Tracy: Research Around the World

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Research Around the World

I chose the International Research Organization called Early Childhood Australia. There current research topics include:

responding to the emotional needs of children
rough and tumble play
teacher support of children's scientific learning
kindergarten transition

South Australian children benefit from an early childhood reform process. The suprising facts I learned was that their ratios are 1:5 for infants that are currently being changed to 1:4. There is also currently no early childhood teacher in every classroom. It was also surprising to note that Australia pays 50% of out of pocket child care expenses for children up to $7,500.

They have a national system in place called Quality Assurance (QA). It is a division of the National Childcare Accredidation Council. We have a similar program in this country and Michigan is just starting a rating program of it licensed locations. The Australian version includes evaluation and ratings on:

staff relationships with children and peers
partnerships with families
programming and evaluation
children's experience and learning
protective care and safety
health, nutrition and well-being
Managing to support quality

Each above area is further broken down into 6-10 principles, followed by a long list of books and articles to provide teachers with additional support.

I really like this website. It is exactly what I need to help me with the research question I am designing. It will also help with self-assess my own program for when I am ready to go through the rating process the State of Michigan is implementing. I consider myself very lucky to have found this very valuable resource.

1 comment:

wandaDecember 4, 2011 at 9:55 PM
Tracy,
Great information on Australia. It was interesting to learn about their rating system. I'm glad you found a resource that will be of value to you in the future.
Thanks for sharing.
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"My Connections to Play"

Two quotes:

Vygotsky - "Children use private speech in play to regulate behavior"

"Creative play is a central activity in the lives of healthy children."
Almon, K. (2002) The vital role of play in early childhood
education. Gateways, 43.

My family, especially my mom, was very supportive of play. She recognized its importance. My sister and I loved to play with our friends. She would take us to the community pool and parks and we would play all day. When we got a little older we got a trampoline and jumped on it for much of the day. We had a playroom above our garage in Tennessee and we played there for many hours even though it got very hot at times. My sister and I loved to play with dolls. My mom always said she would be my best friend and as we got older did not encourage many outside friendships. I think that hurt our social skills a little. Now we talk every once in a while, have very different lives and see each other about 2-3 times per year. Even though we are still very close and had many years of play as children, we have drifted apart. My dad was really good at playing with us also. He took us on our boat all the time and encouraged more of the rough and tumble type of play. Both my mom and taught us to be resourceful and take care of ourselves, almost to a fault.

As I attempt to write my blog assignement I feel play has changed a great deal since when we were younger. We would go all day without seeing the inside of our house and find things to play with. All three of my boys are sitting around my table asking me questions and saying they are bored. I live about 2 blocks from one of the most beautiful lakes and beaches in the country and 1 block from an elementary school playground. There are children all over this neighborhood to play with and they are asking me what they can do. Where have I gone wrong in this scenario? They have come to rely on me as their "social director" and I have probably enabled that. Play is very different. I am going to cancel cable and hide the playstation and nintendo ds's for the summer. My kids are older and possibly beyond help. I hope that young children will be pulled away from the computers, tv and other electronic devices. I hope they will be in a safe place to be able to venture out and make friends. Parents need to be more confident in their childrens ability and need to become independent players. I think sometimes parents protect their children and don't let them make mistakes at an early age.

I have included pictures of my boys below at the beach. This is what we love to do these days. This was on a spring break vacation. My youngest sons favorite toy was a palm branch he found the first day. Again, an item from nature that I didn't have to purchase that entertained him. Nice!!