Self- Reflection

             The topic of concern that needs to be investigated to further strengthen cultural background is; “The Influences that Early Childhood Education provides for Children in a Diverse World.”  This topic supports the need to understand do children who are exposed to early learning in different cultures and countries benefit differently?

            The exposure of early learning for children is very important in the development of the stages that children experience for birth to kindergarten.  It is necessary for adults to understand what children experience and at what age these experiences take place. Fisher (2003) states;

            The developmental assets provide a framework for long-term action that recognizes the importance of ongoing, positive opportunities and relationships across at least the first two decades of life for all young people. That recognition means that the work of asset building doesn’t happen through a single event or program; it needs to keep on happening. Sustaining asset building can be challenging. “We went slow and built credibility for the concept of a holistic approach. (p. 14)

            Evidence has proven that early learning is beneficial for early development however; children who are not exposed to industry-based materials are equally exposed to these same educational experiences.  After viewing the video “Observation of Young Children Documentary” and comparing it to the video, “Babies”, I find that children who live in other countries that aren’t exposed to industry-based materials have the same advantage of education than children in America.  Industry-based materials are toys or store-bought materials that are manufactured and sold in stores.  These materials are geared toward promoting growth in children developmental skills such as motor and cognitive developments.  When I viewed the video “Observation of Young Children Documentary”, I noticed that cultures other than American were not exposed to industry-based materials however; these same children were exposed to tools that were from nature such as the infant from China who played with a stick and a can versus American children who are given store-bought manipulative.  Education in America is surrounded by educating our children with store-bought materials, computer technology and media influences that other countries aren’t exposed too.  These same cultures that aren’t exposed to Americanized materials average out the same and even high than cultures that are exposed to those types of materials.  What this is telling me is that in the field of early childhood learning, development is produced by the content of the materials being used, not the quality.

            In this investigation, I would continue gathering resources and data to support the idea that other countries strengthen early development in children by providing stimulation that is natural and non- manufactured.  This could be the solution why other countries who enter the United States are highly educated, have closer relationships with their cultures and strive harder to achieve in academics and future careers.

 

Fisher, D. (2003). Assets in action: A handbook for making communities better places to grow up. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute Press.