LIFESPAN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 1500
Signature Assignment #2
U3 Essay- Child Care
Macy Ferguson
FHS-1500
9/29/2018
If you were considering leaving your three year-old child in a child care facility (family day care or child care center), what would be your major concerns? Why?
When it comes to leaving my child with anyone, especially someone that I do not know, I have several concerns. My biggest concern would be if my child was being treated the way that they should and receiving the attention that they need. I have heard some horror stories of caregivers ignoring the children they look after, or yelling at them for things they did not do. Another concern would be how they would handle the situation emotionally and mentally. My mom had to leave me in a child care center starting at a very young age, and I did not do well with it at all. She said that I would scream and cry and beg her not to leave me. I would never want my child to have to go through that or wonder if I was coming back. My other concern would be how they interact with the other children. Do they have friends? Are the other children nice? Do they get along? If I were leaving my child with someone else for the day, I would want them to be surrounded with kids their age that they are able to get along with. I believe that if they had this, the situation might be easier and more enjoyable.
Would your concerns be different, if your child were an infant? Explain.
My concerns would be very different if my child were an infant. I feel as if the safety concern increases drastically. I have always said that if I was not able to be a stay at home mom, I wanted to at least be with my child until they were 3 or 4. I feel as if during this stage it is extremely important for mothers to be as present in their life as possible. If I were to leave my infant at a child care center, I would want to make sure that there weren’t very many kids, allowing my child to receive the attention that they need. I would also want to make sure that the people watching my child, were very experienced, kind and loving. I would not be too worried about them making friends, as they are an infant. I would be much more concerned about their safety and overall well-being.
Would you prefer an academic or a child-centered preschool for your child? Why?
I would prefer a child-centered preschool, but one that also taught my child basic learning fundamentals. When I was reading in chapter 5, the section about Montessori schools really stood out to me. Montessori schools are “Schools that offer early-childhood education based on the philosophy of Maria Montessori, which emphasizes careful work and individualized accomplishment” (Berger, 2016, p. 189). I would prefer a type of program such as this because I do believe that early development is extremely important. I wouldn’t want a preschool, where that was the only focus, but I would want one that had some sort of curriculum to teach my child and get them on track, or ahead of their age group academically.
My mother put me in a Montessori preschool and I absolutely loved it. I remember that we had plenty of time to play, but I also remember doing fun crafts with centered on learning, and activities with my friends. Because I did go to a Montessori school, I was ahead of some of the other kids in my grade all throughout elementary school and especially kindergarten. I believe that this was because I was introduced to learning at such a young age. I would want the same for my child. If I can give them some kind of head start for their future, while allowing them to still be a kid and play, I would definitely want that.
Works Cited
Berger, K. S. (2016). Invitation to the life span (3rd ed.) New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Signature Assignment #2
U4 Essay- Cooperation VS. Competition
Macy Ferguson
FHS-1500
10/11/2018
Is competition over-emphasized in American Society? Why? What are the advantages of such a competitive attitude? What are the disadvantages?
I do think that competition is over-emphasized in American Society. Nowadays, it seems as if everything is a competition. I believe that this is because of social comparison. Social comparison is “The tendency to assess one’s abilities, achievements, social status, and other attributes by measuring them against those of other people, especially one’s peers” (Berger, 2016, p. 282). I grew up in a rather wealthy neighborhood and everything was a competition. From whose house was the biggest, to who had the nicest cars, to who was more popular in school. It was all a competition.
I think that there are some advantages to having a competitive attitude. One of the reasons why I think that people are so competitive is because they want to prove to themselves and others that they can do whatever they set their mind to. Another advantage to being competitive is the affirmation, or reassurance that you get from winning. It can really boost your self-esteem and confidence, which can push you to be competitive in areas such as schooling, or your job.
While there are advantages to being competitive, I do think that there are just as many disadvantages. When people make a competition out of everything that they do, it can become very toxic and unhealthy not just for them, but for those around them. If competitive mindset, or attitude is all someone focuses on, if they were to lose or fall behind, it could be very devastating for them. I do not think that it is healthy to constantly be focused on winning and being the best, nor is it realistic. When you are so focused on being the best and winning at everything, you lose focus of the things that really matter in life, and ultimately, yourself. I have seen it destroy many relationships and tear families apart.
