My Connections to Play

Quotes that summarize what play represented in my childhood

 

Pictures of essential play items from my younger self

 

1. Easy Bake Oven- I love to my Granny cook but the easy bake oven allowed me to create my own little cakes and other desserts.

2. Barbie Dolls - I love dressing them up, redesign their clothes and other accessories. I still have some of my dolls at my Granny's house.

 

 Play Today

I think that play today is very different from play when I was a child. I can remember as a child playing outside with the other children in the neighborhood. When I was a child my mother and grandmother encouraged (really made) my brother and I go out and play. Even back then we had video games such as the Nintendo and Sega Genesis. My brother and I enjoyed playing them both, but we liked playing outside even more. We played games like tag, four square, and kickball ball. By interacting and playing with other children we learned and developed a variety of educational and life skills from the different forms of play. The children of today do not engage in same styles of play because of technology. Technology has provided a different type of play, and I believe it still develops them in many ways but can still be damaging if not monitored and controlled.

The role of play from my childhood to adulthood has influenced my life in many ways. Still today I enjoy playing and exploring. Play does not have to stop because I am an adult I believe that it takes on a different form but still considered play. I still engage in cooperative, competitive, and solitary play during my daily work tasks with my colleagues.

 



Relationship Reflection

Relationship/partnership are important to me because I can remember as a child I would always come home and tell my Grandmother about all the friends I had at school. She would tell me that those were just my associates and that I only really had a few friends. I never really understood what she was telling me until I got older and understood the value of a friendships/relationships. I mentioned this story because it contributes to the reasons the why relationships/partnerships are important to me. Having a sense belonging and having a connection with others. They are there to provide a listening ear during good and bad times, provide encouragement, and be supportive.

Granny

She is always there to provide unconditional love and support. Gives her opinion about my life and the decisions (in love) I make. When I encounter hardships and discouragement, she always takes the time to pray for me. Nothing compares to a Grandmother’s love she provides me with everything. I am the woman I am today because of her.

The Girls

I have different relationships with both of them. Marni(right) is the crazy friend, and Neise (left) is the calm, rational one of the group. Together there is never a dull moment, and we always have a good time. Marni is in the military and understands the challenges I encounter being in the military. Niese is an educator, and girls track coach. Through my relationships with them, I connect with them on a personal and professional level. I seek out their advice and guidance about my current field of employment and my future field of education.

 

My Furbabies

Even though they are animals, I have an important relationship with them. It is fulfilling to come home from a long day at work to have them be happy and excited to see me. They provide an unjudgmental and unconditional love and affection. They only want a little but give so much back in return.    

 

My experiences through the different types of relationships/partnerships I strive to assess each of them to ensure they are having a positive impact in all aspects of my life. I believe that through my experiences with different partnerships in the military has greatly prepared me for being an effective early childhood professional. I constantly encounter various people from all different walks of life, and as a leader, I must learn about each person and know how to employ each of their skills and abilities to accomplish missions. As an early childhood educator, I will be charged with learning about each of my students and know how to teach in order to reach of their learning abilities.