Reflecting on Learning

My most passionate hope for my future as an early childhood professional and for the children and families I will work with is that I would be able to take everything I have learned and actually put it into practice.  I have learned so much about my own bias and misunderstandings.  I hope to promote awareness and equity in the classroom.  I also hope to create a classroom environment that accepts all families and cultures and celebrates them.  To all my colleagues, woo hoo we are almost at the end of this wonderful journey.  Thank you so much  for your insight, support, and encouragement.  It has been my pleasure to continue getting to know you.   

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

I selected Latin America and the Caribbean.  I am Latina and lived in the Caribbean for some time.  This area is diverse.  "Latin America and the Caribbean is considered the most unequal region in the world" ( Unicef, n.d.).  I was also interested in this region because of what is currently taking place in Brazil and the Kayapo tribe.  I was interested in looking at how indigenous children fare in this region.   

Some challenges that the children in this region of the world are confronting are many.  Some include chronic malnutrition due to "extreme poverty,  low education level of parents, and lack of access to basic services" (Unicef, n.d.).  Some education challenges include the fact that millions of children don't enter any school setting.  Children in this region need to be protected from violence, exploitation, and abuse.  Little girls are the most vulnerable. 

All of these experiences might have an effect on children's emotional wellbeing and development because not having access to basic services such as clean water affects their basic needs.  If basic needs aren't meet children cannot grow and develop appropriately. 

Looking at the statistics present made me more aware of what a  particular group of children that come into my classroom setting might have had as challenges.  For example, having children from this region might mean they were malnourished.  I have to then think about how this might affect their academic growth.  Also, they might have been victims of sexual abuse or have had family members die of AIDS.  All these challenges affect their emotional development.  I would have to be patient and sensitive to the adjustment period  these children will go through adjusting to our school environment.

http://www.unicef.org/lac/english_4842.htm


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Sexualization of Early Childhood

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The sexualization of early childhood is certainly prevalent in the media and in the consumer market.  My daughter is 34 months  old and I am increasingly aware of messages that she receives from the media.  I watch what she watches and limit her exposure to television and videos.  Right now I stay home with her and it is easy for me to monitor these things.  I am shocked though at the shows that are in the media right now.  Shows like Toddlers and Tiaras, which shows little girls putting on make-up and prancing around in two-piece bathing suits dancing around a stage and blowing kisses to the judges.  It makes little girls seem older than they actually are and makes them dress in inappropriate ways.  I think though that little girls are beginning their menstruation a lot earlier and we have 8 and 9 year old girls with breasts, small waists, and hips.  I remember when I started teaching second grade in an urban area.  I had young girls menstruating in the second grade.  These young girls were as tall as me, and their bodies were developing way ahead of their little girl minds.  I remember the boys wanting to touch their breasts and I had to do lots of lessons on respecting each others' bodies and personal space.  The sexualization of young children did not help the situation.  The boys thought she was 'sexy' and they didn't care. 

This can definitely impact childrens' healthy development.   Children need to develop socially and emotionally in normal ways.  Sexualization that is too early limits this and pushes them into emotions that they are not ready for.  As an early childhood professional I think the best way to respond is to have an environment of respect for each child and high standards for dress and appropriate behavior.   I think children need to learn to respect their bodies, have respect for others, and be made aware of messages that the media gives them.  

Being aware of the sexualization of early childhood has been influenced by studying the topic this week by making me more aware of how I can deal with these things in the classroom.  My role as a classroom teacher has been clearer.  I realize each day how much influence I can have.

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

Unfortunately, there is much bias and prejudice that I am being faced with.  Currently, I face alot of racism.  I am a Puerto Rican living in North Carolina.  I have lived in NYC all of my life and for the first time am living down South.  People have made racist remarks to me thinking I am Mexican.  I have been so disgusted with people's ignorance especially because PR is a commonwealth of the USA.  All Puerto Ricans are American citizens.   Yet, I have been treated like an illegal in my own country.  Also, I am experiencing classism.  My husband is a doctor and we have struggled to come to this point in our lives.  My hubby grew up in the projects of Bklyn, NY and has worked his way to his current success.  But somehow the media and current thinking makes it seem that because we are successful either we don't deserve it or we should pay more money because we made good choices.  I think your life is a product of the choices that you make.  Even though my husband was raised by a single mom in the projects, he stayed focus and studied.  Why people think they deserve a handout I don't know?  But it is more complicated than just that because the dominant culture doesn't know what to make of us because we are educated and Latino.  In their eyes, I think they see us as the exception to the rule.   And our Latino people think we owe them something.  It gets very frustrating. 

I find that I have become more aware and sensitive to others' perceptions of me.  In my professional practice, I don't want to be hired because I will be the token Latino and a quota needs to be met.