International Early Childhood Field: Summary

          For the past weeks, we have been learning about issues and trends in early childhood field internationally. Personally, I chose to know more about the issues and trends in the British world because we run a British curriculum in school, even though we are not there. So that prompted to learn more about the issues and trends that exists in the field of early childhood. Though I could not get a reply from most of my international contacts, but all thanks to Ms. Daminne Black who was a former colleague, but is back to Scotland for her degree in Early Childhood studies. She helped me to identify some of the issues over there in U.K and Scotland respectively.

          Learning about the international early childhood field was an eye opener for me to learn about early childhood practices in other parts of the world. One major thing I noticed is that the same issues and trends in early childhood field exists almost in every country all over the world. For example, poverty is a worldwide issue but may be more in some countries that their counterparts. Going through other blogs posted by my colleagues, the passion I had for early childhood education was rekindled. For example, after reading about Ariana and all she goes through on daily basis to meet the needs of children in her child care center at Sierra Leone, I practically said to myself that I have no excuse not to affect children’s lives positively as an early childhood educator. I had an understanding that no matter the challenge I am facing as an early childhood educator, someone somewhere has faced a tougher one and still overcame.

          One goal I have set for myself as long as I remain in this field is to continue building a network with other early childhood professionals, so as to share ideas, resources, and also encourage one another to become better. While doing that, I will also engage in research and continuous learning about the current issues and trends in the field both locally and internationally, and at the same build stronger relationship and partnership with parents in order to understand their respective issues and how to be of help to them.

          Finally, I want to say a big thank you to Courtney, Tequilla and Ruthanne for their wonderful and educative blogs. They were really inspiring and motivating. Have a wonderful learning experience in your future courses.