Research that Benefits Children and Families

Research enhances the quality of education by generating new ideas, solutions, and insights on a subject matter. Hence, I believe that my research on the play-based learning during early childhood education would help me to better advocate and raise awareness about how play could provide children with an abundance of opportunities to learn about themselves, and others. By conducting  this research, I hope that I can contribute positively in changing  others views about how they believe that play is a waste of time, and children  should be learning specific academic skills, forgetting the facts that play is  the most efficient, powerful, and productive way to learn the information young children need. Actually, research on play based- learning can underpin teachers, professionals, and  policy makers to work together so that they can contribute hugely to stem eliminating play from the formal education of young children. When children play they not only learn, but also develop a passion for learning and exploring their world.

Thus, I believe that my research on play would help on planning diverse strategies for designing rich play environment that reinforce children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, and provide age-appropriate levels of challenge. By doing this research, I hope that everyone can have better understanding about the fact that children’s play experience  has a direct impact on their ability to learn and develop.

My Personal Reserach Journey

The topic I have chosen for my research simulation is using play-based curriculum to support children’s learning. From my teaching experience, I realized that many teachers, parents, and school administrators reckon play as a waste of time, and children learn nothing but   have only fun from spending their time in playing with their peers. In some cases, I find myself helpless to convince parents, and others that in a play- based curriculum children are learning new experiences, attitudes, habits, skills, and important knowledge that will aid them to be successful in school and later life. Additionally, during my journey in early childhood field, I have come to understand that play is a crucial part of making learning fun, and enjoyable, and  helping children to explore, and  discover their uniqueness. I also have come to realize that because of new emphasis on state standards and school accountability, many early childhood programs are trying to cut down recess time, and eliminating play from programs. For this  reasons, I felt it is highly important to further my research using this topic so that I can find, and gather information, and  gain the knowledge that would help me  as professional  in supporting children’s development and their well being, and  in  advocating for their right of having time to play.

The research chart will be very beneficial to narrow down my information, and focus on the area that I need to execute my research project. IF anyone has insights, sources, and information about the importance of play, I would love to hear it. I am open to any positive ideas in pertaining  to my topic that can help us be better educators who can positively contributing in supporting children, and their families.

 

Week 8- Final blog Assignment

Throughout this course, I have learned valuable information about major issues that affected children in United States, and countries around. During the past weeks, there have been consequences of learning about the international early childhood professional on my professional development.

The first consequence I have learned through international websites is that poverty is a very major issue that stricken many countries around the world. I have come to realize that many children are deprived from their basic needs of food, clothing, health, and shelters. I really surprised to discover that even in America, there is poverty, but many programs are available to help families of low income, such as food stamps, healthcare, and other programs, which can contribute in reducing poverty, and the outcomes of this issue. Most importantly, I come to understand that poverty could directly impeding children from having good opportunities to learn and develop like their wealthier peers, as well impairing their overall health. 

The second consequence is that I had the chance to learn about numerous international organizations that focus most of their efforts to improve   the quality of early childhood care, and education.  By going through their website, I gained a lot of knowledge and resources that could help me as professional during my journey.

The last consequence that I have gleaned is that education in many countries are not providing the children with the best opportunities to excel due to the lack of funding, lack of awareness of the importance of quality programs in  enhancing children’s development ,  and lack of resources that many teachers deprived from obtain.

My goal for the field is to advocate for children and their families to have   the best education, especially those who are culturally, and linguistically diverse  and whom I believe they need  much more support from school, and educators to develop, and learn in healthy environment that affirms to them their language, and culture is honored and respected. I now feel more committed to work earnestly and to my best to help children, reaching their potential and gaining the experiences that would assist them to be better individuals in their society.