"My Connections to Play"

 Childhood Quote:

• "Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child's soul" By Fredrich Froebel "Father of Modern Kindergarten"
• "You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation" By Plato

Play Items for myself:                      
           Playground Rubber Balls


                                 




 Jump ropes                   

Swing Sets       

 

When I was growing up my mother always told me kids should be kids not in the house watching t.v. or up under grown-ups. We had no choice but to go outside. Play was important to us because we actually would play all day. I would pretend I was a princess with long hair and my sisters and I would use sheets for our hair. We would use items like boards, wood, bricks, sheets, and tools to make a clubhouse and pretend it was our house. Whatever we could use to build or make we just about maid it. As a child you explored everything around you and the world to me was our playground to learn.      

Play today is different because children now rather stay in the house and play video games, watch t.v, talk on the phone, or get on the computer. No physical activity at all except working their fingers and talking to their friends. I know back then we didn't have all the technology we have now. Parents actually made their children play outside and in school physical activity was a must. I remember playing before school started, after lunch, and another recess during the day. Now children get to school just in time for breakfast then straight to class, then lunch, and a slight 15 minute recess that's if weather permitted and I know in some states when it would rain or snow you still had to do some type of exercise or activity rather it be basketball, volleyball, jump rope or walk around the indoor basketball court.   

 

For me I would like to see physical activity taken more serious and enforced more in school. Children need an out lit and running, playing, jumping, and socializing is part of a healthy development. Today as an adult I still like to play, I jump rope with my children, and I showed my children how to play and make Chinese jump ropes out of rubber bands.

 

Play is a way for children to explore the world. It is their first discovery of sensation movement, language,and their surroundings. Play is an essential part of a child's development and being able to play freely enables them to learn invaluable life skills such as:

• Socializing
• Learning about themselves and others
• Problem solving
• Using their imagination
• Work cooperatively
• Follow instructions
 

 
 

 

 

 

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important within family, friends, children, and working in early childhood. Relationships have been the core foundation for family and security throughout generations. In order to maintain relationships you have to be able to communicate with one another. There are two types of communication nonverbal and verbal. The two should work together to relay information. In my experience when people don't use their voice to tell a love one, friend, or even in the work field what they are thinking or feeling, their actions can do it instead with the body language, making faces, and so on. Sometimes both communications work together to emphasize an important message. For example with my husband we communicate all the time to make sure one we are on one accord when it comes to raising our children. Two with my sorority sisters we talk everything out no matter what it is. We cry together, pray together, and fellow ship together. That's what family do even though my friends, or sorority sisters are not my biological family, I love them and I want us to maintain a positive relationship. I am not saying its always positive but the key to everything is communication and being in early childhood you have to maintain the same open communication with the families and children. Believe it or not whenever their is tension amongst co-workers or mother and father. Children can sense if adults are not getting along and the same goes for parents keeping that line of communication open lets parents know they can trust you and this will allow them to open up to you and share information because they are comfortable with you just like family.

Some challenges developing and maintaining relationships in my life that I have learned if the other party isn't willing to open up or communicate with you  especially if you have maid yourself available when ever possible. Another challenge I have faced certain people who grow up not trusting or communicating have a hard time returning the same skill. As I have learned  in previous classes its starts as an infant caregivers showing you affection, love, communicating, and bonding with your baby will have a positive outcome as the child grows up.

Johnson Family Daycare on a field trip.

XI Gamma Zeta Sorority sisters

Denice daughter and son in the background.

Daughter Shaunte and grand baby Alysia

Even though I couldn't put up all my pictures everyone who is in my life we all stay very close because we communicate with one another to keep the bond that we have.