Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2
The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University:
GLOBAL CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE
I am pleased to say that one of my personal dreams for the
betterment of early childhood development is to have a stronger research team.
I my reviewing the “Harvard University’s ‘Global Children’s Initiative’ website,
I truly believe that the university is headed in the right direction. For
example, The Center’s mission clearly states: “
“Drawing on the full breadth of intellectual resources available
across Harvard University’s graduate schools and affiliated hospitals, the Center
generates, translates, and applies knowledge in the service of improving life
outcomes for children in the United States and throughout the world.
Specifically, the Center is committed to:
·
Building a unified science of health, learning, and behavior to
explain the early roots of lifelong
impairments;
·
Leading the design, implementation, and evaluation of innovative
program and practice models
that reduce
preventable disparities in well-being;
·
Catalyzing the implementation of effective, science-based public
policies through strategic relationships
and knowledge
transfer; and
·
Preparing future and current leaders to build and leverage
knowledge that promotes the healthy
development of children and families and
brings high
returns to all of society (The Center on the
Developing
Child at Harvard
University” (2006, p. 1).
What I am understanding in the teams’ commitment is that all
areas of development is extremely important starting from the top of the child’s
head (interior as well as exterior) to the bottom of the child’s feet. In other words, making sure that the child is able to do
math, recognize and apply the proper English, to become fluent in reading, and attain and sustain the proper social skills is all
good , However, (Harvard University,
2009) many situations (some positive some negative) will occur during childhood
development. According to reports of the
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University’s studies (2009; media coverage
video), “toxic stress” is the most serious type of stress for all developing children.
It appears that this particular type of stress
is most harmful because the young child is exposed to repeatedly to certain
type of crisis without any or very little relief.
For example, if a child experiences repeated child abuse; family
violence and so on will definitely create a negative effect the developmental
growth of the young child. According to the Center on the Developing Child at
Harvard University (2009), research and early intervention program may provide
the necessary tools to intervene situations as such. What I find encouraging is
that this particular organization is working for the betterment of “all children
of the world” (2009, p. 1). I highly recommend reviewing the Center on the
Developing Child: Global, Children’s Initiative, there is so much information
it is almost overwhelming. However, the data, in my opinion, is very enlightening.
Reference:
The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University: Global, Children’s Initiative (2006).(http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/
;WWW. DEVELOPINGCHILD.HARVARD.EDU
