"Adults are always asking children what they want to be when they grow up because they are looking for ideas" -Poundstone

From "Why Love Matters" by Sue Gerhardt

"[F]oundations are laid during pregnancy and in the first two years of life. This is when the 'social brain' is shaped and when an individual's emotional style and emotional resources are established" ("Why Love Matters", by Sue Gerhardt).

Testing and a commitment to the "whole child"

Those successful schools with holistic approaches to the commitment of the whole child do not to assess and measure students like the traditional public school in the U.S. Below is an excerpt from an article written by a parent to answer some basic questions on Montessori and Waldorf schooling:

Waldorf is rooted in anthroposophy. This philosophy believes that in order to understand the workings of the universe, people must first have an understanding of humanity. Montessori and Waldorf recognize and respect a child's need for rhythm and order in his daily routine. Both Montessori and Waldorf have a strong sense of societal reform built into their teaching. They believe in developing the whole child, teaching it to think for itself and, above all, showing it how to avoid violence. These are beautiful ideals which will help build a better world for the future. Montessori and Waldorf use non-traditional methods of assessments. Testing and grading are not part of either methodology. -http://www.privateschool.about.com/

More information on the holistic approach to learning in early childhood is expressed on Waldorf Education website, here is an excerpt:

Sensory integration, eye-hand coordination, appreciating the beauty of language, sequencing, and other basic skills necessary for the foundation of academic learning are fostered in the kindergarten. In this truly loving, natural and creative environment, children are provided with a range of activities to prepare them for later learning and for life itself.

From Windows into Waldorf, by David Mitchell (used with the permission of the author)

-from http://www.iaswece.org/

In many parts of the world Waldorf schools have started and grown, bringing the holistic roots of the their country into the learning institution. Here is an excerpt on Waldorf in India:

            In 1997 the first Waldorf Kindergarten opened its doors in Hyderabad. In the             following years, four additional Waldorf or Waldorf-inspired-schools came into existence, as well as one in Mumbai. In Bangalore two kindergartens are now starting grades schools, and additional initiatives in Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai have started. Since 1997 there have been many teacher training courses and workshops in Hyderabad, with the help of many teachers from different parts of the world, and now also experienced Indian Waldorf teachers.

            Since 1997 there have been annual Waldorf education seminars in Khandala             organised by Aban Bana for all teachers from all over India in search of holistic education. –from www.iaswece.org

Since Waldorf education and philosophy are set to particular standards world wide through the Waldorf Association, we can assume that the Waldorf schools in India also use non-traditional methods of assessment. I do not yet have a firm belief in what areas of schooling or the whole child need to be assessed. I do know that the pressure of the “test result” will create more problems in our children’s well being and increase crime rates in the future. I also know that there are approaches to measuring where a child is currently at developmentally that will not impede their development or academic success.

Public Health

A public health measure that impacts children’s development all over the world, among many, is breastfeeding. Breast fed babies have nutrient milk that prevents from sickness and benefit from the connection with the mother. Babies from all over the world benefit most from breast milk. “Babies who are exclusively breast-fed are less likely to get sick, because breast milk provides them with the antibodies against any disease to which the mother is immune” (Berger, 2009). Research and health promotion in countries are urging mothers to breast-feed longer before turning their child’s diet to formula. Not only the awareness of the physical benefits becoming more widespread so is the mental health of the infant. “Breast milk … is a mild sedative, so the newborn literally feels happier at the mother’s breast, connecting pleasure with taste, touch, smell, and sight” (Berger, 2009). The infant bonding that comes from this experience is also good for their mental health.  In a town in northeast England they successfully used social marketing to increase breastfeeding to promote the health of children (Lowry, et. al., 2009). “The World Health Organization recommends that babies should be breastfed exclusively for six months" (Lowry, et. al., 2009).

References:

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers

Lowry, R., Billet, A., Buchnanan, C., & Whiston, C. (2009). Increasing breastfeeding andreducing smoking in pregnancy: a social marketing success improving life chances for children. Royal society for public health, 129,6. Sage Publications.

Childbirth- In My Life and Around the World

“Inuit people of northern Canada… in  large hospitals in Winnipeg… women deliver in a supine position… and also describe being tied up while giving birth” (Berger, 2009, p.117). This is how I felt when the nurses put the fetal monitor on me, making me immobile. “Several new birth centers have now been created [in the Inuit homeland] and nurse-midwives are bringing in traditional midwives as assistants during childbirth…” (Berger, 2009, p.117). I aimed to bring in traditional methods into the hospital, which were not easily accepted. I am recently seeing hospitals embrace more holistic birthing environments. My second birth reflected my determination to stick to my holistic, intuitive birthing nature on the hospital grounds. My first birthing experience had unexpected turns. Both experiences leaves a story that I enjoy sharing.

