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