My Connections to Play

My connections to Play

It is a happy talent to know how to play.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
American writer
1803–1882 (http://www.museumofplay.org/education/education-and-play-resources/play-quotes)

Almost all creativity involves purposeful play.

Abraham Maslow
American psychologist
1908–1970 (http://www.museumofplay.org/education/education-and-play-resources/play-quotes)

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.

Fred Rogers
American television personality
1928–2003(http://www.museumofplay.org/education/education-and-play-resources/play-quotes)

My Connections to Play 

When I was younger my family didn’t really promote play, although we played often. I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s house. Most of the time she was showing my cousins and me how to work in the garden and cook. We did a lot of outside play which was running, jumping, and riding bikes. No one ever voiced how playing was healthy for our overall development. I think they were happy that we played so that we could tire ourselves out, and go to sleep when it was time to go in the house. I don’t think the importance of play was stressed within my family when I was growing up because my family was busy trying to take care of us. However play was stressed a school, I remember my teachers saying play helped us to burn calories so we didn’t become over weight. There was never a direct correlation between play and healthy development mentioned to us. My parents provided me with lots of toys as a child, however I never really had an imagination honestly I was into what it was like to be an adult. At school when I was in pre-k through kindergarten there was plenty opportunities for play. We had various centers to go through daily and spent most of the day in those centers learning different skills.

Today play is much more complex and backed up by research and studies. There are facts proven by professionals on how play is very important to the healthy development of children. The importance of play is stressed to educators so they can use it to teach children based on their interest.  There have been studies on the different types of play and how each of them have a significance in regard to healthy child development. The goals and standards of early childhood are somewhat based on the importance of play. Teachers now are taught how it is ok to guide play by setting up different activities in centers. I actually hope that the importance of play keeps being encouraged until the end of time. So that children can continue having fun while learning and gaining skills that they will need through their life. Even though I am an early educator I have to admit I am still not a huge fan of playing, like I mentioned earlier this stemmed from my childhood. However when a child approached me in and wants to engage in play I am right there and ready to make their wildest dream come true and bring everything from their imagination to life. One of my favorite center is dramatic play every day my students and I bring something new alive in the classroom. My imagination might not be big like others, but I do know that through imagination anything is possible, imagination to me is sometimes like music it’s an universal language that we all understand.

Reference

http://www.museumofplay.org/education/education-and-play-resources/play-quotes

Relationship Reflection

Relationship Reflection

The blog assignments have been my favorite assignments since I started classes. When I saw what we had to do for this assignment I immediately began to think about all the relationships that I have had in my life. I even began to analyze a few of my friendships, which stirred up a lot of emotions. In life we come in contact with a lot of people for many different reasons. Some of those people are made to stay in our life a lifetime and other are only meant to stay in our lives for a season. I feel that there is a lesson that comes out of every relationship that we have in life whether it be with a person or a pet.

Relationships are important to me because they give me a sense of security and belonging. They make me feel like somebody actually understands me and accepts me in spite of my flaws and other imperfections. Relationships are also important to me because they help me to see things from just my point of view, which is something that I am still currently on. Relationships somewhat better me as a person because I learn so much from other people. Relationships make me feel as if I have support team that believes in me and is always there to pick me up when I am down. No one wants to be alone even if they say it, that’s just human nature we were meant to interact and have relationships with one another.

My mom is my, everything and she means the world to me and more. I value our relationship and have the upmost respect for it. She tells me when I am wrong and she tells me when I am right, and I love that about her. She is always there when I need her and has tried her best to prepare for the time in life when we might not be together. I can talk to her about anything I value her opinion even if I disagree with it. Like other relationships in my life we have had our ups and downs but our love and mother daughter bond has helped us to conquer all. I know a lot of people who don’t even speak to their moms and it is so foreign to me because I could never imagine not having a relationship with my mom. Because when the smoke clears and everything is said and done I know my mom is always going to be the one that is right there beside me supporting me in everything that I do.

My daughter is the love of my, apple of my eye. Our relationship is very special to me also, if only she knew the influence that she has on me. Everything I do is so she has better life than I did and a better chance at succeeding in life. My daughter is only six but she is just as supportive of me as I am to her. I make sure that I am open with her to a certain level, so that she can see me for who I am and others to. I make sure our relationship is positive so that when gets older she doesn’t go seeking love in all the right places. I constantly tell her how wonderful she is and how she can do anything that she puts her mind to. She knows if she doesn’t have anyone she has “Mommy”.

I spend the majority of time at work like most working people. I feel that it is very important to not only be professional in the work place, but to build professional relationship as well. In early head start there are no teacher assistance there are all teachers. My co-teacher is simply amazing, her name is Marlene. We have been working together for five years now and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Our relationship means the world to me, she is always so positive. There are some days that I come in and I am just feeling down. She knows exactly what to say to give me that boost I need to carry on with my day. She’s very gifted when it comes to art and decorating. You should see our classroom, it is beautiful thanks to her. Out of the five years we have been working together I can count on my hand how many times we have had a disagreement and even then it was nothing major. I am so thankful for the patience that she has with me because I can be a little head strong at times. I am so blessed to have this work-friendship with her because sometimes it’s hard to deal with the same people every day.  She is truly heaven sent!

My cousin Carla is simply an angel who choose to give up her wings and come to live on earth. Our relationship began when I was a little girl. She is older than me but always took up time with me, even though she had her own children. I value our relationship because like my mom she doesn’t mind telling me when I am wrong and what I need to do to fix things. She is always right there when I need her and also helps me with my daughter, who simply adores her. I don’t think she has a negative bone in her body, she is always so positive, loving, and understanding. She helps me to be more in tune to my spiritual side, prayer is her specialty. Not only is she my cousin but she is one of my best friends and has always been, I couldn’t be any luckier. She helps me to think with reason in my darkest hour, and encourages me to take everything I do to the next level and not to worry about what anyone thinks or says. I am grateful to have her in my life.

 

The biggest challenge that I have ran into when over my years of maintaining relationships is communication. A lot of times the lines of communication break down and there is either no communication at all or things that are being said seem to get misinterpreted. Often times when this happens one or both parties shut down, which doesn’t help things at all. You have to keep the lines of communication open so you can talk things out and see what’s going on with each other. All of the characteristics that I named about the relationships that I have are special characteristics in my opinion, they are all special to my love and I. They are definitely partnerships because we both learn from one another and bring something to the relationship.

My ability to maintain relationships will help me as an early childhood professional, by giving me the tools to learn to have and maintain professional relationships. When working in the education there will always be times when it will be good to have friends in other professionals that can help you in your time of need. Whether it be a relationship with someone in the community that parents can be referred to so they can receive assistance, or another professional in education. Who can come maybe do workshops for parents or staff development trainings. My ability to maintain relationships will also help me as an early childhood professional by enabling me to have healthy relationships with my parents and students, even the ones that are difficult. I am great for all the many lesson that my relationships have taught me and I am still learning. t be ur time of need. wme of need.vWheere will always be times when it will be good to have friends in other profession