Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

One of the new insights I gained at the Global Children’s Initiative website is idea groups. They are consisted of professionals from various fields who exchange ideas and make innovative thinking into actionable plans. I believe this kind of group is efficient in any type of organization including preschools and daycares.

Another insight I gained is that scientists showed evidence that relationships with parents and caregivers actually shape brain circuits. The theory that secure relationships have positive influence on children’s mental development and academic success is old but the scientific support is new.  I believe this will improve policies such as maternity leaves and kindergarten curriculums.

The other insight I gained is that the early childhood field is now global. There are many international conferences and collaborative research projects by professionals from different countries. Sharing knowledge, ideas and research with professionals around world helps us to gain deeper understanding of child development and issues.  Using research from many sources to ensure children’s healthy development around the world by educating policy makers is an efficient way to see the bigger picture. I think this is what early childhood should be because children in any county have a right to have a quality childhood and childhood education.

This strategy is seen in the podcast of Maysoun Chehab. She worked for psycho-social support project in in Lebanon. Adults and children there were affected negatively by the war and devastated. She targeted parents and teacher first to care and train so that they could care children.

Sources

“Global Children’s Initiative” (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/)

“World Forum Foundation Radio” (http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/radio.php)