Sharing Resources! Zero-to-Three!

The Zero to Three website published an article titled Supporting Young Children During the Holidays.  This article is full of important information, and is an excellent resource for every parent, teacher, and care provider.  The article explains how the increased holiday tension and stress, even if joyful, can be overwhelming to a young child.   While mentioning structure and routines, family depression and joy, shopping and late nights, a military undertone is taken.  The support of military and their families is a large part of this article.  The article ends with ideas on the inclusion of military parents, stationed far from home.  

The articles on autism are very controversial, and cause me some concern.  An article titled This Issue and Why It Matters, asks if autism is more prevalent today, or if we just recognize the symptoms more often?  The article also discusses screening at an early age, using a lack of speech skills as an indicator.  A lack of speech skills can be a symptom of so many different syndromes!  The article also states that it has been recommended that all children be screened for autism at the ages of 18 and 24 months.  I feel that all children should be watched for developmental delays and physical illnesses.  I do not agree that all children should be screened for every illness.  Is autism so prevalent that all children must be tested?  Should all children be tested for every well known syndrome?  Will this testing be performed on all children, or just on those that have good insurance?  Will children in poverty be tested?  Do children raised in poverty have a higher incidence of autism?  The article by K. Drummond finds that autism is more prevalent in families not living in poverty.  Are children living in poverty being counted in the autism statistics?  Autism is a very controversial topic, with many unknown answers. 

The Zero to Three website is promoting a Birth to Five Agenda.  Searching the website will provide you with numerous articles on the topic.  The agenda encourages communities and businesses to become active participants in early childhood education.  Politically, very little information seems to exist on the topic of the Birth to Five Agenda.  A few sites mention the existence of the agenda, however most seem to avoid the subject.  Most of the political information found concerns the reelection prospects of politicians that notice the ECE field.  NueroScientists dominate the Zero to Three website.  The site offers many avenues of scientific research and documentation.  The science supports the Birth to Five agenda, and gives politicians and economists the necessary data to plan and develop programs for children.

I enjoyed the section on development of four to six month old children.  The section is very detailed, with examples, strategies, and activity ideas.  Since my grandson is four months old, and I have two children of this age group in my child care, I was able to relate to the article.  The article contained sections titles If Baby Could Talk, which related possible thoughts.  This section was particularly interesting!  I also liked the section on recognizing your child’s personality.  It is fun to understand baby’s personality, and imagine him/her as an older child!  

References

Powers, S. (2008). This Issue and Why It Matters. Retrieved from  http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/ZTT28-4_mar_08.pdf?docID=7246 

Drummond, K. (2010).  Does Poverty Fend Off Autism?  Retrieved from http://www.aolnews.com/2010/09/22/does-poverty-fend-off-austism