Children’s Health Awareness

       The development of fundamental skills to children are important for a number of reasons, but many of the main/apparent reasons are also the most crucial; obesity and the diseases that follows obesity because of our exercise and diet habits (or lack thereof). Fundamental motor skills are the building blocks of all sports played today as well as other activities that aren't considered sport, but just fun. Without these skills children do not develop accordingly and as such have developed a ‘handicap’ so to speak with regards to fundamental motor skills and sports. Fundamental Motor Skills are essential to a healthy way of life, when fundamental motor skills aren't developed on the level that they should be, many children risk falling behind, not only in school but socially. Again while their environment plays a big factor as well, it is still the responsibility of the parent and teacher to engage their children/students into physical activities.

Through my research I've gathered that the most pertinent problem/issue with the inclusion of health and physical education is with disabled children, though with all of the mentions that I've seen through different scholarly work the concerning issue shouldn't be the disabled students. The problem with the inclusion of disabled students lies within the inadequate schools and professionals that are in charge of these programs. Schools either lack the knowledgeable professionals to advocate for these children or they are seemingly uninterested and as a result disabled children are somewhat lost within the system with regards to physical education.

       Physical Activities should stop when a child has left the school grounds or outside of normal extracurricular activities, but it should also be present at home as well. The home is, and always will be the underlying foundation for anything that is taught to children. It is for the parents and teachers alike to push and educate children on the best avenues for them to live healthy, prosperous lives. The seeds planted today are the flowers of tomorrow and no seed grows without guidance and help. The ‘Let’s Move’ program is an incentive to help children and parents across America integrate nutrition and physical activities into their daily routine. There website http://www.letsmove.gov/make-physical-activity-part-your-familys-routine specifically lists physical activities that parents can do at home with their children, among many other useful tips on nutrition. Some of the activities listed are play tag, swim, toss a ball, jump rope, hula-hoop, dance to music or even play a dancing video game. It doesn't have to be sports—just get your family moving (Let’s Move, 2013)!

• Walk the dog, go for a jog, go on a bike ride, take the stairs or head to the park and let kids run around for a while.
• Celebrate special occasions—like birthdays or anniversaries—with something active, such as a hike, a volleyball or soccer game or playing Frisbee at the park.
• Get the whole family involved in household chores like cleaning, vacuuming, and yard work.
• Walk instead of drive whenever you can. If you have to drive, find a spot at the far end of the parking lot and walk to where you’re going.
• Park farther away and count with your children the number of steps from the car to your destination. Write it down and see if you can park even farther away on your next stop.
• Train as a family for a charity walk or run.

       Here in the U. S Virgin Islands, there are a number of government resources and private organizations that help families maintain physical activities and healthy lifestyle choices. The U.S.V.I Department of Health website has several links that lead to organizations that advocate for children against obesity, as well as the food pyramid, and a dietary guideline recommended by the government to help make the correct choices about what to eat. There is even a list of popular diet plans that have proven to be useful by many and for those of us with different dietary plans located under a link to http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/. The SNAP and WIC programs are also strong, healthy avenues for one to take and follow when trying to regulate your diet; they come with information as well as guidelines for their participants so it is easier to stick with the program. The Happy Cow website offers a listing of vegetarian, vegan, and healthy choice friendly restaurants within the Virgin Islands as well as other places within America, which can be very helpful for many of us that like to travel and try new things, now when you leave your hometown you’ll still be able to make healthy delicious choices. Shopping at the local farmer’s market held at the Bordeaux Agricultural Fair every other weekend and on the last Sunday of the month is also a great place to find all natural, healthy, and fresh fruits, vegetables, refreshments, and food. Shopping at the local farmer’s market is a great way to ensure the use of fresh foods in your diet, as well as a great way to learn how to make healthy meals using these natural resources, using their recommended recipes.  

References

Hastie, P. (2012). Foundations of moving & learning. San Diego, CA. Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

SPARK. (2013). Physical Education; Countering Childhood Obesity. Retrieved on January 28, 2013                    from http://www.sparkpe.org/physical-education/k-2/curriculum/lesson-plans/

Let’s Move. (2013). Let’s Move; America’s Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids. Retrieved on             February 4, 2013 from http://www.letsmove.gov/.

