Testing For Intelligence.

When viewing children holistically, I feel as though it is important to focus on their physical, emotional/psychological and social development and needs overall. As advocators and educators, it is important to provide aid, support and learning styles to communities in order to stimulate the emotional well-being of children. The holistic approach also involves family members and their active participation in their children lives, by volunteering and being involved in their children's learning and development, this promotes confidence and high self-esteem among children. According to Raise Learning (2012), holistic education guides students to find their identities, meaning and purpose in life through connections to the community, nature, and the spiritual world, focusing on peace and compassion. It is important to focus on the individual needs and interest of each child. We can measure the child's personal interest by allowing them to express themselves and making them feel comfortable doing so.

I chose to focus on education and assessment of children in South Africa. Caregivers and professors in South Africa choose to focus on cognitive achievement in order to focus on the psychomotor effectiveness of children. Many Nigerian educators have incorporated the Holistic Assessment Measure into their teaching styles which refers to the combined use of assessment measures in the cognitive, affective and psychomotor areas of development. The student’s behavior, attitudes, interests, modes of interaction, skills, style of work and a variety of other non-cognitive factors will contribute to the decision made by the teacher on each student. It is evident that they are now starting to use the holistic approach of learning and teaching because it is more effective and promotes positive development.

* For more learning and information, Please refer to my references below..
Reference:

file:///Users/pashsims/Downloads/52650-81549-1-PB.pdf

http://www.raiselearning.com.au/blogs/news/5818384-exploring-holistic-approaches-for-early-childhood-educators

Consequences of Stress and Childhood Development

Growing up in Chicago, Illinois on the rough streets of the westside, I came across many poverty stricken families. Fortunately, my father and mother worked hard so that my siblings and I would never truly see what is like to go without nutritious and hot cooked meals, health insurance, nice clothes and shoes, and quality education. Many of my peers and friends around the neighborhood were not afford the same advantages, I never looked at them as any lessor or inferior. I had a friend by the name of Chyna that lived across the street. There were times when I would visit Chyna to play and it would be no heat inside of her home, growing up in Chicago we experienced extremely brutal winters. Chyna's mother was on drugs and would often neglect her. She was behind in many of her classes and failing to turn in assignments and homework and even failing classes. There were many times where Chyna would not even show up to school. We were in second grade and I can remember Chyna visiting me looking very sad and almost wanting to cry because she claimed that she hadn't eaten in almost 2 days. I invited her inside and offered her dinner and she ate every bit of it. I even packed her tupperware to take home for later. I was genuinely happy to see my friend good and full. My mom would always send her home with gifts and food. I loved to see her happy. My family and I eventually moved away and so did Chyna. I miss her so much and wish that there was a way that I could contact her and see how her life turned out. I would love to hear from her! =(

I have an affinity for the children of Syria because they have been going through detrimental stress from the war on their country for more than 3 years now. There has been physical as well as mental and emotional stress placed upon the children of Syria from being exposed to violence and losing parents and their loved ones. The violence of the war and being displaced from family and care givers not only causes socio-emotional issues within children but also affects healthy brain development. I am sure that many of the children have or will experience toxic stress due to lack of support and love from their caregivers and the constant and frightful exposure to violence and war. The experiences of the war in Syria will definitely lead to mental, socio-emotional as well as economic hardship growing children. Children exposed to war violence have difficulty learning and processing skills, as well as developing healthy social relationships. According to World Vision International (2014), The World Vision Organization prioritizes setting up Child Friendly Spaces, also known as safe places where children can play, learn, make friends, develop routines and be monitored for behavioral and emotional issues. 

"My grandchildren have never had a beautiful day in their lives," says the grandmother of Fatima, 4. "The older girls barely talk, and when other children cry, they curl up with their hands to their ears and rock." Photo by Jon Warren

The above image displays an emotionally distressed young Syrian girl. :(


References:

World Vision Organization. (2014). Syria's children - how conflict can harm brain development. World Vision International. Retrieved from http://www.wvi.org/experts/article/syria%E2%80%99s-children-%E2%80%93-how-conflict-can-harm-brain-development