Identify situations that you have observed in which competition has actually interfered with people achieving a goal. Is competition emphasized in children? What recommendations would you make to parents regarding their child's participation in soccer, baseball, etc.?
I have noticed people being so competitive within relationships, which prohibits them from achieving their goal of wanting a long term, healthy relationship. I have also noticed people lose very close friendships because of their competitive nature. They began to compete with their very close friends, and it ruined their friendships.
I do think that competition is emphasized in children to a certain degree, each varying with individual families. Every parent wants their children to have some sort of competitive nature in them. They want their child to push themselves and want to achieve their goals. I have seen parents instill a “if you’re not first, you’re last” mentality with their children, and it is very hard on them. I have seen it ruin their self-esteem because their parents expect so much from them and push them beyond their limits. I have also seen parents encourage a healthy competitive mentality in their children, where they support them and want them to push themselves, but also want them to be happy.
The recommendations that I would make to parents regarding their child’s participation in sports, would be to make sure that they love it. If your child loves their recreational activity, then they will want to be competitive and push themselves to be better. If they do not enjoy it, then they will be completely miserable, especially if the parent is forcing them to enjoy it and pass up their peers with their skills and abilities. Encourage your children to push themselves, but do not make it the focus of everything. Learn to put their emotional wellbeing and happiness before winning and being the best, while encouraging them to be the best that they can be.
Work Cited
Berger, K. S. (2016). Invitation to the life span (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Reflection
What impact did the assignment have on you or your understanding of the world; did it challenge any of your assumptions?
Signature Assignment #1
While writing my first Signature Assignment on childcare, I had to take a step back and think about the subject at hand. I had never gave much thought about child care options and which ones that I would want my child to be a part of and attend. I feel as if there is a stigma surrounding private school or Montessori students. I had always told myself that I would prefer to have my children in regular day care and public schools, for this reason.
After doing the reading and research, I found myself second guessing what I had previously wanted and the U.S. Education System. Nowadays, society is all about leveling the playing field for everyone involved, which I do not completely agree with. If children have the opportunity to attend Montessori schools, it will advance their learning far more than public schools. The U.S. Education system is flawed. We need children to excel academically, I feel as if public schools, or day care centers to not push the children academically. They are not challenging and a lot of time and energy is spent learning skillsets that aren't necessarily needed, vs. the ones that are. Upon looking at Montessori and Private Schools educational values and beliefs, I agree with them much more than I had previously thought that I would.
Signature Assignment #2
For this signature assignment, I had to evaluate American Society as a whole and in my life as well. I was very lucky to have grown up the way that I did, however, I do not feel like it was necessary to mold me into the person that I am today. I grew up in an upper class neighborhood/town in the Suburbs of Dallas, Texas. Because of this, I was able to see the competitive nature of American Society in my neighbors and friends lives. Everyone was so focused on what they had. I had several friends who were so consumed with how they looked, what car they drove, what friends they had, etc. This was due to the priorities that their parents had emphasized in their lives. I saw many of my friend have emotional breakdowns, eating disorders and drug/alcohol abuse problems because they could not handle the stress. Many families went into severe debt, just trying to keep the image that they wanted their family to uphold.
I do not think that every town in the U.S., or every U.S. citizen is this competitive. However, I do think that Americans are more competitive than other countries as a whole. Personally, I think that there are more disadvantages to being overly competitive than positive. While having some sort of competitive nature is a good thing, too much of anything is a bad thing. It's great to have goals and work hard to achieve those, but there comes a point where it is not healthy in many areas. American Society has portrayed this ideology that you need to be skinny, fit, have perfect hair, perfect teeth, a nice car, a nice house and a good job to be successful or desired. This is toxic to many youth and adults, because they compare themselves to that and find themselves falling short.
I would not say that my assumptions were necessarily challenged by this essay. If anything, it made me realize what kind of country we live in and how competitive everyone is. It has allowed me to look at our society and see that the root of most problems comes from the competitive nature of our country. The majority of Americans compare themselves to something, someone, or some ideology in some way on a daily basis. We compare ourselves, and then compete to be the best. This is not healthy, or normal.
