MY CONNECTION TO PLAY

FAVORITE QUOTES ABOUT PLAY 

                                             

ESSENTIAL PLAY ITEMS

BUILDING BLOCKS

 When I was younger, it was understood that children would go outside and play. I grew up as the youngest of five brothers and one sister who is nine years my senior.My mom worked the night shift so we would play outside most of the day. In school, we would go outside to play, and the equipment consisted of balls, jump rope, sliding boards and swings. Teachers allowed us the freedom to play and use our imagination while doing so.

Children today miss out on the simplicity of play. Parents buy expensive toys and jungle gyms for children to assist them with their play. The will never know the accomplishment and joy of climbing a tree and riding the limb like a hobby horse or using items within the environment to substitute for a softball or bat.As a child, I was allowed to get dirty and play in mud while making mud pies.Today, our children have so much to play with; they do not enjoy the art of play. My hope is that children be allowed to have the freedom to express themselves and find their way through the art of play.

 Growing up was all about playing with my siblings and myself. We would choose teams and play in the super bowl. We were poor, so we did not have a lot of toys. We would use our imagination and used things within our environment to supplement our play. As a child, we would have softball tournaments with the neighborhood kids. My sister was so much older than I, therefore; I had to play with my brothers and I would play Batman and robin, superman, and rat patrol. As an adult, I like to play board games, and sometimes I play hopscotch with my grandson.

 

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important because they help you navigate through this thing called life. There are different relationships that we have in our lives. Positive relationships can be beneficial to your health. A review of 148 studies found that people with strong social relationships are 50% less likely to die prematurely. C.Melson,)

I don’t have a lot of friends in my life, but my best friend is a person that I met in college, and she has seen me through ups and downs in not only my personal life but my professional life as well. We don’t see each other often because we live in different cities but thanks to Facebook and the telephone, we can keep in touch.

I am the youngest of seven children and although I have a sister, we are not close because we are ten years apart in age, plus we are different in many ways. I have one brother that I am close to because we grew up like twins. My brother and I are nineteen months apart and remember we would always play together, and we would get sick at the same time. My brother is in education like myself, and we have the same views on things such as politics, religion and parenting.

My mother is an important person in my life. The relationship we have is one based on respect and unconditional love. I live over two hours away from my mom, and sometimes I go months without visiting her. I try to call my mom every day but sometimes I fall short and don’t call her but once a week. My mom is ninety years old, and that has changed my relationship with my mother because I feel as though I could lose her at any time because of her many health issues.

My husband is the most important relationship that I have in my life. He is my biggest supporter in every aspect of my life. It is great to have a person in my life that believes in me more than I believe in myself. My husband shows me it is okay to fail and that I am not perfect, but it is ok. I am blessed to be married to one of my best friends that I can talk to about anything. One of the most important things that my husband has taught me is that you cannot sustain a healthy relationship without communication. I consider my marriage a partnership because we are in together, and we have built a life together that requires what we both bring to the relationship to make it work.

The relationships that I have made a positive impact work ethic and the passion I have for working with children and families. My mother instilled in me that it is important to be punctual in your attendance and always to your job to the best of your ability. My best friend is an early educator, and our bond is not only personal but professional as well, and it has taught me that it is important to be there for your colleges and value their opinion. My husband gives me the confidence to believe in myself and my abilities.

 
 Reference

Why Personal Relationships Are Important | Taking Charge ... (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/relationships/why-