1a: Learning about the 30 million word gap was an eye opening experience.  It changed the way I approached my therapy and it changed the way I approached my preschool internship.  I now track conversational turns as part of my daily practice and I design activities specifically to stimulate those turns in order to help children grow and develop their language and vocabulary.  During my preschool internship I witnessed the SES differences in language development first hand, with many of the children showing clear language delays compared to others, with the primary difference between them being SES.

1b: The research on epigenetics, as well as the importance of responsive adult relationships has transformed my practice and my personal perspective.  I remember seeing an image of an exploded neural connection during one of the videos we watched, demonstrating the consequence of toxic stress on early brain development.  That image has been burned into my brain, and since I work daily with kids who have, or continue to experience conditions of persistent fear and anxiety, I appreciate more than ever the need for me to position myself as a protective factor in their lives, as well as to advocate for a change in conditions in whatever way I can.

1c: These readings continue along the same lines, accentuating the need for increasing the availability of high quality childcare to all families, and especially those of low-income, where SES differences in language development are pronounced and conditions of persistent fear and anxiety are constantly present.  Children and families need as many supports as possible in order to overcome the challenges of daily life, while building foundational skills through responsive relationships.  Children who have experienced trauma are especially vulnerable, as are adults caught up in abusive relationships.  There needs to be expansive networks of support that reach all children and parents in need of help.  Over the last year, I have worked with a child with a history of trauma and have seen first hand the impact of early toxic stress on development and learning.  Even with a strong support network now, this child is always one traumatic event away from months of regression or stagnation in his learning and development.  I work everyday to be a supportive, protective factor for the children I work with and I also work to create more supportive opportunities within the community.

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