            My mom described me like a cat in labor. Slinking around, quiet, and calm until I found my place (or time) to deliver. This description my be in response to my second labor where she was “slinking” with me much of the time, especially since during my first labor I came walking up her steps announcing “I need to have the baby now” and proceeded to walk back to her bed, leaving her stunned, with her purse in hand planning to meet us at the hospital.

            Both of my births can have a lengthy description, I will try to summarize the two most important events in my life. I believe they both reveal nature driven acts.

            During my first pregnancy my partner and I practiced the Bradley Method, a natural approach to childbirth. We planned on delivering in the hospital. I knew that giving birth was a totally human experience, therefore I would let my birth take its natural course and if a medical need arose we would have that support.

            The morning my water broke I went back to bed to get some rest (not meaning to fall back to sleep) before my long haul ahead. We were abreast of the many facts including: 12 hours of labor, the stages of labor, and the birthing plan ahead for the hospital. About two or three hours later I woke up in my last stage of labor.

            As my contractions became increasingly painful I knew that it was time to start our 50 min. drive to the hospital, ASAP. Yet, when I spoke it hurt, so I gathered things to take while my companion put on soft music and called our birth practitioner. She mentioned surely we had 12 minus 3 hours left, so take our time. A bit later I was sitting in the Jeep with some stuff on my lap, when my partner came to the window with a shocked look, “There you are, I couldn’t find you! Should we go now?” I nodded.

            The next 1-2 hours happened quickly. As we drove my labor intensified and I no longer kept quiet. I remember ripping off my seat belt, practically arching along the roof of the Jeep, and trying to get out the word “Faster!” as many times as I could. We wouldn’t make it to the hospital in enough time so we stopped at my mom’s. 911 was called, in the meantime my mom and partner gathered a towel and bowl. In near shock and amusement, I swear I saw small smiles on their face, they stared at me. “I can see his head,” stated my mom, and I remember saying, “make sure you catch him”, as I moved in random positions on her bed.

            The paramedics got there before my almost unexpected home birth and I delivered the moment the ambulance began to drive. We carried out our post birth at the hospital as intended.

            My second birth reveals determination to bring traditional birthing into a hospital full of protocols. Arriving much sooner than I needed to, yet I had learned from my first birth, I immediately frustrated hospital staff. My doctor was busy and I did not mind because I was fine with my husband and family. I also did not seem to care that my nurses were rude either I had my own agenda.  I walked or shuffled with 1-2 people at my elbows the entire labor period. The fetal monitor possibly stayed on for a few moments of time because it would get uncomfortable and I’d take it off and leave the room again to do another circle of the hospital. Nearing close to 10 hours after my contractions had started I was intensely fatigued. As I shuffled through the waiting room where my family sat, somewhat amused, I stated, “I’m going to go have the baby now”. With a chuckle they said, “Okay”.

My water still had not broken; he was making his way within the sac (forgot the term). As I kneeled by my hospital bed my husband was a bit frantic, “What can I do?” “I’m thirsty”, and off he went. My water broke and the pain hit. I struggled make my way onto the bed to push the nurse button. My husband returned just before my grumpy nurse. She proceeded to put the fetal monitor on me again and said, “You have time”. As she started to walk away apparently I was bearing down because she whipped around and said “Are you bearing down!?” After that I remember pain, things with wheels flying around the hospital room and her yelling, “Get the doctor, we have a runner!” It was stated that he was born in 5 minutes.

            I am not yet sure on the importance of the birthing experience on development, I do have ideas and some facts.  I more strongly believe that a mother’s intuition is best, and the nurture and nature that the baby receives as soon as he or she is with the caregiver after birth is more important.

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers

Natural Childbirth

“HypnoBirthing is a simple, straightforward program, thoughtfully developed over the years to remind mothers of the simplicity of birth itself” (http://hypnobirthing.com/)

Code of Ethics statements

“1-1.2—To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines, as on particular knowledge of each child” (NAEYC, 2005). When a program is practicing on outdated knowledge they are hindering the growth of the children, families, staff, establishment and immediate community. When programs are putting in action current, effective teaching strategies, relationships, classroom environments and advocacy they are strengthening the child and teacher, increasing the parental knowledge, and are being a model of best practice that a community is proud of.

“1-1.4—To appreciate the vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults” (NAEYC, 2005). The acute awareness of this vulnerability and dependence is important in ways that are beyond what many of us grasp. How children are nurtured and disciplined are two aspects (within vulnerability and dependence) that create how their nervous system functions and how they feel about the world around them.

“We shall respect families’ rights to choose or refuse early childhood special education or related services” (The Division, 2000). An empowered family with the love and knowledge of what is best for their child brings to many doubtful people miraculous outcomes.

References

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://www.dec-sped.org/