U3 Essay- Child Care
Macy Ferguson
FHS-1500
9/29/2018
If you were considering leaving your three year-old child in a child care facility (family day care or child care center), what would be your major concerns? Why?
When it comes to leaving my child with anyone, especially someone that I do not know, I have several concerns. My biggest concern would be if my child was being treated the way that they should and receiving the attention that they need. I have heard some horror stories of caregivers ignoring the children they look after, or yelling at them for things they did not do. Another concern would be how they would handle the situation emotionally and mentally. My mom had to leave me in a child care center starting at a very young age, and I did not do well with it at all. She said that I would scream and cry and beg her not to leave me. I would never want my child to have to go through that or wonder if I was coming back. My other concern would be how they interact with the other children. Do they have friends? Are the other children nice? Do they get along? If I were leaving my child with someone else for the day, I would want them to be surrounded with kids their age that they are able to get along with. I believe that if they had this, the situation might be easier and more enjoyable.
Would your concerns be different, if your child were an infant? Explain.
My concerns would be very different if my child were an infant. I feel as if the safety concern increases drastically. I have always said that if I was not able to be a stay at home mom, I wanted to at least be with my child until they were 3 or 4. I feel as if during this stage it is extremely important for mothers to be as present in their life as possible. If I were to leave my infant at a child care center, I would want to make sure that there weren’t very many kids, allowing my child to receive the attention that they need. I would also want to make sure that the people watching my child, were very experienced, kind and loving. I would not be too worried about them making friends, as they are an infant. I would be much more concerned about their safety and overall well-being.
Would you prefer an academic or a child-centered preschool for your child? Why?
I would prefer a child-centered preschool, but one that also taught my child basic learning fundamentals. When I was reading in chapter 5, the section about Montessori schools really stood out to me. Montessori schools are “Schools that offer early-childhood education based on the philosophy of Maria Montessori, which emphasizes careful work and individualized accomplishment” (Berger, 2016, p. 189). I would prefer a type of program such as this because I do believe that early development is extremely important. I wouldn’t want a preschool, where that was the only focus, but I would want one that had some sort of curriculum to teach my child and get them on track, or ahead of their age group academically.
My mother put me in a Montessori preschool and I absolutely loved it. I remember that we had plenty of time to play, but I also remember doing fun crafts with centered on learning, and activities with my friends. Because I did go to a Montessori school, I was ahead of some of the other kids in my grade all throughout elementary school and especially kindergarten. I believe that this was because I was introduced to learning at such a young age. I would want the same for my child. If I can give them some kind of head start for their future, while allowing them to still be a kid and play, I would definitely want that.
Works Cited
Berger, K. S. (2016). Invitation to the life span (3rd ed.) New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Signature Assignment #2
U4 Essay- Cooperation VS. Competition
Macy Ferguson
FHS-1500
10/11/2018
Is competition over-emphasized in American Society? Why? What are the advantages of such a competitive attitude? What are the disadvantages?
I do think that competition is over-emphasized in American Society. Nowadays, it seems as if everything is a competition. I believe that this is because of social comparison. Social comparison is “The tendency to assess one’s abilities, achievements, social status, and other attributes by measuring them against those of other people, especially one’s peers” (Berger, 2016, p. 282). I grew up in a rather wealthy neighborhood and everything was a competition. From whose house was the biggest, to who had the nicest cars, to who was more popular in school. It was all a competition.
I think that there are some advantages to having a competitive attitude. One of the reasons why I think that people are so competitive is because they want to prove to themselves and others that they can do whatever they set their mind to. Another advantage to being competitive is the affirmation, or reassurance that you get from winning. It can really boost your self-esteem and confidence, which can push you to be competitive in areas such as schooling, or your job.
While there are advantages to being competitive, I do think that there are just as many disadvantages. When people make a competition out of everything that they do, it can become very toxic and unhealthy not just for them, but for those around them. If competitive mindset, or attitude is all someone focuses on, if they were to lose or fall behind, it could be very devastating for them. I do not think that it is healthy to constantly be focused on winning and being the best, nor is it realistic. When you are so focused on being the best and winning at everything, you lose focus of the things that really matter in life, and ultimately, yourself. I have seen it destroy many relationships and tear families apart.