USVI Educational Practices? Theories?

       As many other institutions that are government based, or educational professionals leading the institutions with the Virgin Islands are doing the minimum to keep their jobs, and the doors open; our children are not the reason for these institutions we are for the intents set forth are not with the children in mind. I've often wondered if our educational leaders have ever read different philosophies/theories with regards to education, and if so which ones do they uphold? For nothing I've ever learned, researched, or read has ever leaded me to believe that the minimum efforts being set for education within our territory is actually being productive on a larger scale. Common core standards were made with territories like us in mind, to ensure all students are being taught on the same scales to ensure progression in all learning environments. I can say personally that our educational leaders here aren't doing their best, if trying at all for many freshman students are having the same problems adjusting as I once had and determination is necessary to succeed. Educational practices around the world are derived from educators who spent their lives work on education and focusing on different ways to ensure success for students, since we all do learn differently. Locally we do offer some private institutions which pride themselves on following these leaders, as does Montessori School, whose curriculum is based on the Montessori Method, a system of early childhood education funded on the ideas and practices of Maria Montessori. Montessori educators implement their method through five basic principles that are lacking in many of our educational institutions (mainly those governments based); Respect for the child, the concept of the absorbent mind, sensitive periods, the prepared environment and auto-education/self education. Now while all teachers and educational professionals practice this to an extent, it should become more of a primary rather than a secondary, it shows both students and parents that educators are engaged in their profession and that it is more than a job, just by taking a little extra time out to prepare/facilitate engaging environments it actually makes the class more engaged to learn. Children should be at the center of each activity, once the environment is ready this gives the teacher adequate time needed to assess each individuals needs and progress. While I am not suggesting that we all send our children to Montessori School, I do suggest we find schools that do hold some of their ideals, as well as those of other prominent educational professionals that have also greatly contributed to early childhood education in many aspects.

       Jean Piaget was another prominent educator from the twentieth century whose ideals are still mirrors in curriculums and schools across the nation today. Piaget's ideas, among other theorist, support the ideals that children actively seek knowledge. Many of us have seen this in an inquisitive child or one who mimics the actions of others; it is their innate actions to learn. These theories provide us with the guidance or will necessary to ponder on those theories/activities that do help children progress and to in turn develop those programs that support and progress children's learning so that others may continue to benefit from it. I personally believe in the power of structured play or the active learning theory which means that children learn through physical and mental engaging activities. Piaget also developed three stages of cognitive development; Sensorimotor (birth-2yrs), Preoperational (2-7yrs), and Concrete Operations (7-12). Using these concepts all educational institutions should structure a scaffold age appropriate progressive activities for all students to participate in daily. These activities would prove to be more effective for they would have been scaffold to fit individual student groups which is much more effective than one size fits all.

       Once more I am not saying that we should all send our children to private or charter schools, what I am saying is that we should require more of the educational professionals in charge of such and the institutions themselves for that path that we are on is destructive. The only people who can fix such a path are those who it directly affects, and since children aren't mature enough to derive to such conclusions this leaves us, the parent to become the responsible party. If we don't then we run the risk of sending our children out into a world that they not ready for by many means; I'm sure many of us has seen how this path can end or where it may lead. Virgin Islands parents I implore you all to check on the progressions of your child within the learning environment that they are, see if materials being used are age appropriate, adequate in terms of safety and the amount needed for constructive use by all children. Find out about physical education, nutritional, and leaning policies or theories if there are any in place; this information can be the future of your child's fundamental abilities and the base of which their knowledge will be based on so I'm sure as any parent does, you will all want the best possible.

