Blog Assignment: Reflecting on Learning

Prior to this learning experience I had never thought about how my self-identity had molded by my families values and beliefs. The environment and cultures that I grew up knowing is what made me who I am today.

  In the anti-bias education class I dug deep into my inner-self and had to accept some of my identities; such as, acknowledging that I have some innate biases and “isms”. As I was made aware of my biases and “ism’s” I truly didn’t like some of issues identified.  This course has helped me to expand and deepen  understandings of effective ways I can support my children’s healthy development in a multiracial, multilingual, and multicultural world.

My most passionate hope for my future as an early childhood professional and for the children and families with whom I work or will work with in the future:  I will take this new insight and knowledge using it to guide me building and establishing new relationships knowing that deep in my heart that I’m treating them equally and fairly, with respect for all family groups. To help adopt this philosophy I will provide an enriched diverse cultural environment.  I will share this information with my colleagues in hopes of helping them understand the importance of creating an anti-bias environment.

Thanks to each and every one of my fellow students. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and thoughts with the class. I learned a lot about myself, but also found out that I’m not alone, and we all have our biases.

 What’s important now is what we as educators do with this newly acquired knowledge!  Knowledge is power!

Children in Afghanistan

According to the report, a total of 1,756 children were killed or injured due to the conflict in Afghanistan in 2011, representing an average of 4.8 children killed or injured per day, compared with 1,396 children killed or injured in 2010 In 2011, 316 children under the age of 18 were reportedly recruited by parties to the conflict in Afghanistan, with the majority of cases attributed to armed opposition groups. Children have been used to conduct suicide attacks, to plant IEDs and to transport provisions to armed groups. UNICEF calls on all armed opposition groups to stop recruitment of those who are under the age of 18 and calls on the Government of Afghanistan to ensure a continued focus on the implementation of the Action Plan to halt and prevent underage recruitment into the Afghan National Security Forces.  (UNICEF).

The number of children being killed in Afghanistan continues to grow.  I personally cannot even begin to understand the hurt and pain the families feel.  The violence and crime impacts the child’s emotional and sometimes may impact their physical being.  The children of Afghanistan face many obstacles that will keep them from experiencing a childhood that will help them actively construct self-identities. 

Due to the violence there is little adult guidance and supervision for the children.  Young children need caring adults to help them construct a positive sense of self with a respectful understanding of others (Derman-Sparks, 2010, p.11).

Reference:

Derman-Sparks, L., Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves. NAEYC: Washington, DC

 http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html

So Sexy So Soon

For this Blog assignment, share your thoughts about the topic of the sexualization of early childhood:

I have a difficult time observing our youth demonstrating and participating in sexualization and the messages they are receiving at such young ages.  They are being robbed of their innocent childhoods. 

 I agree with statements made by Levin and Kilbourne (2009), “Both boys and girls are routinely exposed to images of sexual behavior devoid of emotions, attachment, or consequences. They learn that sex is the defining activity in relationships, to the exclusion of love and friendship. They learn that sex is often linked to violence. And they learn to associate physical appearance and buying the right products not only with being sexy but also with being successful as a person. Such lessons will shape their gender identity, sexual attitudes, and values, and their capacity for relationships, for love and connection,  that they take into adulthood”.

Three experiences I have witnessed that have impacted my thoughts:

My God-daughter has posted pictures of herself displaying an older sexy attitude on her face book.  She is eleven years old. I told her mother I disagreed with the photos, but mom said no harm was done and she thought they were cute.  Really?

Last year I had a four year old boy and he was totally obsessed with Bachiman?  action figures. The only way we could get him to communicate with us was to talk this action figure talk. I was clueless.  I had to talk with mom and she said it was just a phase he was going through.

As I walk down the hall ways I observe 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade girls dressed in what I would refer to as party clothes not every day little girl school clothes.  We have dress codes but parents seem to overlook what is appropriate for school.

Children have always been curious about gender differences.  They should be taught healthy age appropriate differences and as they grow and learn about sexual behaviors they should be taught about safe sex (old-school) and relationships. What worries me is what they are being exposed to sex and violence at young ages without being taught consequences. The sexualization of childhood is having a profoundly disturbing impact on children’s understanding of gender, sexuality, and relationships (Levine & Kilbourne, 2009).  

Just my thoughts:  I blame these exposures to lack of parenting skills and media advertising.   Everywhere you look you see advertisements for new action figures which represent violence.   One show that I know we are all familiar with is “Toddlers and Tiaras”.  I have really mixed emotions about this show.  Personally, I think it’s just a bit much.  And I ask myself: Who is it about the little ones or their moms?

Reference: Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf