheet it says, “Mental health concerns constitute a massively under- addressed issue that has significant implications for the broader health and development of children and societies ( www.Developingchild.harvard.edu, pg 2, 2014).  Some things that they are doing to help in other countries with regard to mental health is, assessing in China, the mental health services.  In Rwanda they are helping to evaluate mental health problems in children affected by HIV/AIDS.  They are also working with three Caribbean Nations to address maltreatment and mental health.  Mental Health is an area that doesn’t get a lot of attention, especially when dealing with children, because a lot of people don’t know what to do to help children. 

  Another issue that stood out to me that the Global Children’s Initiative is helping with is helping children dealing with a crisis. This stands out to me because in 2011 we had a huge flood come through my hometown and surrounding areas and my niece still talks about it.  Also on the Global Children’s Initiative Fact Sheet it says,  “The goal of this effort is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration that incorporates a science-based, developmental perspective into the assessment and management of child well-being in a range of natural and man-made crises, focusing on both immediate circumstances and long-term adaptation” ( www.Developingchild.harvard.edu, pg 2, 2014). They are setting up programs in Haiti and Chile to see how children are doing after the earthquakes. 

Another thing that stood out to me was the fact that they are open to collaboration and using science and research to help their programs and they are wanting to help leaders in other programs. They are not coming in and taking over. This organization is wanting to share their information. 

Resources: 

http://developingchild.harvard.edu Retrieved on February 8, 2014

Daniel, J. , Pica, R. , and Gussin Paley, V.  Who Will Save Kindergarten? http://www.bamradionetwork.com Retreived on February 8, 2014.