Education
Human Development and Family Science is all about helping people. The tagline for HDFS is "people helping people" and when you combine that with the College of Human Science tagline which is "science for the quality of life" you can get an idea of what HDFS is all about, using research and prevention along with science to help people. I plan to use what I learn in this major to help and improve the lives of kids and their families.
Professional Development and Ethics (HDFS 2030)
For the Professional Development Project, completed in the course Professional Development and
Ethics, we chose a place to volunteer for 20 hours over the semester. I chose to volunteer at the Auburn Early Learning Center, an accredited preschool that serves children from ages 2-5. We then wrote a reflection about our experience and what we learned. I learned a variety of things that will be beneficial to my future career goal as a Child Life Specialist. Since writing this paper and continuing by volunteering at the ELC, I have learned things like how to best interact with kids, how to solve conflict, forming relationships with kids, and more. Knowing how to interact with kids in a way that will best benefit them developmentally as well as knowing how to foster trust and build relationships are two things that I will take with me in the future as a Child Life Specialist.
Effective Guidance and Interaction with Young Children (HDFS 3460)
In the course, Effective Guidance and Interaction with Young Children, we formed our Image Statement. This Image Statement includes my view of the child including unique aspects and traits that I believe children possess. As well as discussing how this will be reflected in my future practice and interactions with children as a Child Life Specialist.
Hospitalized Children and Their Families (HDFS 4500)
In the course, Hospitalized Children and Their Families we developed our own Personal Child Life Philosophy. The Child Life Philosophy discusses what child life means to me, what child life means in practice to me and how it applies to my future career.
Learning Experiences for Young Children (HDFS 3470)
In the course Learning Experiences for Young Children we had to plan six different activities in six different content areas (snack and group time were required) for the children at the Early Learning Center. For each activity, we had to make the lesson plan for the activity and make sure all the materials are at the ELC after the activity has been implemented we met with the lab student coordinator to go over what we did good, what we could improve on, and any other thoughts. I included my lesson plan for making snack with the kids.