Identify situations that you have observed in which competition has actually interfered with people achieving a goal. Is competition emphasized in children? What recommendations would you make to parents regarding their child's participation in soccer, baseball, etc.?
I have noticed people being so competitive within relationships, which prohibits them from achieving their goal of wanting a long term, healthy relationship. I have also noticed people lose very close friendships because of their competitive nature. They began to compete with their very close friends, and it ruined their friendships.
I do think that competition is emphasized in children to a certain degree, each varying with individual families. Every parent wants their children to have some sort of competitive nature in them. They want their child to push themselves and want to achieve their goals. I have seen parents instill a “if you’re not first, you’re last” mentality with their children, and it is very hard on them. I have seen it ruin their self-esteem because their parents expect so much from them and push them beyond their limits. I have also seen parents encourage a healthy competitive mentality in their children, where they support them and want them to push themselves, but also want them to be happy.
The recommendations that I would make to parents regarding their child’s participation in sports, would be to make sure that they love it. If your child loves their recreational activity, then they will want to be competitive and push themselves to be better. If they do not enjoy it, then they will be completely miserable, especially if the parent is forcing them to enjoy it and pass up their peers with their skills and abilities. Encourage your children to push themselves, but do not make it the focus of everything. Learn to put their emotional wellbeing and happiness before winning and being the best, while encouraging them to be the best that they can be.
Work Cited
Berger, K. S. (2016). Invitation to the life span (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Reflection
What impact did the assignment have on you or your understanding of the world; did it challenge any of your assumptions?
Signature Assignment #1
While writing my first Signature Assignment on childcare, I had to take a step back and think about the subject at hand. I had never gave much thought about child care options and which ones that I would want my child to be a part of and attend. I feel as if there is a stigma surrounding private school or Montessori students. I had always told myself that I would prefer to have my children in regular day care and public schools, for this reason.
After doing the reading and research, I found myself second guessing what I had previously wanted and the U.S. Education System. Nowadays, society is all about leveling the playing field for everyone involved, which I do not completely agree with. If children have the opportunity to attend Montessori schools, it will advance their learning far more than public schools. The U.S. Education system is flawed. We need children to excel academically, I feel as if public schools, or day care centers to not push the children academically. They are not challenging and a lot of time and energy is spent learning skillsets that aren't necessarily needed, vs. the ones that are. Upon looking at Montessori and Private Schools educational values and beliefs, I agree with them much more than I had previously thought that I would.
Signature Assignment #2
For this signature assignment, I had to evaluate American Society as a whole and in my life as well. I was very lucky to have grown up the way that I did, however, I do not feel like it was necessary to mold me into the person that I am today. I grew up in an upper class neighborhood/town in the Suburbs of Dallas, Texas. Because of this, I was able to see the competitive nature of American Society in my neighbors and friends lives. Everyone was so focused on what they had. I had several friends who were so consumed with how they looked, what car they drove, what friends they had, etc. This was due to the priorities that their parents had emphasized in their lives. I saw many of my friend have emotional breakdowns, eating disorders and drug/alcohol abuse problems because they could not handle the stress. Many families went into severe debt, just trying to keep the image that they wanted their family to uphold.
I do not think that every town in the U.S., or every U.S. citizen is this competitive. However, I do think that Americans are more competitive than other countries as a whole. Personally, I think that there are more disadvantages to being overly competitive than positive. While having some sort of competitive nature is a good thing, too much of anything is a bad thing. It's great to have goals and work hard to achieve those, but there comes a point where it is not healthy in many areas. American Society has portrayed this ideology that you need to be skinny, fit, have perfect hair, perfect teeth, a nice car, a nice house and a good job to be successful or desired. This is toxic to many youth and adults, because they compare themselves to that and find themselves falling short.
I would not say that my assumptions were necessarily challenged by this essay. If anything, it made me realize what kind of country we live in and how competitive everyone is. It has allowed me to look at our society and see that the root of most problems comes from the competitive nature of our country. The majority of Americans compare themselves to something, someone, or some ideology in some way on a daily basis. We compare ourselves, and then compete to be the best. This is not healthy, or normal.