My Connections to Play

"Some days are simply meant for playing." -Mary Anne Radmacher 

"Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity." -Unknown

These two quotes summarize what play represented for me in childhood because I was always playing, whether it was inside or outside. 

Playdoh, Cabbage Patch baby dolls, and Barbie dolls were some of my favorite play items when I was younger. I would make all sorts of things with the Playdoh, like pizzas, snowmen, and other different shapes. I would play mommy with my Cabbage Patch baby dolls. I did all sorts of different things with my Barbie dolls- took them in the pool and bathtub, drove them around in their Barbie car, and played school. 

People supported play when I was younger by encouraging me to play and playing with me. I was always playing with toys inside or playing outside with my friends or even just by myself. Playing gave me a chance to use my imagination and have fun. 

I feel that play today is different from when I was younger. Kids do not seem to be outside playing as much. Instead, they are on playing on computers and tablets, playing video games, or watching TV. While we had these things when I was younger, we were not attached to them. We still played outside, had games of Red Rover, rode our bikes, and played with our toys. Technology has become a big part of children's environments and play seems less important. My hope is that children will find the joy in playing again, be encouraged to play more outside, and be more active because play is so important to development. 

The role of play throughout my life and childhood let me use my imagination and socialize with my friends. Play also helped me develop social skills and learn to get along with others, which are important throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. 

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are special bonds that are important to me. Relationships have helped me get through good times such as the births of my children, and bad times such as miscarriages and my dad's cancer scare. When I think of relationships, I think of support, love, and laughter. Relationships are about being there for one another through the ups and downs and accepting one another's differences. 

I have many positive relationships in my life. One positive relationship is with my dad. He has always supported me. We text each other just about every day whether it be a simple I love you or a meme we think is funny. Even though we live four hours away from each other, I know if I need anything, I can call him. 

Another positive relationship is with my husband. We just celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary a couple week ago. My husband and I have been through a lot in our relationship. We have four beautiful children, and we also have four angel babies that were lost due to miscarriages. Even though I work during the day, and he works at night, we always make sure to spend time together and talk to each other. 

I also have a positive relationship with my children. Anthony is 10 years old, Gianna is 7 years old, Dominic is 3 years old, and Mia is 10 months old. We watch movies together, go for walks, color, and play outside. Every Friday is pizza night, just like when I was growing up, and every Saturday we go out to lunch. I also like to take the kids out individually for some one-on-one time, just to spend some quality time together. I think they really enjoy this too because they get me all to themself. 

A final positive relationship I have is with many of my coworkers. We talk about our personal lives- the positives and the negatives. We help each other during the school day and after school as well. We support one another whether it be by sharing resources, offering advice, or making each other laugh. I work with a great group of people, and I am thankful for that. 

Developing and maintaining relationships can be challenging at times. Sometimes when you get into a disagreement or do not see eye to eye on something, that can be difficult and may put a bit of a strain on the relationship. Being open and honest is a good way to maintain relationships. 

Being on the same page and working as a team make these relationships partnerships. Communication is another characteristic that makes these relationships partnerships. Communication is key in maintaining healthy, positive relationships. 

My experiences with relationships and partnerships impact my work as an effective early childhood professional because I am an open and accepting person. I am also easy going and adaptable, which are positive characteristics when working with many families and children. 

Week 8 Assignment: When I Think of Child Development

 A few quotes capture the essence of how I think about child development. 

"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn." --Ignacio Estrada

"Every child is gifted. They just unwrap their packages at different times." 

"Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write, and count. Childhood is a small window of time to learn and develop at the pace which is right for each individual child." 

*I chose these three quotes because every child is different. Children learn in different ways, have different needs, and have different abilities. Children develop and grow at different rates. We need to be patient, differentiate our instruction, and meet children where they are in order to get them to where they need to be.