Sharing Web Resources:

• What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?

Save the Children website has an article that states the opening of their first child-friendly space in Japan.  This information is particularly relevant to my current professional development because like my program, the space is designed for children to learn through play under the care of professional caregivers.  According to the article, trained and nurturing adults provide opportunities for children to play and share their experiences. It is great to know that after all the hardships these children have been faced with, that they have access to caring adults who are available to provide nurturing support. 

• Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways?

The world’s leading toy company, Mattel, Inc., has pledged $500,000, over a five year span to Save the Children’s Proactive Disaster Preparedness and Responses to Crisis.  The funding will help support the children’s health care, education, early childhood development and emergency initiatives.   This committed contribution made me realize that there really are mega corporations and community resources that care about the future of our nation and that actually put their money where their mouth is.  I know a lot of people say they care about the well-being of our children, but I never really see the children reaping the rewards.  It’s is rewarding to see companies of this stature contributing to such a wonderful cause.   It is good to know that we don’t stand alone in advocating for our children and their families and that our community has enough faith in research to invest their dollars in our children.

• What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field?

Save the Children foundation receives funds through sponsorships.  They are able to provide goods in services such as food, water, shelter, health care and education through the support of many economic business leaders.   I have a greater understanding of the role in which the economists play in the increased public investments in early childhood.   They advocate for the well-being of children by educating the public on the importance of providing a child with a strong foundation.  Their passion is driven by research findings that emphasize the importance of early interventions and how it positively impacts the child’s development.   Thanks to the economist who are speaking up and out for the early childhood arena, people all over the world are beginning to take an interest in and invest in early childhood interventions.

• What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?

Other insightful information that I gained through exploration of the website is the fact that there are a number of different organizations that continues to support the Save the Children Foundation by investing in the future of our children.  For instance, there are numerous corporate community supporters that have pledged to support the response efforts in Japan.  Goldman Sachs Gives, Toys “R” Us, and Zynga have all pledged over a million dollars to support the Japan Earthquake Tsunami Relief fund.  There are many other organizations and individuals pledging various amounts in support of children’s well-being.  As long as this continues and we continue to make commitments to helping at risk children and their families, we will continue to see positive changes within our nations as well as in our communities.

Save the Children Federation. (2011). Child-friendly spaces help kids smile again. Retrieved March, 2011, from  http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm