My Connections to Play

Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.

Diane Ackerman
Contemporary American author

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

Fred Rogers
American television personality
1928–2003

 I remember wanting to do nothing more than see the world (my neighborhood) on my bike.

 This was the greatest toy ever! my neighbors and I would play in the sand box for hours with the G.I. Joes, making forts, and sand pits, loved being a tom boy.

 The best place to play and get dirty at the same time!

When I was younger my grandparents always encouraged me playing as I wanted to. I know that when I came home from school there was homework first or when I was real young a small lesson or simple talk about letters or numbers things of that nature, then it was time to change into play clothes, and I was off. The type of play that was encouraged was whatever I wanted, if I wanted to ride a bike I did, If I wanted to play Barbies I did, I was never limited as to what type of play. I was brought up to believe that if a boy could do it so could I, and to this day I still believe that.

I notice with the children I see in the daycare I work at and with the children in my neighborhood, play is very different. I see a lot of violence with the boys, when they do come outside. I know I loved X Men when I was younger but we always played with a story line in our heads, today all I see is "I have a gun and I'm going to kill you". Another thing that I notice is the lack of wanting to play outside. So many kids I know would rather be in the house in front of the TV playing video games. One of friends children was told to go play outside, so he did. When we walked outside 20 min. later he was playing outside...on his DS. That bothers me to no end. Be active, ride a bike, dig a hole, something other than exercising yoiur thumbs.

My life has always revolved around play. I am constantly reminded that I am thirty going on four. I have no problem with this. Life is too short to be serious all the time. What kind of life would it be if we never cracked a smile or told a silly joke or laughed when we saw a child do something silly? I would be bored to tears. Play was always a part of life for me and I am planing on keeping it that way.

Quotes from:

The strong. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes

Relationships

relationships are important to anyone, they are important to me because they allow me to have a place to laugh, cry, "vent", they are people we can talk to.
My family relationships are importnat because they are my best link to my past and to the good memories in my childhood. My brother Stephen I care deeply for because I helped raise him. He was injured when he was very young and I took care of him and helped him through school. My parents are the reason I am here. My grandparents are THE MOST IMPORTANT thing in my life. They are the reason I am who I am today.

Positive realtionships:

Co-workers: Mary B., Mary P., Jason, Courtney, April, Ranaldo, Tony H., Darrel, Mercedes, Kathie. These people are the people I can rely on at work and the people who keep me sane throughout the day.

Friends: Carrie, Kathie, Danae, Joyce, Susan, Brandy, these are the people that I can have fun with and call whenever I am bored.

Close friends: Vanessa, Bee, Kat, these are the people that I can rely on for ANYTHING! they are alway there at the drop of a dime.

Kat

Family: Mom, Dad, Stephen, Grandma, Grandpa these are the people who will always be with me no matter where I am.

Grandma and Grandpa

    Mom and Dad

And Steven...He is my life line, my life long partener, the one who encourages me and pushes me to become a better person! His relationship is a partenership and a life long one!

Over time i have learned that friends may come and go but a single few may hold on. True relationships are ones that can give and take and stay strong.

The best characteristics in my relationships are with Steven and my Grandparents. There is love that holds strong and motivation that sometimes cuts deep, but it is always there to help.

i think by understanding how your own relationships formed can help you in beginning new ones. By knowing what makes you strong and what makes your relationships strong you can build new relatinships with families in your center. Families are the strongest link in a child care center. They are the reason we exist and the reason we need to stay positive and build new positive relationships. The biggest part og starting a new relationship is being an active listener. If you can listen and truly hear what the other person is saying then you can become a better person yourself. You will be able to help the family better and better help the center by being able to understand what the needs of the familes are.