Karen McLaughlin

Background

About Karen McLaughlin

My current interests in the field are in the area of public policy, and specifically what we should be preparing our new college graduates for when they enter the field. I enjoy being a front line worker and feel that my interests in current research in the field strengthen my practice but I also feel that my ongoing practical experience strengthens the quality of the research I engage in. As a fully participating member of an early learning team in the full day kindergarten program I mentor and evaluate college students in their practicums. It has helped me become aware of gaps in public policy, that are in both the public school and the early childhood field, and how changes need to be made in the curriculums of both the ECE college students and of the children in the programs. These gaps have created costly problems in the delivery and efficacy of public health and social services. One small example would be the issue of food quality, food security and community empowerment over the production, marketing and delivery of food. The education of young children needs to include a holistic approach, encompassing healthy eating and food production into every aspect of the curriculum, so that it reverberates to parents, families, communities and organzations. I wrote an article in "Interaction"(The quarterly publication of the Canadian Child Care Federation)i in 2010 where these issues are elaborated on.