Running head: FINAL CRITICAL REFLECTIVE PAPER

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Final Critical Reflective Paper

Erika Maldonado
Pacific Oaks

Author Note:
This Individual Critical Reflective Paper is being submitted on Sunday 03/15/2015, for
Krisna Escobars HD 303 The Earliest Years course.

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Final Critical Reflective Paper

My role as a researcher of infants cultural cues and unique individual rhythms is very
important as I work closely with infants and their families. Knowing that infants rely on adult
secure interaction to survive and form bonds that benefit their future relationships with others is
extremely significant. I am aware that failure to thrive depends on infant relationships which can
be influenced by culture and parental norms. It basically comes down to the clear fact that
experiences, even as early as infancy, impact relationships. The required readings for this course
aided me with knowledge as to the importance of reading infants cues. The simple act of giving
an infant eye contact, talking, smiling and meeting their basic needs is beneficial to their positive
development. As stated in The Ideal Baby: A Look at the Intersection of Temperament and
Culture article by Vivian J. Carlson, Xin Feng and Robin L. Harwood;
Looking at the intersection of culture and temperament informs our understanding of how
shared customs, values, and beliefs about development affect daily parent-child and social
interactions. In particular, the concept of goodness of fit can be applied to the interaction
among temperament, cultural values and expectations (Zero to Three, March 2004, p. 27).
Having gone through this assignment in depth, and with the help of my fellow
classmates, I was better able to understand the importance of different communication styles and
comprehend the importance of early interpersonal interactions on infant development. With this
said, it is beneficial to have cultural awareness and understanding of how others raise or up bring
a child. Different cultures have different parenting styles that may get in the way of ones own
philosophy or comfort. We do not necessarily need to agree, participate or condone such
practices yet respect their beliefs and values. This is why my group and I made sure to include
one branch of our policy to have appropriate communication with parents that foster and support
parent culture and comfort including an open door policy. We encourage questions, feedback and
practice confidentiality.

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The question my team members and I were trying to answer through extensive research
of books, online resources, newspapers, articles, observations and interviews of mothers who
experienced a caesarian birth, was if having a caesarian section birth experience impacted their
ability to attach to their infant after birth. The most important component to our research I
believe was the in-person interviews. My group was able to hear firsthand experiences and
testimonials of what mothers went through during a C-section type of birth which reinforced our
group philosophy. Interview after interview, mothers confirmed that there was little to no
bonding with their infant after birth due to the fact that their infants were separated for medical
procedures and purposes which did cause a delay in attachment between mother and child.
Knowing this important fact, my team and I were better able to develop an infant development
program that catered to such families suffering with attachment issues. I was able to assist my
team with important research to support and develop an ideal infant center as much as they
brought important research findings.
We also gathered class discussion notes and included the importance of healthy brain
development in our infant centers policy. We took into consideration the hierarchy of the brain,
hindbrain (survival thinker), midbrain (emotional thinker) and forebrain (rational thinker) when
developing the curriculum for our infant center to help each child master each developmental
stage while embracing each childs uniqueness. My group believed that each infant should have
individual curriculum and extensive observations to better understand the rhythm, of the infant.
With personal experience from my group, one of the members suggested we provide Doulas as
part of our staff team in order to provide support to infants and their mothers.
Again, as stated previously, we are aware that culture, family and community shape
temperament and attachment styles. As such we will cater to individual needs, infants, families

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and their caregivers. Our staff will be required to have prior experience working with
multicultural families to enrich our center and program with meaningful and positive services.
Helen Altman Klein from Wright State University said it best in the article titled Temperament
and Childhood Group Care Adjustment: A Cross-Cultural Comparison Cross-cultural
understanding may allow us to increase our sensitivity to the needs of individual children. Those
who work with young children can be more effective when they are aware of their own cultural
values whom they serve (Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 6, 211-224. 1991. p. 222).
The role of attachment in supporting healthy cultural identity across the lifespan is vital
when dealing and or nurturing to infants healthy development. Attachment defined by Amy C.
Baker and Lynn A. Manfredi/Petitt in their article Relationships, the Heart of Quality Care Is a
strong emotional bond that grows between a child and an adult who is part of the childs
everyday life (p.8). Baker and Manfredi/Petitt go on to saying The caregiver-child relationship
is our starting point, and its development is our primary goal. But the matrix of adult
relationships- parents-caregivers, caregivers-caregivers, caregivers-directors- is vital to quality
care as well (p.10). Early attachment is crucial in a childs development as negative experiences
can interfere with such process. Infants need a secure attachment with all those he/she encounters
on a regular basis. When an infant does not form a secure attachment to caregivers he/she may
become ambivalent, avoidant and disorganized which will greatly affect adulthood. Attachment
lays a foundation for how a child comes to approach the world, and healthy attachment in early
years provides a secure base from which children can learn about themselves and others
(Siegel, D., & Hartzell, M. 2003. p. 102 ).
Observing infants and their interactions with adults around them has given me a clear
view from a different perspective. It is useful to be an observer from afar when one is not in

