Research that Benefits Children and Families

As I read the topic for this weeks blog, I immediately thought to important research that has been/is being done regarding SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).  SIDS is really interesting and very, very scary because so little is known about the causes of SIDS, and yet researchers have been able to pinpoint a number of risk factors like smoking, co-sleeping, and loose bedding that increase the likelihood of an infant to die from SIDS (Healthychildren.org, 2015).  Such interventions have already saved countless lives of otherwise healthy infants that could have fallen victim to SIDS.  Through the efforts of researchers collecting demographic and lifestyle data from families across the nation, researchers are beginning to understand a little bit more about this devastating occurrence.

One of the things I find really interesting is the introduction of new home monitoring devices like the Owlet ankle monitor that are being marketed as a way for parents to have piece of mind as their children sleep.  As I began this assignment today, I was hoping to be able to find current research supporting the idea that these home monitoring devices have been able to save infant lives from SIDS.  The website and marketing videos for the Owlet and other products like it are full of testimonials from parents who say the device alerted them to an infant who would otherwise have died, but interestingly, it appears that the research has not yet corroborated the companies touting the success of these devices (Sifferlin, 2014).  In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that these devices might even increase the incidence of SIDS (Healthychildren.org, 2015).  I look forward to the opportunity as a young mom to continue to follow this research and research being done on SIDS.

Amy Thompson

Healthychildren.org (2015).  American Academy of Pediatrics.  Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/sleep/Pages/PreventingSIDS.aspx?gclid=Cj0KEQiA5oy1BRDQh6Wd572hsfkBEiQAfdTPCggwbMqABIIDYrIXN0TwBy96E_F0Yr7hcFPwHvj6Q7EaAlIw8P8HAQ

Sifferlin, A (2014).  Time Magazine.  Retrieved from http://time.com/3593482/sids-baby-monitors/.

My Personal Research Topic

For my research simulation for this course, I would like to take the opportunity to explore attachment in early childhood, and specifically, how secure or insecure attachments in early childhood influence the development of faith.  The three subtopics that I highlighted last week were to explore the factors in early childhood that lead to secure attachments and how parents and early childhood professionals can contribute to healthy secure attachment formation.  Next, to examine the evidence surrounding attachment in early childhood and whether attachments have been implicated to influence faith development.  And finally, to explore the long term impacts of insecure attachments in early childhood, and whether there is any indicated influence on faith capacity.

I chose these three subtopics because I find the concepts of attachment in early childhood to be extremely important in early childhood development and particularly relevant to us as early childhood professionals in the field.  Spending a year working in children's ministry, I saw so clearly how many different kinds of parents and families there are within a community and how differently this affects the children.  I hope to eventually return to a position in children’s ministry, where understanding and affecting faith development in young children will be my vocation.  I see an opportunity through the church to teach parents about their children’s physical, social, and emotional needs and impact the development of healthy attachments among young families in the church.  I also see the church being a possible source of intervention for children experiencing great stress at home through the provision of education and resources to families.  Lastly, as a children’s minister, it will be essential that I have a firm understanding of how children develop abstract thinking that enables faith and what impacts this process.  I believe that attachment plays a big role in this process and look forward to exploring this further.

Here is a photo of the birth-first grade ministry where I worked in Denver!  Love this place.

 I look forward to reading what each of you have chosen as your research topics.  I imagine that our research topics will all be vastly different and thus very interesting to share!