Blog Post 4

Whom you observed and interacted with in your setting during this module 

I observed the interactions that took place between my supervisor (Michelle) and her daycare parents.  She was very particular to be the only person to interact with the families.  I have not worked in this facility for very long and because of this assignment I asked Michelle if it would be a problem to communicate with family members.  She said that it would not be an issue.  She has been open to the idea but with direct supervision.  I get the feeling that she has had issues in the past between her staff and daycare parents.  I did ask her why interaction between the teachers and the families were prohibited and she gave a generic response that did not make much sense.  She stated that "she owns the business and feels that it would be more personal to be the first person and the last person they see each day".  Either way, the families seemed really warm and welcoming to Michelle discussing day to day issues such as feeding times, future scheduling for care, and sometimes behavioral concerns.  When I interacted with the parents we discussed surface topics such as the weather or how their weekend was.  I feel I am still in the process of building a foundation for the parents so we can communicate more often.  Michelle does provide daily activity sheets that lists diaper changes, nap times, the food they have eaten, what kind of day their children had in terms of behavior and any specific notes of what their accomplishments/likes/dislikes were.

Any special learning experiences you may have had or an experience that provided you with insight about children and families including advocacy effort

I ran my own licensed daycare for 6.5 years and I have learned (especially through this tough economy) is that families are stretched thin.  Not just in terms of financially, but in terms of their emotional and physical abilities as well.  Some parents are working two or three jobs and have no health insurance.  I found this very unfortunate and bothersome.  Also, with the prevalence of autism, I noticed that more families have to deal with the fact that extra time and attention are needed in order for the children to feel safe and secure.  When dealing with children who had behavioral issues, I always mentioned the arts and music as a way for the children to express themselves.  Some parents agreed and some were not even aware that the arts could even help their children behaviorally.  I tried to include the arts the best I could into my program and found that the children truly thrived and enjoyed learning through the arts. 

At least two insights gained from your observations of, and interactions and experiences with, children’s families regarding advocacy efforts and needs related to your area of interest within the field of early childhood

I learned that in order to communicate with families effectively, it is imperative to understand the family unit as a whole.  Understanding their resources, their family dynamic, and their children's needs are all important factors to consider.  A second insight I gained was the fact that families thrive if given the appropriate tools.  Working as a team to insure that the families are utilizing all the resources available in their community helps strengthen the relationship.  Also, once trust is established parents become more open and I found that they are the biggest contributors to advocacy because they are the most vested into their children's future.