The Sexualization of Early Childhood

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

I think now children are growing in a sexualized environment, at media TV, shows them products that are for boys or girls, commercial culture bombard children with graphic sexual images, and this type of information the children can understand, and sometimes confused to them. “For instance, younger children have Bratz dolls, which surpassed the sales of Barbie dolls in 2006, and Star Wars action figures, which experience an explosion of sales of highly realistic violent toys every time a movie is released. So girls learn about how sexy is her appearance, and boys learn how strong they are to fight.”( Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. 2009) They learn at a very young age that their value is determined by how beautiful, thin, “hot,” and sexy they are. And boys, who get a very narrow definition of masculinity that promotes insensitivity and macho behavior, are taught to judge girls based on how close they come to an artificial, impossible, and shallow ideal.

These lessons can seriously harm their ability to grow up to have healthy attitudes about themselves and their bodies and to have caring relationships in which sex is an important part.

 

 

·                        We can help children feel safe talking to us ,is important to guide them in a correct way, asking questions, clear their confusions.

·                   Work  together with parents to support children with issues of early sexualization.” is good for parents and schools to give them honest and age-appropriate information.”( Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. 2009.)

·                  “Provide models of caring and affectionate intimate relationships in our own families.”( Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen-Edwards, J. (2010). Pag.96)

References:

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

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen-Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-Bias Education for young children and ourselves.

 

 

 

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice


     As an Early childhood Professional I had some experience of having child of different countries in my class. Learning about different cultures helps me in understand in a better way each child. I think being a teacher is more than teach just A,B,C is giving your time in think and feel what children are feeling, is important to have good communication with them to foster good relationships. Is being a support for their needs, and also teach respect and values that we need to have with others. ”According to Cushner and Brennan (2007), cultural competence is required to be an effective educator.  "Teachers who are culturally competent," they argue, "understand cultural traditions that extend beyond the borders of the United States, can communicate across cultural, and have the expertise prepare learners for living and working in the global community" (p. 10). - See more at: http://www.globalteachereducation.org/global-competence#sthash.d6ZOUAUZ.Udq7BGf0.dpuf

Respecting, Respond and Relationships, is how we need to work every day in our work with children, respect to them, responding is having a good communication with their needs, and finally build relationships to help them in their good development.
     Is time to take equal pride in breaking all the barriers, sexist is a thing of the past; women are actually now advantage in our society. Children need to know that women’s could be doctors, that man could help in house work, like cooking.
     Children begin to have their identity when they have 3 years, at this time they learn and absorbs everything like sponges, so negative stereotypes can impede cognitive performance in adults. So is important to be a good role model and always help and give to the children better way to understand that gender is not about what you dress, we need to have a good manner for guide children. Educators need to give children ways to develop anti bias attitude, learn to think critically and speak up if they know something is unfair.
     If I am imagine that I’m an early childhood professional who I’m experiencing one or more of the "-isms" in my personal life, I think for me a person that grows in an environment of love an good care where my parents and teachers gave to me, the necessary tools that I need to grow and succeed later in life. I think it will be more easy for me because I know how to solve problems and I know and learn about bias. I’m a person who speaks up, and I treat people the same as I want to be treated, not be prejudiced, not hurting others, understand their feelings, and respect to them.”The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives “Anthony Robbins.
References:
  Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias   education for young children and ourselves. Washington, D.C.
ttp://www.globalteachereducation.org/global-competence

Observing Communication

 

     My observation was at the park a mother of a 4 years boy ,I saw that they was laughing , she toke the hand of his son and  she said : we are ready to go to the slide, it will be funny, lets go. They begin to run, the boy said “I’m not scared if you come with me”, his mother said it just a small slide and if you trust in yourself ,is ok, is just a slide nothing to be scared you can do it . Then they went together and his mother said I ‘m wait for you here, it will be really funny. The boy decided to slide and he did it. He hug his mother and he wants to do it again, he was very happy .

     Is important to always listen, to others want to communicate, to be a good support for them, and give positive messages. Sometimes people need a hug, a kiss, a motivation, so is very important to used our gestures to communicate in a better way.

 

Communicate in an effective way:

·           Is important to communicate with respect, ”smile, as you speak or when you speak using a particular tone or volume.”( O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. 2012. pag128). Not use offensive words, questions, and be a good listener.” listening helps us achieve our most basic human need. to understand and be understood.”( O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. 2012. pag158). 

·              For me is important to have a good communication with others specially with the children and parents to foster good relationships with them in the future. Always be open, and be a good listener, respect our differences, and try to understand to others, be a good support, and not hurt with offensive words ,not labeling to people.

 

 

 “When you take the time to actually listen, with humility, to what people have to say, it’s amazing what you can learn. Especially if the people who are doing the talking also happen to be children.”

Greg Mortenson.

References:

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin

Creating Affirming Environments

 

Creating Affirming Environments

 

 

I want  that in my center care, children grow up in a place where they feel valued and respected.   Teach children to think critically and to being more human. We want Children to feel  secure and independent , with a high self-esteem, and with positive attitude, and always being secure on themselves. A class clean, safe, and should have the necessary material:

Books that contain diversity pictures of families.

A mirror for them to explore their physical selves, to investigate similar and differences.

