saying my good-byes

I would like to thanks everyone who comments on my postings and to the most helpfulness teacher I know. Thank you for always being there when we needed you at most times. I never did a visual classroom, but you should us that you really care about your students. I. the beginning it was hard for me to understand how to do a blog, because I’ve never did one before. But with time and help, I got an understanding of how to post blogs and comments. I really appreciate the help from my colleagues and how everyone helped each other through this course. I hope everyone have a great vacation off from school and hope to see everyone at GRADUATION!!!!

Blog 4: WEEK 8

I observed and interacted with was the families and children in my child care setting during this module. While talking to them about how important it is to help maintain their child’s weight, the more the families got involved on telling me their opinion on childhood obesity. Some families stated that it’s up to the parents to start keep their child healthy. If the parents are consistently buying unhealthy snacks and food, then that child might grow up and eat unhealthy food because that’s all they ate when they were children. This parent made an interesting point and sometime parents does not see that. I also was interacting with the babies, when I tried to pick up a baby boy, he had to have weighted close to 30 pounds, and he was one years old. I looked over to his mom, who had on workout clothes, and I respectfully asked her, what types of food he is eating at home, she said that, he eats French fries, ice cream, and anything I give him. I knew she was getting upset, and I told her that I’m conducting an advocacy plan to help children who are slightly to overweight. I asked her if she would help her child more by laying off the sweets, and focus more on fruits and vegetables. She asked me what type of program a baby could be in. I told her that there are many parks or she can just continue to walk with him everywhere she goes, this way; she’ll be able to maintain his weight and her weight.  The insight I have gained about children and their families is, the more you talk to them about be healthy, the more they want to become involved. Although some families don’t’ want to get involved in anything because, they think their child is perfect the way they is, but in realty the parents are hurting the child health. The first insight I gained from my observation of, and interaction and experience with, children families regarding advocacy efforts and needs related to my area of interest within the field of early childhood is, parents are willing to help maintain their child’s weight. They want to see their child happy and active, and some parents are putting their child in gymnastics and swim team. Another insight I have gained was that, although parents get upset when talking about their child, but sometimes it’s good to hear those words come out another person’s mouth. When I was talking to the one year old mother, she was upset, but she also realized that all sweet, it’s good sweets.

Blog 3, OBSERVING DIRECTOR

As I was observing the director and assistant director of the daycare I was observing, I have learned that running a daycare takes dedication and at sometimes it’s hard work. I observed the director first and she taught me the ins and outs of a daycare, she showed me that in order to run a daycare you first have to aid she has to have education and experience of what you need to do as a director. The director also said that, she has to hire and fire employees. I asked her about childhood obesity and what she does to help prevent obesity in children. She said that she focus on the big picture of the child, because that way you can have a clear understanding of what needs to be done with the child. She said that, she talks to parents on how to inform their child on obesity and what types of organizations they could get into in order to keep their child in shape. We both walked around the school and she pointed out this student who was 15 months and was in the 95 percentile of his weight. She told me that, the teachers as well as the parents make sure that he have small portions of serving while in school and outside of school, and making sure that he get exercise at least 15 to 20 minutes a day to help maintain his weight.

Next, I moved onto the assistant director and how she feels about childhood obesity. The asst. director in the daycare takes care of the payroll and enrolling students in the school. Her job is very demanding and she goes to meeting twice a week, and she told me that three years of working in the daycare, she haven’t had a vacation because of how her work schedule is and how demanding it could be. I asked her about her input on childhood obesity. She told me that, the director and she is working on putting a gym or a more structure playground in the school. She also said that, she makes it her daily routine to keep parents informed of the physical education programs that are coming up in the near future.  She also works at a children gym and she’ll give parents free memberships to test the place out and have the students be involved of becoming healthier.

