International Early Childhood Research

     This week I was assigned to visit websites that displayed early childhood educational research in the International arena.  I chose to visit Early Childhood Australia located at the following link: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au.   The Early Childhood Australia organization is celebrating 75 years of being a leading voice for young children.

     One the research projects that is outlined on the website is for the research based project called the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF).  The Early Years Learning Framework is part of the standards for education in Australia of children from birth to the age of 5.   “It underpins universal access to early childhood education and has been incorporated in the National Quality Standard in order to ensure delivery of nationally consistent and quality early childhood education across sectors and jurisdictions.”  (DEEWR, 2013)  Additional information about the standards can be read by clicking on the following link:  http://deewr.gov.au/early-years-learning-framework.

     Another research study I found interesting is one on children diagnosed with ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder.  The APA (2000) states Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is described as a recurrent pattern of negativistic, defiant, disobedient and hostile behaviour beginning in childhood or adolescence (as cited in ECA, 2013).  This disorder displays itself in children’s anti-social behavior and poor social skills.  This article provides information on two studies conducted to determine if interventions that do not use medications can make a difference.   These interventions involved correction methods and giving the child praise.  The article can be found by visiting the following link:

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/australian_journal_of_early_childhood/ajec_index_abstracts/getting-the-balance-rightthe-challenge-of-balancing-praise-and-correction-for-early-school-years-children-who-exhibit-oppositional-and-defiant-behaviour-free-full-text-available.html

     What I found surprising is that the Austrilan people are still purchasing the reading program that claims it can teach babies to read although the creator is being sued in the US for false claims.  Here is a copy of the information published in the websites newsletter (ECA Webwatch) that can be found at the following link:

Baby reading program prosecuted for misleading claims

An education program aimed at toddlers claims that it can teach babies to read from three-months-old through the use of videos, flash cards and pop-up books. ‘Your baby can read’ is being sold in Australia, despite the court battle in the United States, where creator Robert Titzer is being accused of creating ‘deceptive expert endorsements’.

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/early_childhood_news/eca_webwatch/eca-webwatch-issue-162-may-2013.html

      What I found to be to a surprising insight is that their webpage is similar to the NAEYC website that we have in America for early childhood.  There is a link that leads to the code of ethics that is in fact similar to what is stated in the NAEYC’s code of ethics and can be viewed by following the following link: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/code_of_ethics/early_childhood_australias_code_of_ethics.html.  

     Although, the instructions for the assignment stated it as such it was still surprising to me.  I still am surprised to see some of the same policies that we follow in the US to be followed in the World when it pertains to early childhood. 

Resources

Early Childhood America (2013).  Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/