Importance of Play Part II: Physical Education

       I wanted to personally encourage everyone to facilitate more play time for our students. Research has taught us that rich, varied play experiences boost a child's learning significantly. Games/ play help children to develop coordination skills, as well as confidence and pride. While I'm sure that we all create the appropriate timing for play experiences, structured play that is purposeful and has intent has proven to be the best way for younger learners to progress. Through different types of play students develop new skills as well as knowledgeable concepts about different things or even issues present within their lives. Structured play with intent facilitates/ promotes; cultural awareness, aesthetic awareness, cognitive and language skills, social skills, time and space concepts, cause and effect, helps to differentiate real from pretend, and it is also a great way for children to express their emotions and whatever anxiety they may be feeling, among many other things.
       Through my various employments at different private preschools/daycare on St. Thomas there are many practices being used, and in most cases they are lacking any practices at all. Children are left to discover and care givers only give the appearance of teaching. I can recall specifically seeing a preschool teacher (K3) ridiculed for doing what she was supposed to, being called names by the owner/director for 'wanting to be a super teacher'. I learned quickly that I would not thrive in such settings and then begged the question, how could children be expected to learn and thrive in such an environment where it is not encouraged to facilitate such learning. Needless to say I (the ambitious college student) didn't last long, for I was 'taking my job to seriously'; I wasn't fired, but I did seek out employment where learning was encouraged. Through play children learn a variety of things that, while we may teach them verbally, will never understand until they are able to experience it. Through play we discover who we are and who the people around us are; we discover ourselves. Allowing children to interact with each other in different settings promotes different social skills that are also necessary for growth and development, both academically and throughout their lives endeavors. This applies to children of all ages including those in the more intermediate stages of growth and development. While they may not be able to interact as other children do, they still are able to make connections and interactions through smiles and the mimicking of movements made.
       This brings me to another aspect of play that is neglected within preschool/daycare programs, physical education. With this regards physical education professionals and advocates have argued this cause around the world; the earlier one is exposed to physical activities the more likely they are to develop healthy exercise habits and can progress this skill to a lifetime of fitness. With obesity constantly rising within our nation the best form of curing this disease, as all others, is to prevent it. Many have begged to question how or should schools implement quality physical fitness programs; I can't understand why with all the information available on the development and nurturing of young children how this subject could be left out of any curriculum. This disconnect can lead to students avoiding physical activities throughout their adolescence which can lead to the development of a bad habit for their futures. Children should be given the opportunity to engage in structured outdoor play for a minimum of two hours for at least three days a week, as well as structured indoor play through the use of different learning stations (i.e. kitchen sets, costume center, etc.) to allow room for growth and progression in all areas. I implore everyone to check with your child's care provider and find out their practices, if your children are only allowed play for once a week outdoors, and there are no learning centers within the facility, chances are your child isn't being provided the time necessary to explore themselves and the world around them and we all want for our children to grow to their fullest potentials.

The Importance of Play

Head Start Performance Standards are designed o ensure that all children and families receive high quality services. These standards define the quality services for low income children and their families and they are set standards for all Head Start Programs. The standards of learning in Head Start Programs are as follows;

• ·         Develop phonemic, print, and numeracy awareness
• ·         Understand and use language to communicate for various purposes
• ·         Understand and use increasingly complex and varied vocabulary
• ·         Develop and demonstrate an appreciation of books
• ·         In the case of non English background children, progress toward acquisition of the English language
• ·         Know that the letters of the alphabet are special category of visual graphics that can be individually named
• ·         Recognize a word as a unit of print
• ·         Identify at least ten letters of the alphabet
• ·         Associate sounds with written words

The early stages of learning are the most fundamental to children. A regular Head Start Programs should facukutate these areas of learning amoung others, including engaging children in structured play; play is the best form of learning for early learners. When an early childhood professional’s job is labelled as ‘child’s play’ it’s usually because it mostly is. Children play naturally but they don’t always engage in activities that will promote learning. Providing an opportunity for children to play using learning activities increases their chances for learning. Play activities are essential for the development of the child to succeed in many different skills and behaviours including;

• ·         Learning different concepts
• ·         Developing social skills
• ·         Developing physical skills
• ·         Mastering different life situations
• ·         Learning different languages
• ·         Enhancing the self esteem
• ·         Preparation for adulthood

Piaget believed that play promotes the cognitive schemes and it is how kids learn of their world/surroundings. Through play the knowledge of the physical properties of objects are found, the roles humans play in the environment, mathematics, and concepts of space, time, and behaviour are also found. Play is critical to the development of children for it impacts their understanding of themselves, the world and the people around them. Playing is tied to the way children think, it helps their brain to flourish, and it is their natural learning mold.