Research That Benefits Children and Families-Uplifting Stories

Imagine that you possess the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the early childhood field. Imagine further that you are not restricted by the reality of the present. Imagine that your study will make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and/or their families. What topic would you choose? What can you imagine the positive contribution(s) would be?

I would easily choose the topic of feeding the world's youth, but I would first focus on my community and state of Texas. If I were able to research ways of be able to feed all starving children and actually be able to implement the outcomes, I would probably be hailed a prophet or some kind of savior of mankind. By researching and inventing a way to end world hunger, I would actually be able to assist in ending multiple issues throughout the world: low education levels, poverty, crime, bad health, etc. The possible positive contributions are endless, because everything filters back to a person's basic needs not being met; which negatively impacts every other part of their lives.

Here's a way that we can stop dreaming, and start doing!

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Personal Research Journey:"

The topic of my research is: What is the lasting effects of being labeled impoverished or having a poverty mindset as a young child? This topic is important to me as an educator, parent, and daughter I am constantly surrounded by children are dealing with the epidemic of poverty. Growing up both parents told me stories about their childhoods; how hard it was, how appreciative I should be, and how it affected who they became. My parents grew up in household where nine children and two parents survived on 50$ a week, however, neither parent felt they were living in poverty. I feel that by them not being labeled impoverished or having the mindset of being in poverty my parents had a huge advantage in having life successes. It is my thought that children that fully believe they are in poverty or have been labeled by peers, adults, teachers, and/or schools to be in poverty end up suffering from stagnation related to poverty. These thoughts are the basis or foundation of my research.

So far this simulation process has been not as overwhelming or boring as I thought it would be. I think I am enjoying this process more because I had the choice of what I wanted to research. I found the assignment of finding creditable resources challenging, but extremely useful. I needed to be able to see the differences in what are the expectations of a creditable resource versus a not so creditable one.

I am extremely passionate about childhood poverty and ending childhood hunger. One of the programs/organizations I am working with is the No Kid Hungry Movement, which is sponsored by the Food Network. September is the awareness month for ending childhood hunger and we support this movement/month by wearing and using the color orange. I am exstending an invitation to my colleagues to support the No Kid Hungry and Ending Childhood Hunger Movements by wearing orange and going to the Food Network website and seeing what each of us could do to end childhood hunger.