Research that Benefits Children and Families---Uplifting Stories

When my son was in the third grade he was involved in a study at his school for overweight children. At first I did not want him to participate because I did not want him singled out, where he would be laughed at by his peers. He was already having behavior problems and I did not want anything to bring more attention to him. I was informed that the study would be away form the school and know one would know that he was participating. I signed the permission slip and both my son and I had to participate in the study. I had to record his entire food intake for a year and my son had to try new foods and do psychical activities such as playing outdoor and participating in organizes play such as T-ball, basketball, and soccer. Know one knew my son was in the study but the school counselor. At the end of the study my son had lost weight and started eating foods he never liked before. There was minimal risk to this study not one child was ever in danger.

I do believe that there are studies that children are put at high/risk when dealing with saving lives of others. This is very hard for the parents who have to give to permission for their children to be genie- pigs for others. Again I know how this feels; I had a daughter who only lived for 21/2 months after she passed away I was asked if they could study her to help save other babies. Even though she had passed away I did not want them to cut her up for a study. I prayed on it and I did give permission, this was very hard for me, but I though she may help another baby. Even though she had passed away it was still very hard for me so I know it hard for parents who have living children that are being put through studies. It is very hard to not want to save another child.

My Personal Research Journey

I chose Social-emotional development in Early Childhood Education. The reason I chose Social-emotional Development in Early Childhood is because I have a son who is ADHD. I saw the signs when he was in daycare I tried to address the problem but I had problems with his teachers agreeing and his pediatrician they all said that let’s give it more time. I notice that my son was a lot more active then most children his age. I have been in this business for a long time I have seen a lot of children who I thought were ADHD and they all were or they had some other kind of Social-emotional disorder. I am very concern about the children but most of all about the parents who have children who have some kind of social-emotional disorder. At one time I absolutely did not like my son and wanted to give him up because it was so hard to live with him. I thought I was going to hurt him because I did not know how to handle him and his behavior. Since then I have spoken to many parents who have children with Social-emotional disorders and they are having the same problems I had. I do not want another parent to dislike there child and I do not want a child feel not wanted because they could not control their behavior.  I am open to ideas, links, or resource suggestions that will help me find away to address this issue.