Words to Inspire

"Each of us must come to care about everyone else's children. We must recognize that the welfare of our children is intimately linked to the welfare of all other people's children. After all, when one of our children needs life-saving surgery, someone else's child will perform it. If one of our children is harmed by violence, someone else's child will be responsible for the violent act. The good life for our own children can be secured only if a good life is also secured for all other people's children." 

"Of course children benefit from positive feedback. But praise and rewards are not the only methods of reinforcement. More emphasis should be placed on appreciation - reinforcement related explicitly and directly to the content of the child's interest and efforts."
 
~Lilian Katz, Ph.D. 


Interview with Sue Bredekamp, Ph.D. in Early Childhood Today
Q: How does the new developmentally appropriate practice statement differ from the old one?

"Developmentally appropriate practices are ways of teaching that vary for or adapt to the age and experience of the individual learner. So fundamentally the definition has not changed. Instead, it has been expanded to include the fact that not only do you have to consider children as individuals, but you also have to consider children as members of groups with their own cultural identities."

~Sue Bredekamp, Ph.D.

 ~ON CHILDREN~
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.....

Excerpt from Kahlil Gibran

A book to share.

At our house we do a lot of reading...books, books are everywhere! And I thought I would share a book by Brigitte Weninger and illustrated by Eve Tharlet called, A Child Is A Child. I have to be honest and say that when I first read the book it made me cry and I sort of missed the point of the story because I was so focused on the sad beginning.

Its the story of 2 tiny frogs who lose their mommy and daddy. They are found by 3 different animals, all who express that they are not able to take care of the frogs because they themselves are not frogs and frogs need to be taken care of by frogs. Then a mama mouse comes along with her baby mice and she says that she will take them! Her bottom line is simple, a child is a child and every child needs love, a home, good food, and a safe place to play. I just thinks its a great story and has a wonderful sense of community to it and how a community can come together to "raise," teach its children and keep them safe!

Darcie

Artwork

“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” ~~ Pablo Picasso

This is some artwork by my little one...she will turn 3 in August. I get so much joy out of watching her grow and learn everyday. She definitely is part of the inspiration for going into the field of education.I am fascinated by her willingness and curiosity.

My very first blog...

My first blog comes at the start of my continued education for a Master's in Early Childhood Studies. I will be using this blog to share my academic experiences and personal thoughts on early childhood education. Since my background is in dance performance and pedagogy, I wanted to incorporate my dance company Soma as part of the inspiration for this blog. Its my ultimate goal to integrate the two, "dance in early childhood." I'm excited and nervous at the same time for this process. I'm new at blogging but I find the concept fascinating. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and hope you enjoy reading and feel inspired to comment!

Thanks.