Connections to Play

“Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.”

Diane Ackerman

“When children pretend, they’re using their imaginations to move beyond the bounds of reality. A stick can be a magic wand. A sock can be a puppet. A small child can be a superhero.”

Fred Rogers

When I was younger these items were always around:

When I was younger my parents always encouraged us to go outside and enjoy the fresh air. We were supplied with plenty of balls, bats, bikes and other items to occupy our time outside the home. Our parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents along with other adults in the neighborhood would come out and engage in the activities with us. It was more than just playing it was the ability and time to spend engaging with one another.

Today our lives are more technology focused and far more dangers and lack of community in the neighborhoods that impede children from being able to go out and play. Technology is far more affordable and easy to use although it is a good way to “check out” and unwind however time spent on devices should be limited. The world is also a different place than it was when I was growing up. There was more of a sense of community of those around you a safety net for the children and parents, now it seems as though the communities are not as tight knit as they use to be and people tend to keep more to themselves, which could be due to people spending more time at work to make ends meet or a job that has high demand and hours.

My hope for children is to be able to play and explore as much as they can. Get messy, ask questions and build memories as much as you can with those around you. The saying about the neighborhood kids you grew up with is true that you truly never do forget them and the memories made. I constantly encourage my parents to join in play and to explore as much as they can. Experiences are important to children and the play they engage in allows for children to learn through what they are experiencing. Play teaches so many life lessons without it we wouldn’t know how to function when it comes to relationships or engaging in our creative side.  

References

The Strong Museum of Play. Quotes on Play. Retrieved from http://www.museumofplay.org/education/education-and-play-resources/play-quotes

Relationship Reflection

Relationship Reflection

Relationships and partnerships are highly important to me to be able to learn through others as much as possible to then pass down to other providers as well as families in my community. When I build relationships with others I learn about other people their experiences, ideas and goals they have I am able to learn from them and what they do/have done.

Marcus (My flight chief): Our relationship is built upon our passion we have for serving children

and their families in our community. The encouragement I receive from him to strive for harder more difficult goals encourage me to push myself. He constantly reminds me I can do anything I set my mind to, and if I need something to ask he is willing to help.

Jessica (co-worker): Our common goals of providing the best to the families we serve each day allowed us to build a relationship. Our morals and values align allowing for us to be able to share our experiences, ideas and goals to better the families and providers we work with each day.

Rebecca (Parent/Co-worker): The care I ensure her child receives being the highest of quality brought us together. The values and common goals we have for children in an early learning program are very similar allowing for us to be able to grow through the work we both do as well as ensure her daughter is provided with high quality care.

Lisa (Co-worker and mentor): Her willingness to be an open book to teach me everything she knows about early learning and guiding families built a very positive rewarding relationship. Learning through her 25 years of experience with the military community allows for her to be a wealth of knowledge to me. When we converse I share new ideas and thoughts with her different ways to look outside the box she benefits from a different, yet similar perspective. Our passion for children and families is what continues to grow our relationship as well as friendship.

My Mom: A kindergarten teacher for the past 30 years gives me insight on the next step on a regular basis. New trends and ideas for children and families to be prepared for as they begin to enter the next level of their education. The encouragement to always better myself pushing myself to only except the highest of quality of work has benefited me my entire life. She has instilled in me, along with my dad, to never settle only excel at all I do, and never be too proud to ask for help.

In my career I have learned it is difficult to develop positive reciprocating relationships with others. In order to be able to create positive relationships allowing for all involved to benefit each person must be willing to work at the relationship, actively share experiences and listen, and most importantly needs to share similar values and a passion for bettering the families and children in our community.

The passion and similar morals and values allow for any of these relationships to become partnerships in the future. The ability to have the positive outlook on what is to be achieved and all that can be achieved when we work together. I find the experiences they share with me allow me to reflect on the care I give and the training I can pass on to families and other caregivers. Being able to rely on others who want me to achieve allows for me to push myself to work harder, set higher goals, and give the most positive experience to those families in my community and program.