UNH Human Development and Family Studies Department的动态

When I was in the process of selecting my internship placement, I knew I didn’t want to do two things: Provide therapy Work with children However, after many conversations about my goals and aspirations for the future, every single person I spoke to encouraged me to work with children which was hard to digest. I was so passionate about practicing social work in a law enforcement capacity so that’s all I envisioned myself doing. One of my advisors told me, “Ezri, you are not paying a million dollars and one cent (thanks Michigan tuition) to have an internship experience that you’ve already done.” This meant the only thing left for me to explore was working with children. As a Therapy Intern at CARE House of Oakland County, I have learned 5 major things I would like to share: 1. Sessions get messy & that's okay. A mess means progress is being made and their creativity is being explored. The mess can be cleaned. 2. Things that pain my soul may be healing for them. For example, mixing Play-Doh colors together or putting stickers that spell a word in the wrong order. Yet, putting my feelings about it aside so they can exercise control in the play room. 3. Non-directive play feels like a waste of time, but it is not. Allowing children to self-regulate as often as they need to will never be a waste of time. I constantly have to remind myself of this. 4. Yes, being a social worker can be sad and emotionally draining at times, but I choose to look at this work from a positive perspective. Three days a week, I have the privilege of seeing and hearing children laughing and playing, witnessing the process of picking the perfect stuffed animal to bring home with them, or watching them dig through the candy bowl to grab a treat on their way out. 4a. Meeting kids where they’re at means I often take on roles of sous chef, food critic, copy cat, detective, or opponent. My willing participation in these roles, however, does not mean I will tolerate BBQ sauce on my brownie, grapes and blueberries on my pizzas, and it definitely does not mean I wanted to let my client win in our board game (seriously, I was so close to winning.) But, I have enjoyed being in these roles for them. 5. Children are more resilient than we give them credit for. I think we fall victim to getting bogged down by learning about trauma work in the classroom and through trainings that we forget what being a child is like. Something I remind parents of frequently is that in the future, their child likely won’t remember everything that was said throughout this process, but they will remember how they felt during this time. I tell parents that their child will remember how they felt believed, supported, and cared for. We need to remember that by teaching and demonstrating skills early on, we are setting up children up to have the necessary coping and emotional regulation skills to be resilient in the future. Comment what your biggest takeaway from your career has been so far!

An aspired childhood educator Throughout my internship, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to teach children, which provided me with valuable hands-on experience in the field. This experience is incredibly valuable, as it allows me to apply the theories and concepts I've learned about child development in a practical setting. As an aspiring childhood educator, I understand the importance of fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment for children. I recognize that every child is unique and has their own individual needs and learning styles. With my knowledge of child development, I can tailor my teaching approach to meet the specific needs of each child, ensuring that they receive the best possible education and support. my internship experience has likely exposed me to various age groups and diverse backgrounds, which has further enhanced my understanding of the different developmental stages and challenges children may face. This exposure has also allowed me to develop communication skills, patience, and adaptability etc, which are crucial qualities for working with children effectively. In addition to my academic knowledge and internship experience, I have also gained insights into classroom management techniques, curriculum development, and assessment strategies. These skills will enables me to create engaging lesson plans, implement effective teaching strategies, and monitor the progress of each child. Education is a dynamic field, and ongoing professional development will ensure that I can provide the highest quality education and support to the children under my care. With my passion, knowledge, and practical experience, I am on a journey to making a positive impact in the lives of children as a childhood educator. my dedication to their growth, development, and well-being will undoubtedly contribute to shaping their futures in a meaningful way. #pomotechildeducation #Buildpositiveimpact #Childpsychology

????The top benefits of a college admissions consultant for #neurodivergent students include: ? Identifying summer and gap year programs to maximize students' college readiness ?Building a highly customized college list that ensures students will receive the support they need to thrive in college ?Providing extensive brainstorming and feedback on students' college admissions essays ?Exploring options for majors and careers that will be a good fit for students' strengths and interests ?Navigating the process of applying for #disability accommodations and #autism/learning support programs in college ?Finding specialized #scholarships and #internships (see https://lnkd.in/eC7dEirT for a list of these opportunities) ?Helping students develop the self-advocacy skills they'll need in college ?Preparing for college admissions interviews, when applicable ?Bringing a structured, calming--and sometimes even fun--approach to the complex process of applying to college ???? We also provide many free resources to families, including a database of #neurodiversity-friendly #colleges and #universities! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eQPdDZD . #EducationalConsultants #CollegeAdmissions #IndependentEducationalConsultants #IECs #CollegeApplications #CollegePrep #DisabilitySupport #AutismSupport #AutismParents #SpecialNeedsParents #LearningDisabilities #ADHD #dyslexia #SelfAdvocacy #GapYear #CollegeCounseling #NeurodiversitySupport #InclusiveEducation

Curious about our Learning Journey experience for Title V teams? Join an informational call tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET. to learn more about the program from one of our coaches.? ? In the Learning Journey, teams identify a specific challenge they want to work on. They participate in coaching, skills-building workshops, and consultation with experts. In 2024, we supported teams working to:? ? ?? Build capacity to prioritize equity in all programming, practices, and policies.?? ?? Create a comprehensive framework for decision-making about resource allocation.? ???? Create a strategic plan for state adolescent and young adult health.? ???? Create or enhance workforce supports related to onboarding, mentoring, and internships.?? ?? Identify and implement primary prevention strategies related to mental health.? ? Join the call to learn more about how we can support you!? ? https://lnkd.in/gM6EdbWn?