 

Magazines, to use for projects about dress, background, religions, etc.

In the dramatic play: a variety of utensils like forks, chopsticks, wooden bowls, variety of fruits. Clothes of different cultures and music instruments too.

To play together and share in an environment of love, care and respect.

 

Label the class in other languages, of the children in our class.

Images of men and woman in non-stereotypical roles: male’s dancer, female doctors.

·         Is important to use an appropriate language: used words like people of color, disabled people, wheel-chair users, caregivers, and the person in charge.

·         “Relationships and interactions with children and families, the visual and material environment, and the daily curriculum all come together to create the anti-bias learning community.”(Louise Derman -Sparks 2010.pag 51)

 

References: LouiseDerman-Sparks.Anti-bias Education.2010

What i have learned

What  I  Have  Learned

 

     One hope that I want for working with children that come from different backgrounds, will be to foster good relationships with children and families, be a good support in the needs of each children even if they have problems with learning a new language. Make games in my class to incorporate different cultures, invite families to share their time with us and showing some of their cultures characteristics like food, clothes, and songs. Creating a good environment helping the children to develop confidence, self-esteem, and positive cultural identity, is our responsibility as educators, to have a classroom that is accepting of all of our students, no matter their communications abilities, their physical abilities, and their cultural backgrounds and beliefs.

 

     One goal that I want is that every teacher think that education is not just to teach reading and writing, is going beyond is to have the passion to understand, appreciate, and respect each individual child, giving them love, and be there to support all of their needs, their feelings.  Is in our hands to help children , to develop and grow in a better world without prejudices.

 I want children in my class  feel good and secure, learning in an environment of love, acceptance, respect, and  also learning the different cultures beliefs, of others, this will which help  them to learn more about each other.

There is but one law for all, namely that law which governs all law, the law of our Creator, the law of humanity, justice, equity the law of nature and of nations. ” Edmund Burke”

 

 

I want to said everyone thanks for your support and for your time to read my discussions and my blog, I appreciate your comments and thanks you for helping to strengthen my knowledge with your ideas and experiences. Is a good time to share with each of you! Hope to see you in my next class, and Good luck for everyone.

Start Seeing Diversity

CHILDREN

 

All children are created whole, endowed with innate intelligence, with dignity and wonder, worthy of respect. Every girl and boy is entitle to love, to dream, and belong to a loving village, and to pursue a life of purpose.”(Louise Derman-Sparks. 2010.Antibias Education.)

In an anti-bias classroom children learn to be proud of themselves and of their families, to respect human differences, to recognize bias, and to speak up for what is right.

   Children born in a culture and becomes a full member of that culture through making meaning of all aspects of that culture, practices, beliefs and values.

We need to respect each individual children and their families.

 

 

Is important that children engage in relationships and interactions with parents, family members, children, teachers and other people, agains, prejudice and discriminatory actions.” Teachers will consistently interact with children in emotionally supportive, developmentally appropriate ways, including addressing identity, capacity, and bias.”( Louise Derman-Sparks.2010 Anti Bias Education.pag33).We need to listen to children ,their feelings, and answer to their questions.

 

Children Need to explore to play this is the best way that brings her thoughts and questions and experiences about frighten, socializing, represent their ideas, become social, and is important to give to them the skills to resist messages that undermine confidence enable children to succeed in school and afterward.” The physical learning environment will reflect the rich diversity of human beings, including through visual images and in all learning materials.”(Louise Derman-Sparks.2010 Anti Bias Education. pag 33)

 

Including kids with disabilities in our classroom would help the preschoolers make meaningful connections with people who are different from them.

 

 

 

 

 

“Children distress, their fears, their shaken sense of trust and security that ensue when child care harms, when it does not work, when it is not there when needed must be heeded and attention must be paid.”( Ann Pelo.2008.Rethinking Early Childhood Education. pag 194)

If we cannot end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe of diversity.

IF WE WANT CHILDREN TO THRIVE IN A DIVERSE WORLD AND CHOSSE TO STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS,THEN WE MUST CHOOSE TO HELP YOUNG CHILDREN MAKE SENSE OUT OF THE CONFUSING AND OFTEN EMOTIONALLY CHARGED MESSAGES THEY RECEIVE ABOUT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

References:

     Louise Derman-Sparks. 2010 Anti Bias Education.

Ann Pelo.2008.Rethinking Early Childhood Education.

 

 

"We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

 

 

      I listen a child that said to his mother: looks mom why that person just have one leg ? how  does he walk?

     Her mothers answer: Oh, yes but don’t point to the person with your finger, and don’t look to him in a frightened way. Because he is a person that maybe had an accident, and for that reason lost his leg but he should walk, talk and be a good person, he had feelings and is important to accept and be good with other people even if they had disabilities problems.

     Children need to ask questions, and is important to answer them , sometimes adult said don’t talk to them, don’t point, don’t look , but for this reason children would think that something is wrong, and they have fear.

 “An anti-bias teacher encourages children to be open about questions, ideas, and feelings about themselves and others.”( : Louise Derman-Smarks(2010).pag 129) 

    We are all the same, and  children need to be respected, nurtured, encouraged from everyone.

     References: Louise Derman-Smarks(2010).Anti-Bias Education for young Children and Ourselves.