Observing and Interacting With Families of the Children in Your Setting

During this module I had the opportunity to interact with different colleagues and professionals within the field. I spoke with a teacher who has her Master's in Education. Ms. B.S. currently she teaches 3 to 5 years old few months ago she was teaching two’s year old. I had the opportunity to ask her questions in regards to childhood obesity. Ms. B.S. believes that children that are overweight or obese are that way because families don't realize that being overweight or obese is dangerous for children health. Ms. B.S. believes that professionals can support families to learn about childhood obesity by encouraging parents to volunteer in the classroom. She believes parents should participate and interact in the classroom preparing nutritious meals with their children. Ms. B S. believes teachers can do activities relating to the food pyramid and read or ask parent to read books relating to healthy eating. Ms. B.S. strongly believes that professionals need to know how to approach and talk to parents about their childhood obesity. Parents might think they are being attacked and they might feel they are bad parents. She said that "the key is to be cautious" because some professionals are not sensitive as they talk to parents or children about their weight or eating habits. Ms. B.S. said it is important to allow children to participate in activities that interest them, even though children that are obese find it difficult to run and climb. If they would just do some sort of activity for one hour 3 to 4 days a week they would have less chances to become obese. It is important to let children be themselves don't push them to do physical activities that might hurt them, but continue to encourage them to run and play some kind of sports so it can be fun as they exercise. After talking to colleagues and other professionals within the field I learned that it is important to involve parent in the education of their children. I learned different strategies to get parents involved in the classroom such as sending a letter home inviting parents to participate in our weekly Food Experience and sending home a letter about the activities children do during the week. I also learned that classroom participation is critical for parent. The insights I gained from observing, and interacting with professionals, teachers, and families is that by building relationships teachers and parents can work together as team tour the same goal

Interacting with Professionals/Administrators and Your Advocacy Plan

Module 3: Blog 3: This week I had the opportunity to interact with the program director and the Health coordinator. My first question was in regards to the child with the eating problem and what were they doing to help he parent and the child with the issue of overweight and his anxiety for food. I was told by the program director that in regard to the child I had observed he has improved due an action plan that has been put in place in cooperation with the Child's doctor and the Head Start Program. The health coordinator mentions that the child had been referred to a pediatrician to be evaluated, one of the changes that the parent implement was to have healthy snacks at home instead of junk food. At the Head Start program one of the child’s teachers seat everyday next to him and ensure that he serve his portion, if the child asks for second servings the teachers encourage him to serve only vegetables. The program director also mention that in order for the program to encourage families and children to have nutrition’s meals, the program start implementing the GO Slow Whoa program that was pretty much mandated by the department of Head Start . She has notice that this program has help a lot because at the center they eliminate the consumption of Juices, cakes and cookies; instead they have more fresh fruit and vegetables. The health coordinator share with me, that it is mandated that teachers have structure physical activities for children for at least one hour throughout the day since. She also said that when they notice or find out that children are overweight or at risk of been obese they have an overweight action plan, this plan is revise on a monthly basis by the health coordinator, the social worker and the parent so they can see if the plan in place is working. I asked what would happen on cold or rainy days, their answers was that no matter if it was cold or raining that teacher can continue implementing physical activities in the classroom, that all classroom have CD’s with children music that can be used for exercises activities. Both the coordinator and the program director mention that it is a lot of work especially with parents that does not cooperate with the actions plans. That many parents still refusing the reality that their little angels are overweight, for some parents is normal to see their children with some pound over. Both will continue working with all families regardless of their thoughts, what they want is the best for children under their care .The program director inform me that as of next week they will start serving organic food. Her belief is that many chemicals and pesticides on foods also take effects on gaining the extra weight. Once I finish my conversation with the program director and the health coordinator, I stop by in one of the classrooms and was able to observe children been active, on this specific they there was a volunteer who was providing Yoga classes for the children. They seem to have fun and enjoy the activity. I would like to implement in my setting some of the activities this center has in place. I also would teach children the importance of a proper nutrition, one of the activities I would like to do with the children the food pyramid activities. I think they will learn about the different food groups. The difference I would like to make in my community and my field would be to eliminate or control obesity in young children by having a proper nutrition and physical activities.