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Assignment: Action Plan 2: Supporting Young Children Through a Family LossThis week, you have been learning about the vital role of the family in the socialization of children. The course text highlighted many changes in the composition and functioning of families over time, notably the influence of divorce, single parenting, and step-parenting. This week, for your second Action Plan, you will focus on ways to support children through an event that was not covered in your text but one that, as an early childhood professional, you may face while working with young children and their families: the death of a close family member. You may already be aware that children respond to and have a different understanding of death than adults. Use the knowledge of child development that you have gained so far, your perception of family ecology from the readings this week, and the specific articles provided below in developing your Action Plan.Action Plan Professional Scenario: Imagine you are working in an early childhood setting that cares for and teaches children ages 0–5. Two families in your program share a grandmother who has been an active and loving caregiver for their children—an infant, a toddler, and a preschooler. The grandmother has recently passed away and you want to support these families by helping them understand how infants, toddlers, and preschoolers grieve in order to help the children with this loss.Before you create your Action Plan, consider:What does an early childhood professional need to know in order to understand the situation and needs of these children and families?What ideas and advice from experts may be useful in assisting children and families?What can early childhood professionals do to help, either directly, by suggesting activities and advice, or by referring the family to other community resources and professionals?As you prepare this Action Plan, keep the focus on gathering and identifying the knowledge and ideas that you can best share with parents and other key adults. Remember that working directly with children as a grief counselor is an area of expertise that you may choose to pursue. However, as an early childhood professional, you are most qualified to help young children in this area by supporting the significant adults in their lives and remaining consistent, sensitive, and caring.Follow these steps to create your Action Plan:1. What You Need to Know: Learning About How Children at Different Ages Respond to DeathNaturally, children respond to situations in their own ways often based on where they are developmentally; sometimes based on temperament. Keep this uniqueness in mind as you read the following articles on children and grief. Although there is some overlap, you will find that all three help to clarify how young children of different ages respond to death. As you read, take notes on important developmental information and ideas that you think are important to share with parents/family members:Young Children and Grief (PDF)Magical Thinking: Children May Blame Themselves for a Parents Illness and Death (PDF)2. Ideas and Advice: Checking ResourcesThink concretely about how best to help the parents/family members of an infant, a toddler, and a preschooler. Check your notes from reading the articles above. As needed, skim the articles again for key concepts about how young children perceive death and specific ways to support each age to share with parents/family members. Access these articles below as additional resources:Infant and Toddler Grief (PDF)Facts for Families: Children and Grief3. Taking Action: Supporting the Whole Family in Responding to LossWith knowledge and ideas in hand, youre ready to suggest ways to support young children in dealing with a family loss. Use the information and advice from the articles to make your plan. Think of it as preparing a script for meeting with the parents or other significant family adults. Include the following in your plan:Part I: Supporting an InfantExplain in your own words: Developmental information about what an infant may feel or understand about a family deathPossible ways that an infant may respond to a family deathSpecific advice from experts on how to help an infant through a family lossPart II: Supporting a ToddlerExplain in your own words: Developmental information about what a toddler may feel, believe, or understand about a family deathPossible ways that a toddler may respond to a family deathSpecific advice from experts on how to help a toddler through a family lossPart III: Supporting a PreschoolerExplain in your own words: Developmental information about what a preschooler may feel, believe, or understand about a family deathPossible ways that a preschooler may respond to a family deathThree specific ideas or activities the family can do at home to help a preschooler through a family lossAs you write your plan, remember the following:Your goal is to help parents/family members understand how infants, toddlers, and preschoolers may respond to the family loss.Parents/family members are most likely grieving, too. Consider their feelings in explaining their childrens needs.Choose language that you would feel comfortable using—language that is respectful and sensitive—to create a model presentation for talking with adult family members.Assignment length: 2–3 pagesBy Day 7Of this week, submit this assignment.Submission and Grading InformationTo submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK2Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.Click the Week 2 Assignment 2 Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.Click the Week 2 Assignment 2 link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK2Assgn2+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.Grading CriteriaTo access your rubric:Week 2 Assignment 2 RubricCheck Your Assignment Draft for AuthenticityTo check your Assignment draft for authenticity:Submit your Week 2 Assignment 2 draft and review the originality report.Submit Your Assignment by Day 7To submit your Assignment:Week 2 Assignment 2