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direct contact or having to cater to responsibilities in a classroom truly gives one a better view of
infants and their surroundings. My ability to critically analyze the role and importance of early
experiences interpersonal adult-child relationships was facilitated through meaningful
observation. I was better able to see what worked in a classroom setting as well as observe things
that could be rearranged or improved to benefit infants in our care as well as the families we
serve. With this said, I believe that observation is fundamental in an infant care center. Through
observations Directors along with staff members can work as a team to better assist infants
healthy development through their environment and interactions.
My collaborating role with this assignment was an active one. I shared my experience,
both professionally and personal, beliefs, values, opinions, thoughts and research with my group.
I felt that Erin and Mickey did the same as well. I enjoyed listening to my groups input as it
helped me learn more on infant attachment. My group worked well with one another and always
worked collaboratively to meet deadlines and requirements. The work load was evenly
distributed amongst each member and we all did our part to put our final project together. We
had great communication at all times; we used different means when convenient to our
schedules. We were in constant contact with each other whether via email, text, call or group
meetings. I feel this was a positive experience and look forward to working with both Erin and
Mickey in future projects here at Pacific Oaks or elsewhere.
The link between my personal experience and theory is fairly relevant. Looking back at
my childhood and up bringing I can safely say that I grew up in a well-balanced, nurturing
environment full of love and meaningful adult interactions. I had a healthy development as an
infant, child, teenager, and adult which lead me to have good relationships with those around me.
My mother was a teen when she had me and my birth was normal through a vaginal birth in a

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hospital setting. I was a breastfed child and was raised closely by my mother who did not work
for the first three years of my life. I had a very secure and healthy attachment with my mother
who was my primary caregiver, my father (even though he worked long hours away from home),
my maternal grandmother (who helped my mother greatly) and my aunt (my mothers older
sister). Since my mother was a teen parent she had plenty of family support and help raising me.
Till this day I have a close bond to those family members who assisted my mother during my
early years. Even when my family and I made a drastic move in our lives by migrating to
America from Mexico my family kept a close relationship with one another. I can confidently
say that my parents attachment with me helped me have good resilience to change which allowed
me to accept and adapt to a new culture and environment.
According to theories on attachment theories and styles, I grew up with positive, loved
and secure styles. My environment was secure, my surroundings were positive, my schedule was
predictable and I always had focused attention by a caring adult. Both of my parents always
encouraged me to try new things as well as encouraged me to finish and accomplish tasks.
Participating in this project has supported connections amongst attachment concepts in my life.
Class lectures made me reflect upon my childhood and realize many things that were not as
obvious before taking this course. I can appreciate the attachments I have more so than before. I
can say that I am lucky to have such a positive outcome and can work hard to make sure my son
does too.
I must say that I was enlightened by this project on infant attachment through birthing. I
have an Associate in Arts Degree in child Development and fourteen years experience working
with infants and young children yet never stopped to think of the attachment delays a child may
have due to the kind of birth they experienced. I have learned meaningful theories of attachment

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styles and outcomes that will help me better service infants. I can make good use of my learnings
to ensure infants in my care develop secure and positive attachment with me while in my care. I
can also help facilitate those primary caregivers who may be having a hard time attaching to their
child for whatever reason that may be.
In conclusion, having participated in this project I feel I have become a better observer
and gained useful tools that I can easily utilize in my line of work directly with children and their
families. I better understand the needs of infants to have secure attachments with their caregivers
and healthy relationships with those around on a regular basis. I have gained awareness of all
infants needs in order to have a healthy development that will help them have good relationships
and bonds later in life. When working with children I will make sure that I ensure safety,
promote health, provide comfort, and make materials and environment convenient and child size
to fit the needs of infants. The environment I offer the infants in my care shall be flexible,
encourage movement and foster choices. I want infants in my care to feel safe while with me in
order to be able to explore and learn.

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References

Baker, A., & Petitt, L. (2004). Relationships, the heart of quality care: Creating community
among adults in early care settings. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of
Young Children.
Carlson, V., Feng, X., & Hardwood, R. (2004, March 1). The "Ideal Baby": A Look at the
Intersection of Temperament and Culture. Zero to Three, 22-28.
Klein, H. (n.d.). Temperament and childhood group care adjustment: A cross-cultural
comparison. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 211-224.
Siegel, D., & Hartzell, M. (2003). Parenting from the inside out: How a deeper selfunderstanding can help you raise children who thrive. New York: J.P. Tarcher/Putnam.