My Connections to Play

Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.

Stuart Brown, MD
Contemporary American psychiatrist

 

I tried to teach my child with books.

He gave me only puzzled looks.

I tried to teach my child with words.

They passed him by often unheard.

 

Despairingly, I turned aside.

"How shall I teach this child?" I cried.

 

Into my hand he put the key

"Come," he said, "play with me."

 

- Unknown

 

 

As a child I was ALWAYS outdoors.  The outdoors was my escape and my playground.  Being outdoors made me use my imagination to its fullest! I could be anything from a bird flying through the neighborhood to the queen of my kingdom.  I would be outdoors for hours on end.  My mother allowed me to play outside until sunset.  I was the only child for 7 years so I would spend my time with my neighborhood friends.  Outdoor play was encouraged a lot more than it is today.  I encourage my children to play outdoors when the weather permits it.  I do stay with them at all times because I am scared something or someone will hurt them.  They are still very small (3 and 5) but as they get older I will let them play with less supervision as I did.

 

 

I LOVED Care Bears.  I still do! I can remember playing hours indoors and out with all my toys.  I enjoyed watching the videos and reenacting special moments.  The Care Bears helped me through some very difficult times as a child and helped me learn how to care for others no matter how different we can be.  I have teddy bears and toys from my childhood that my children play with now.  Care Bears are now modernized and have a show on the HUB.  My boys and I watch them and play with my toys often.  I use them in my classroom as well.  It is a great resource for teaching about caring for yourself and for others.

 

 

My type of play was different when I was growing up.  We did have video games but they were not used as some children use them today.  We did not have hand held devices or the Internet at our fingertips.  We would be outdoors, use our imagination, and socialized a lot more than the children of today.  I try and encourage play as I had as a child.  I believe children need the freedom to be engaged and explore their environments and learn from the outdoors.  We can still have this.  We are the ones who can advocate for them.  Get out, discover, explore, and most of all PLAY!  You are never to young or old to play.   

Relationship Reflection

We live, love, and learn with one another.  We make connections and relationships with many people in our life.  Some will last forever while others come and go.  Relationships always start with trust. 

My mother-daughter relationship has changed since I was younger.  My relationship with my mother deepens as I grow older.  My mother taught me everything I know and she still continues to teach me to this day.  She was a single mother who had overwhelming work hours and always found the time to be with her little girl.  She has taught me to be a young lady, a caring sister, a true friend, and a loving mother.  I will always be her little sweet pea. 

My husband, my soul mate, and my best friend. We have been together for 9 years, have two children, and have a very cozy home. We started our relationship as friends. Through trust, faith, and love we have overcome many obstacles that have been placed in our path. Our relationship continues to get stronger. He is the one I will always run to.

The relationship I have with my children is the one I learn from the most.  I learn to love and let go of the things I cannot control.  Although they are still quite young our relationship is the sweetest, funniest, and craziest.  They are the apple of my eye.  Our relationship has grown very deeply and will continue as we nurture our journeys together. 

I have learned that in order to have successful relationships you must take part, nurture, and learn from each other.  A challenge I have in maintaining relationships is time.  My time is divided into my full time job, my family, and my pursuit for higher learning.  Time is the factor I deal with the most. 

Successful relationships are based on trust, good communication, supportive of one another, and make efforts to maintain these relationships.  It is a lot of work but it is definitely worth it. 

To be an effective teacher we must have relationships with our students as well as their families.  We must get to know the child, know where they come from, know who they are, and what they need to be successful.  All this is attained through mutual respect and trust.