What I have Learned

I have learned quite a bit about bias and how to handle such things through this course.  I have also learned a lot about myself and how bias can cause damage to young children.  I have also learned how healthy strategies and awareness can alter children's paths for the better...Out of all these lessons that I have learned I have one hope, one goal, and many thanks to give....

One Hope…

               

             My hope is that healthy diversity becomes the “norm” and bias becomes obsolete.  I think as humans we will always have traits of jealousy, envy, negativity…but we can also have gratitude, love, and positive mentality.  My hope is that the diversity that is already among us become what it should be, which is---life.  I want my students, my family and myself to embrace diversity and discover the wonderment of all human life.

One Goal…

                

             One goal that I have for early childhood field involving diversity, equity and social justice is that strategies and proper rules continued to be placed so equality comes fairly and justly.

Thank you…

                

               I want to tell all my colleagues that have taken the time to read and respond to my posts and blogs Thanks!  I also want all my colleagues to know that I appreciate their time and effort they placed in writing their posts and blogs.  All your sharing has furthered my knowledge and understanding more than you know!  

Child's development and Identity Map

A child's development and identity is fragile.  Bias, Discomfort and Trauma are three things that can have a serious impact on a child's development.  Below is a Map of how I see the effects of these three things:

*Child’s Identity and Development*

*

 How is this impacted by Bias?

**

Low self esteem, looking towards negative measures to drown their emotions, taking the bias and turning negative into anger (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010)

                        

                          

                         *Child's Identity and Development*

                                                    *

                         How is this impacted by Discomfort?

                                                   **

                        Low self-esteem; confusion in identity

                                                        

                                                       *Child’s Identity and Development*

                                                                                   *

     How is this impacted by Trauma?

    **

Child could develop

Miss-conceptions about what is appropriate behavior (Gorman, Fitzgerald,  & Blow, 2010)

and 

Parent-Child relationship could be hindered (Gorman, Fitzgerald, & Blow, 2010).

***

Disorganized attachment

Psychological Distress

Inability to regulate Emotions

(Gorman, Fitgerald, & Blow, 2010)

Gorman, L. A., Fitzgerald, H. E., & Blow, A. J. (2010). Parental combat injury and early childhood development: A conceptual model for differentiating effects of visible and invisible injuries. Psychiatric Quarterly, 81(1), 1–21.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). EDUC 6357-6 Diversity, Development, and Learning [Webcast]. Learning from Another’s Life Story. Baltimore, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/EDUC/6357/CH/mm/audio_player/index_week3.html

Handling Bias comments from a child

Most children that I have been in my classroom do not exhibit intentional bias towards anything or anyone.  I do work with very young children though so I get to be with them as they are learning to speak, comprehend and progress.  However, i have had the experience with my own child making a comment that was not appropriate in public.  For example, one day my son and I were at the grocery store and he blurted out, "That lady is Fat".  I immediately hushed him and explained that to him that was not the best way to describe that person.  Using the term "fat" may hurt that lady's feelings.  I gave him some better examples such as pointing out other features of the lady if he is trying to point her out such as her clothing, etc.  I also told him if he is wanting to talk about her size to quietly speak to me and use terms such as "larger than me or larger than you mama".  This son also has said things such as, "That old man gave it to me".  Then I corrected him by saying, "I think a better way to say that is "That older man over there gave it to me".  My son is old enough to understand the difference in these terms so I feel confident that this isn't too much for him to do.  

My first response about the large woman was quite hasty and startled my son.  He felt bad for pointing her out and was silent for quite some time.  I should not have been so abrasive with him and maybe used an example in his life to explain how it hurts a person's feelings when you point out their physical make up in such a way.  

I think my second example of handling my son's comments was better.  I think this is because the context in which the comment was made.  The first commented was more offensive in my mind whereas the second was a way of describing a person who gave him something.   

I felt in general that I had broken the cycle of how bias was handled when I was a child.  I can remember instances where I was physically corrected for missteps in my words.  I feel that I have identified and corrected the path placing my family on better road to change our core and lead an unbias life (Harro, 2008).

Harro (2008). Readings For Diversity and Social Justice.