Research that Benefits Children and Families

Research is all about finding solutions or resolving problems to help better the life of individuals or society at large. The research topic I would like to talk about that would make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and their families is” Early Inclusion in a Diverse Society”

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) defines early inclusion as “The embodiment of values, policies, and practices that support the right of every infant and young child and his or her family, regardless of ability, to participate in a broad range of activities and context as full members of families, communities, and society. The desired results of inclusive experience experiences for children with and without disabilities and their families include a sense of belonging and membership, positive social relationships and friendships, and development and learning to reach their full potential. The defining features of inclusion that can be used to identify high quality early childhood programs and services are access, participation, and supports”.

Access in an inclusive environment provides a wide range of learning opportunities, activities, settings, and environment that will suit every child irrespective of their abilities. Inclusion can take different forms and can occur in various organizational and community context such as homes, Head start, child care, faith-based programs, recreational programs, preschool, private, public and private pre-kindergarten through early elementary education and blended early childhood education/early childhood special education program.

Participation-There are some children that need additional help even if the environments and programs are designed to facilitate access. They need additional accommodations and supports to participate fully in play and learning activities with peers and adults.

Support- Running an inclusive educational setting requires an infrastructural system of support so as to maintain the efforts of individuals and organizations providing inclusive services to children and families. An ongoing professional development and support to acquire the knowledge, skills and dispositions required to implement effective inclusive practices will help early childhood professionals serve both children and families better.

I believe that if a research is carried out on this topic, it will help the early childhood professionals to serve children and families better irrespective of their abilities and also help the early childhood professionals to carry on with an ongoing developmental process just to get better

Reference:

DEC/NAEYC. (2009). Early childhood Inclusion: A joint position statement of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children NAEYC). Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina, FPG Child Development Institute.