Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 1

For this assignment, I chose to contact two professionals in Ireland. While I have yet to hear back from anyone, I did talk to my cousin, who is an Early Childhood Educator in Ireland. Early Childhood Education in Ireland is very different than the United States. While the hopeful outcomes are the same, the approaches are quite different. Since Ireland joined the EU, their economy is not the same as it once was. Jobs are scarce and poverty is on the rise. While Ireland is a much smaller country than the United States, the early childhood field often faces the same issues. One of Ireland’s biggest issues is the cost of childcare. Just like the United States, families in Ireland are being forced to choose between quality childcare and saving money.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

My Personal Research Journey

I chose to research about children who grow up in single-parent homes and how that affects their education and how they excel in school. My progress is slowly coming together; I would definitely say research is not my strong subject. I am glad this is a required course because it is opening my eyes to so many things that are going to be a huge asset during my professional career. Is anyone having better luck compiling all of their information? Is anyone else struggling? Although we are only in week two I am already beginning to worry about what my final grade in the class will be. I am hoping all of my classmates have better insights for me. Good luck guys!

Sharing Web Resources

The web site that I chose to research and contact is www.earlychildhoodireland.ie. Early Childhood Ireland supports and represents the people who play a role in the development, delivery and oversight of early childhood care and education in Ireland, and prioritizes the interests of children. Early Childhood Ireland provides professional support and training for early childhood care and education providers, contributes to research and public policy development, promotes quality, accessible childcare for all children, and explores and evaluates innovative and creative child-centered approaches to childcare. On issue discussed in Early Childhood Ireland’s newsletter was raising the cost of childcare. Their argument for raising the cost of care is so they can have better trained and educated pre-school teachers or caregivers. The cost of childcare seems to be a hot issue globally. Are parents willing to pay more for quality care? This is a question that is still unanswered. The reality of it is, at some point, cost plays in effect one way or another.  

Establishing Professional Contacts

One site I chose to visit was www.earlychildhoodireland.ie. This is an organization that supports and represents the people who play a role in the development, delivery and oversight of early childhood care and education in Ireland, and prioritises the interests of children. I have yet to hear a response but am hopeful that I will soon.
The second organization I chose to contact was OMEP Irish National Committee. I also have yet to hear a response but am hopeful.
I chose to look into Ireland because, that is where my family lives. I have considered moving there as well and am interested in their outlook on Early Childhood Education. My cousin also works in a childcare facility so it might be easy to get loads of good information. I also wanted to contact organizations in Europe because I grew up in Germany and I have always been interested in the European way of life and how their child development programs differ from those in the United States.

My Supports

As a young career professional and graduate student, there are several factors that act as a support for me. Since I spend most of my time at work, my co-workers and staff are a huge support in my life. We have a very positive work dynamic which makes my job easy and enjoyable. Another huge support in my life are the kids I work with. They are all aware of the educational journey I am on and they are always eager to know how I am doing. My fiance is probably my greatest support system. He appreciates my career and understands my hectic work schedule. My local fitness center supports me as well. It is where I go every evening to relieve stress and keeps me sane. Lastly, my colleagues who are on the education journey with me also support me in ways that may be unknown or less obvious. I always look forward to logging into class and reading what my classmates have posted. They have provided me with a very positive experience so far. The main characteristic that all my supports have in common is that they all support me and my goals in one way or another. These factors help keep me focused and grounded and really make me appreciate life. I cannot imagine not having these supports in my life because they are all things that I look forward to and make me so happy. I certainly would not be the person I am today without them.

Although I am speaking honestly, and I do not intend to offend anyone, the challenge I chose to imagine was what my life would be like if I had a child or children. Clearly, I am in the business of children and youth and there is nothing that I find more satisfying than impacting the life of a child. However, not having children of my own is a choice I have made for several reasons. While many view having a child as a blessing (and I'm sure it is), I cannot help but think about all of the challenges that come along with raising a child. The financial stresses, choosing between childcare or putting my career on hold, and finding time for school and other things are just a few of the worries that come to mind. Where I am at now in my life, I would need a much different support system. Of course my fiance would still be included in my list of supports, however, I feel like everything else would change. I would find support in other things, but would these things make me as happy as I am now? Having my own children is not something that is completely off my list, but I think waiting is the best option for me. I can also imagine that when you have a child of your own, all of the other worries disappear and you just make things work.

