My Connections to Play

"It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game". (Anonymous)

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation". (Plato)

Play was essential to my early childhood years. Everyday my friends and I would get together for a neighborhood game of kickball or bike riding. We would always find some kind of game that would cause an argument because the boys would hate for the girls to beat them in any kind of sport. It was all in fun!  We would come out to play early in the afternoon and stay out all day. Playtime gave us time to communicate with each other, learn from each other, and explore with each other. We were encouraged to go outside and play. In the words of my mother, "Go burn some energy"!

Play today is definitely different than what it was years ago. Children now are into all kinds of electronics. They do not go out to burn any type of energy. Most children are into video games, computers, Ipads, and etc. It is very rare to see children in my neighborhood riding bikes. When I take my children out to play, the spend more time complaining about the heat. When I was young, the heat didn't matter. My friends and I just wanted to play and have fun!

As a result of having 3 siblings, there was always someone to play with or talk to.I do believe that the opportunity to play helped to shape my personality. In my adult life, I am using play to help my grandson to develop his personality. As a result of him being the only child, he has adult play mates!

Relationship Reflection

Family
As I reflect over the various relationships that have developed over the course of years, I realized that family is the most important relationship that I can build and nurture. Growing up in a large family, has had a significant bearing on how I raised my children. My parents have instilled the value of family within me; therefore I have reared my children in the same manner. My mother would always say, "Nothing is like family. They will be there for you through thick and thin". I can recall meeting at my grandmother's house every Sunday for Sunday dinner. There would be a house full of love and laughter. Often times there would be so much chatter and laughter, my grandfather would have to leave the room. Those were the good, old days where family valued each member of the family. We would begin each Sunday gathering with prayer; thanking God for the opportunity to get together one more time. Family is important to me because we can agree to disagree out of love. We can laugh together and cry together. Most importantly, we can worship together.

                      Daughter, Son, Grandson, Sister, Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, Brother! Nothing like family!

                                                   

                                                             Positive Relationships

 At the present time, I have positive relationships with my two children, grandson, mother, sister and brothers. I will begin by reflecting over my relationship that I have with my children. Not a day goes by where we don't communicate. We have respect for each other, even when we disagree. Respect is the contributing factor of that relationship. Most importantly we forgive and don't hold grudges. 

                                                                   My son and I

The relationship that I have with my only grandson is that of a nurturing relationship. He looks to me to take care of him when his mother is sick. He looks to me to guide him and mold him so that he will become a man of character. My nurturing spirit has my grandson attached to my hip :)!

                   My only grandchild! 

The relationship that I have with my mother and father holds dear to my heart. I visit them everyday to make sure things are in order and even though I may not understand their actions at times, I respect them and the decisions that they make. My mother and I talk on the phone on a daily basis. We can talk for hours about anything. I feel as though I am blessed to have such a loving relationship with my parents. Communication is what makes this relationship healthy.

                                                                    My Mom!

My siblings and I share that sibling bond! We may not talk everyday but there are not many days that don't go by where we don't talk. We have a bond so tight that we can almost smell when one of us are going through some tough times. We are there to share an encouraging word or to share some tough love. Being there for each other makes this bond unbreakable. 

                                      

My ability to communicate and respect each family as an individual and not as a group has helped me to develop positive relationships with the parents in which I have contact. I give parents the respect that I would like to receive. Being able to show empathy when needed has also helped me to become an effective educator. Within the early childhood field, individuals must be nurturing, loving, and will to accept each child as an individual and not as a group or class of children.