My Connections to Play

These quotes speak of my childhood. As a child, play was my life. It was what I did all day. It was fun and I enjoyed doing it. My sister and I are very close in age. There are 2 years between us. We were always playing with each other, making up games, playing board games, running around, and pretending. Our job was to play.

Our parents encouraged play every day. I remember being outside for hours on end. Both our mom and dad played with us. They encouraged us to use our imagination. They provided us places inside and outside of the house to play. Our front yard was the place to play. All our cousins would always play in our yard since we all lived on the same street. We didn’t need much to have fun.
We would turn our yard into many different kinds of adventures-  doctor’s office, school, ice cream shop, stores, or a race track to name a few. My sister and I would bring our cabbage patch dolls to join in the fun. Our dolls were our children, and students. We were the parents and the teachers or  whatever we thought of at that moment.

A couple of the toys that come to mind when I was a child that I played with all the time were Barbie's and cabbage patch dolls. I would play with these all day.

Today’s play is much different than my own that I experience. I see less children playing outside. I see and hear more of children playing video games, watching television, or using some other electronic devices. Many of these electronic devices are learning centered. I see fewer children having the freedom to just play and enjoy.

　
　
               My Relationships

　

　
　
　
　
　

This week as we reflect on relationships and their importance we were asked to reflect on our personal relationships. Relationships are important to me because they make life fun!!! In the pictures I uploaded are the two most important relationships in my life: my heart, my soul, and my motivation. My fiance' is my best friend and soul mate for life. I wish my mom was still here to share as we had the best relationship before her death in 2008.

My Fiance makes me laugh, smile,and full of love!!!! My daughter is my heart! She inspires me and challenges me in ways that no one else or thing can. Finally, my love for Jesus and my relationship with him is my purpose in life. These are just a few of the relationships that I maintain that makes my life even on its worst day, better. These relationships define who I am.

These relationships require maintenance and development. For example, my fiance' and I have been together for 8 years. We got together at a very young and have endured a lot together. It took time and real love to grow to the place we are in now. Our relationship is positive because we love each other, we care about each other, and we want each other to be happy. We both try to do the right thing , we try to fix mistakes, and we try to forgive.

In regards to the relationship with my daughter I have to approach that relationship in a totally different manner. I try to encourage her , show her , teach her , and be there for her. In return my daughter gives me back honesty, unconditional love, and perspective. I try to make sure our relationship is positive because I know the importance of a mother’s love but I also know I am not perfect.

Over time I have learned that you have to find out what is necessary to maintain a relationship based on the individual needs. For example, different people require different things and you have to be open and understanding to that. In other words, treat people how you want to be treated, based on their individual needs. It takes work and a one sided friend is not a friend. What can turn a good relationship into a partnership is the ups and downs of the relationship. For example, when you have a relationship where you can be yourself, where respect is given and received, as well as when you have a good chemistry you have the makings of a great partnerships.


I can take my experiences in my past relationships and use them in building positive relationships with my staff, coworkers, parents and students. I think the same characteristics that it takes to cultivate a relationship in my personal life will work to develop relationships in my career. I also believe when working in early childhood education it is even more important to cultivate family like relationships because you are a big extended family.

Young children that attend early childhood programs every day see their teachers and school as their family and I want them to have positive family relationships. I have even noticed over the years that my parents can be just as needy as my students when it comes to needing friends and positive relationships. I believe in our society now due to facebook, cellphones, and email we are a little disconnected from actual face to face contact. I welcome the relationships and friendships because that is beginning of how trust can be developed and it is very important for people to trust you when you are dealing with their children. I believe a key attribute of a successful early childhood professional is their ability to foster and cultivate positive relationships.