My Connections to Play

The true object of all human life is play.

~G. K. Chesterton

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.

~Plato

The above photos are what kept me going as a child. While I appeared to be somewhat of a tomboy, and I did absolutley love playing sports, I loved Barbies with a passion. Even as an adult I enjoy playing Barbies with my nieces. Music was another past time that I had as a child as well as during my teenage years and now into adulthood. I was in the school band for as long as I can remember, and today, I still share my love of music with the people who surround me. I attribute so much of my social skills, academic skills and imaginary skills to the above hobbies.
As a child, play was the number one priority for me. In turn, school became a priority because I knew that in order to go outside and play, I needed to have all of my schoolwork completed. My parents were always very supportive of my play, as were my two older sisters. They were even nice enough to play along with me from time to time regardless of the six year age difference. My parents always really encouraged me to be well-rounded. I didn't only play sports or I didn't only play music. I was on sports teams, I was in the band, and I acted in the school plays. I truly believe that these things are what set me up for success during my teenage years and into adulthood.

Play today seems to have changed quite a bit compared to what is was when I was a child. It doesn't seem as simple. When I was a child, I could play by myself with little or no objects and be completely satisfied. Or a few friends and I could get a game going that we made up on the spot and play it for hours and hours. I did grow up in a time where technology was booming and the era of the nintendo was popular. I think I even had the very first gameboy that came out, although I also remember only have one or two games for it and really only using it on long car trips or plane rides. I never found myself particularly interested in technology. In today's society, I struggle to get kids to play. Recess is no longer a favorite subject among youth and they just want to play video games and watch TV. I hope that I enourage the youth I work with to play and I hope I display the positive outcomes of play.

Based on the outcomes of my life so far, I will argue that the role of play is critical not only during childhood but throughout one's life. Even as an adult, I enjoy play. Perhaps not in the same setting as I did as a child, but very similar. I play on intramural sports teams, I am active in my community, and I am physically active. Participating in these activities help me stay focuesed in work and at school and really satisfy my social interaction needs.

Relationship Reflection

  Relationships have proven to be a critical part of my life, as they have shaped who I am today and who I will continue to be throughout my life. The relationships that I have encountered throughout the duration of my life, both good and bad, are the reason I am here in my career as well as my educational journey. I currently have several positive relationships that foster my health well-being. First and foremost, Reilly (my fiance) is the most significant of my relationships. We have been together for 5 years and have made it through some pretty big accomplishments together. We met while we were in college and have started our professional careers together and supported one another through the good times and the bad. Our relationship has been a factor in where I am at professionally today and where I will continue to go. The second most important relationship in my life today is the relationship I have with the youth that I work with. I work a lot, and I have a tendency to let my work consume my life, but it is in good reason I do so. I cannot put into words the satisfaction that comes from my job. Being able to witness on a daily basis the contribution that I make towards youth becoming better citizens is rewarding on so many levels. The trust that these children have placed in me and the relationship that we have is priceless. As a result of our positive relationship, I have been able to build better partnerships with parents. The parents are able to see how happy their children are and have become more open to the idea of parent involvement. The third relationship that is important in my current life is the relationship between my staff and I. I have a wonderful staff who is dedicated to advocating for youth and they make my job much easier for me. They are innovative and always make sure that they are serving the children before themselves. These relationships listed are important mainly because this is was occurs in my everyday life. I'm either at home with Reilly, or at work with my staff and kiddos. While I often get teased about how much time I devote to my career and how all I talk about are the kids at work, I wouldn't want it any other way. The fact that I'm making a positive difference in the lives of these children is reason enough for me to continue on my career path. Having a supportive partner makes things even easier.