These numbers speak for themselves. As a mother to a son "19" preparing for next steps after high School, having a program like this helps students to anticipate what job skills will be needed and how to interact with potential employers. A lack of social pragmatics is often a barrier and this helps to prepare the student for that interaction at their own pace. Taking away the pressure and subsiding their fears of failure. Which often prevents them from moving forward. #SpecialEducation #vocationalrehabilitation #disability #transitiongoals

Through our Employ Autism programme, we’re helping to bridge the gap from education to employment for autistic people and encourage employers to adopt inclusive employment practices. This summer Arber completed a four-week placement with the Department for Transport. Prior to this, he had completed a BTEC qualification in IT and was looking for work but was struggling to find anything suitable. Employers can support autistic people in the workplace through adjustments which help them to work in a way that suits them best. During Arber’s internship, he benefitted from rest-breaks and access to a quiet space which helped with his concentration and productivity. Reflecting on his experience Arber said: “My placement in the Department for Transport was my first experience of an internship - and it was great! Everyone in the department was friendly and kind and offered me support whenever I needed it.” Learn more about our Employ Autism programme: https://bit.ly/3qNs8XU

?? Throwback to 2017 - Internship at Kindergarten: Active Listening ???? ? My internship at a kindergarten was a delightful experience with invaluable educational value. During this period, I applied and became familiar with various counseling techniques, with a particular focus on Active Listening (emphasizing eye contact, body posture, and clarifying questions). ? Working with preschool children, including toddlers, pre-kindergarten, and pre-pre-kindergarten students, involved interactive games and group activities, enriching both the children’s learning experience and my own understanding of effective communication. #Throwback #ActiveListening #Preschool #PracticalTraining #ChildDevelopment #ikasotaki

PBL in action! Child Development Interns created designs for their own Child Care Center, including a detailed floor plan, 10+ activity centers, use indoor & outdoor space, equipment and furnishing, and a full description of the goals their center is meant to accomplish. Support for children's physical, cognitive, social and emotional development were considered as well as various learning objectives. **featured are the interns presenting and completing peer reviews of one another's designs, in small groups. #childdevelopment #internship #cte #collaboration #projectbasedlearning

??Last year, I had the fantastic opportunity to complete my internship with the Head Start program in Richmond, California. During my time in the classroom, I had the pleasure of meeting incredible children and teachers. My lessons were centered around social-emotional development. I chose this focus because, as a preschool teacher, I believe that learning to express, communicate, and advocate for oneself is crucial for all ages, particularly for low-income black and brown families. Also when we have the tools to help ourselves we can better help those around us. Despite the prevailing belief among educators that children are egocentric and lack the ability to understand others' emotions, I aimed to challenge this notion. I began by investigating whether children could grasp their own emotions and express them through words, facial expressions, and actions. Through weeks of exploration and inquiry, including asking children about their actions and the emotions behind them, we progressed to examining their friends' emotions. We practiced asking questions such as "How are you feeling today?" "What made you feel this way?" and "How can I help you feel better?" We also encouraged children to problem solve amongst each other by using the language used above? Observational findings: Social-emotional development We noticed that following engagement in social-emotional activities and discussions, children began using phrases like "How are you feeling?" "I need space," or "Can we play together?" Our observations revealed a growing awareness of others as children started advocating for fairness, such as saying, "Hey, it's not fair to knock down people's towers." Through ongoing observation and exploration of social-emotional development with our children, we aim to challenge the assumption that children are inherently selfish and incapable of understanding others' feelings.

“Reed isn’t teaching me what to think; they’re teaching me how to think.” Natalie Soutonglang ‘26, a Sociology major who won a Reed College Summer Internship Award, explains that her classes at Reed don’t teach her what a certain topic is and instead teach her the theoretical frameworks and skills to apply to any topic, citing her sociology class on organizations as an example. At Breakthrough T1D, she planned and organized an event called Government Day, which invites advocates for type 1 diabetes policies such as insulin affordability, and at Amboy Street Ventures, she gained different perspectives on women’s and transgender healthcare through interviews with consumers, providers, and professionals. Her internships gave her insight into what advocacy and policy work she may want to do in the future, as well as the environment she wants to do it in. #BeyondReed