The challenge about childhood obesity is actually getting parents involved on knowing the importance on childhood obesity. Many parents ignore the comments that the teachers make about children being overweight and then the parents start to worry about why their child is having trouble breathing while sleeping or just want to be in the house every day, all the time. There is a field house across the street from the school and some of the communities families go there to take swim lessons. As a daycare, they’ll have to keep informing parents to get involve and hopefully one day the parents would listen.

Childhood obseity part 2 (“Observing and Interacting With Professionals, Children and Families in an Early Childhood Setting”)

Name: Tammie Harris      

Date: 4/24/2013

 

 Name of Program/Setting: Child Care Center

Who I spoke with:  I spoke with a family member, her name was Jane and the teacher name was Vicky

 

The place where I observed from was a child care center, and I observed family members and teachers. I conducted my observation in the toddler room, and there were 15 children in the classroom. This room was set up to make every child feel welcome, meaning, the teachers had the tables in the center of the classroom and the activities in corners of the room and every child played together.

 The teachers that work at the center shared information with me about how they support foundations on childhood obesity. The organization they support is by Michelle Obama “let’s move”. They believe that if she continues to conduct meetings and support families who are trying to make a difference in their lives and their child’s live, then they believe that everyone would be able to maintain their weight control.

 

While observing the classroom, I asked the teacher her opinion about childhood obesity, she stated “I think it’s sad for our children to struggle with weight problem, and that it could lead to something more dangerous like, respiratory problems. That’s why I try to watch every food that children bring in the school and classroom”. I asked a parent on how she feels about childhood obesity. She said “our children are our future and we want them to live for as long as possible”. She also stated that she observe what her children eat, she has two children ages two and five years old, and also the parent looks like she’s in great shape as well. She said that, she shops at organic stores and sometimes, like once a month, her and her family would have a “cheat” day, where they could eat anything they want.

 

For my own experience, I’m currently going through this matter about my child, at her school, their saying that she’s obese, but I know that my child is not. How I know my child it’s obese it because, she eats healthy and go outside every day. My child is what you would call “healthy”, she is three years old and she’s almost four feet tall (her dad is 6’5) so he’s tall, and she’s been “healthy” ever since she was born. And plus her doctors has not said anything about her weight, all they say was, make sure I maintain it. I asked the teacher and director, how is my child obese, they told me, that her weight is more the 85 percentile. Till this day I am still fighting with the nurse on how my child is obese, and until I get answers, I will not stop until I find the answers.   

 

 

Changed my topic now its (CHILDHOOD OBESITY)

•Insights gained from your interviews regarding current advocacy efforts and needs in your area of interest within the field of early childhood

They insights I have gained from my interview regarding current advocacy efforts is that, there are many organizations that help children become fit and physical, such as, Michelle Obama “let’s move” organization. This organization helps children become more involved in healthy eating and becoming more active. As teachers, we have to find ways to help our students become more active, such as more outside time, more exercising inside and outside the class, and having parents involved as well. Parents play a big part in their child’s life and healthy eating and lifestyles starts at home. Junk food and soda drinks play a big part in childhood obesity, and as teachers we want to provide our children with healthy snacks and lunch.

•How these interviews may have influenced your decision about which area of interest and topics to choose for your research paper

My interview influenced my decision about which area of interest because, while growing up I’ve witness many overweight children as well as adults, and I would see them in fast food restaurants or the candy store. I choose this topic because, I want to see children live a happy and healthy lifestyle. Children are supposed to be active and full of energy, and with the right help and time, we can make a difference in a child’s life.

•Which area of interest you are thinking of focusing on for your paper as well as the related three specific topics

The area of interest I am thinking of focusing my paper on is, Childhood obesity, as well as the related three specific topics is, being involve in an organization, the cost of groceries, and budget crisis that affects our children extracurricular activities.

•Questions you have for your colleagues related to your area of interest and/or three topics

 The questions I have for my colleagues is:

What types of organizations are out there to help our children become healthy and active?

Why does it cost more to live a healthy life, but doesn’t cost anything to live a “normal” life”

Module 1 - Austism

I finally made it

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I did it...finally