My Connections To Play

"Play is the beginning of knowledge."
                                        Anonymous

"Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity."
                                                                          Kay Redfield Jamison (Professor of Psychiatry)

                                                                                    
Each summer, my friends who were the same age as me would come to my house and ask if I could have some company. Most of the time, my mom or dad would allow them to watch movies with me in the living room. About 5 of my friends and I would play "House." We used the sofa pillows to build this house. We would pile up in the play house and pretend that there was a wolf outside, waiting to eat us for dinner. My mother thought it was so amusing. She would fix ice cream and cup cakes for all of us to make the "pretend play" even more exciting. My favorite form of play was sociodramatic play. My friends and I would play "Mother and Father." Someone would always play mother, father, sister, brother, and dog. We used grass for the food. We used mud to make the cakes and pies. We also used dirty water for chocolate milk. My mom and dad would support me by allowing me to play outside for several hours during the summer. "Pretend play and sociodramatic play" was also a relief from the constant bullying that I experienced in school. I think play today is different from the play in which I engaged in as a child. Today technology has invented so many advanced or high-tech games that children don't have to use a lot of energy to play anymore. The down-side to this is that the rise of obesity is increasing. Some parents are facing mounting pressures so they are not able to monitor childhood play as much as they should. Sometimes children are not able to engage in play because they are busy helping parents with chores and other responsibilites.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships/partnerships are so important to me. Without relationships, life doesn't have much of a purpose for me. Everyone needs someone. Relationships are the reasons that babies develop emotionally. Without relationships, learning doesn't take place. If learning does take place, application would be useless. Without teachers, parents, and other care providers, many children would not learn to read or even care for themselves. Relationships create a path for language and interaction with others. I love and appreciate everyone that I currently have a healthy relationship with.

Mom has made a difference in my life. The time she spent with me was priceless. We ate at McDonalds every Friday. She allowed me to have friends over as a reward for weekly chores. She worked as a nurse which made it easy for her to care for my eczema as a child.

Dad provided for me and my siblings. Although he didn't make lots of money, he made sure food was on the table and the rent was paid. He encouraged me and my siblings to go to church. He taught us how to give respect in order for us to get respect.

My niece was born 12 years ago. She was the greatest gift that a family could ever wish for. Although her mother lives in a different state, she looks to me as a 2nd mom. She tells me that she loves me because I do everything for her including the laundry, the dishes, cooking and cleaning. She also says that she couldn't ask for a better mom.

My relationships with these people have taught me that the family does have a major impact on the success of a child. I plan to nurture the children in my daycare business the same way that my family nurtured me as a child. The love, affection and time spent with my family is more valuable than any material things that I received as a child.