My Connections to Play

As a child I did not have many toys - we spent most of our time outside playing. I had a baby doll I liked to carry around with me and I pretended to be the babies teacher, my siblings and I would play football in the front yard with our neighbor friends and I spent almost every weekend in the mountains skiing or snowboarding.

                                                               

Quotes that represent play in my childhood:

"Children should play outside and get dirty." - National Trust

  "Don't just tell your kids to be active and to get outside to play. Lead by example." - Summer Sanders

When I was a child my parents were outside playing with us and taking us to explore the beautiful Rocky Mountains (which are basically my backyard), which is why I chose the second quote. We cannot learn to play when we are younger if nobody shows us how. When it comes to the baby doll I use to carry around I engaged in conversations with my mom about the baby and she would treat it like a person. This showed me how to respect toys and people in general. 

I feel like play (for the most part) is completely different from when I was younger - watching my nieces and nephews grow up with iPhones, iPads, computers, and televisions in their rooms. We had one computer in my house (which was located in the kitchen so my parents knew what we were doing) and one television in the main room which was hardly turned on. This allowed us to go outside and use our imagination with our friends - nowadays all kids know is Superheroes and Ninja Turtles.

The importance of play and exploration in my childhood has made me learn to love nature, use my imagination, and live a healthier lifestyle. As an educator I have tried to express the importance of playing outside to my classroom children - there are some kids who don't like playing outside and want to be inside. These are the children I tend to spend more one-on-one time with on the playground to show them what to do and how they can have fun. Playing in the centers is also essential for children but I feel that is not where our children struggle, I feel that their exploration in nature is struggling.

Relationship Reflection

This quote represents what a relationship/partnership means to me - both or all individuals need to be positive and active participants. 

Challenges with building partnerships is being the only active member and not sharing the same values or goals.

When children and parents have positive relationships with the teachers it encourages growth and motivation. They feel comfortable and supported to spread their wings to try something new. 

My boyfriend and I started with a relationship which slowly turned into a partnership. We have supported each other through the good and bad times, never giving up. We have a partnership with each other because we both put in the same amount of effort, compromise as much as possible and share in each others happiness.

My family (well part of them)! This partnership has grown and continues to grow with every argument, victory, hardship, and vacation. We learn from and compliment each other. Where one struggles others excel and support. This group of people have the best sense of humor and we are constantly laughing. We try not to take anything too serious and learn to laugh at ourselves. My nieces and nephews hold a special place in my heart - their relationship with me is what helps me get through hard times. My boyfriend and I struggle to have children so their bond with us means the world. 

My boyfriends parents (on the left) have recently moved to Colorado from New York so this relationship is new. I had only met them five or so times before which made the connection hard. They encourage and love me like my own parents and we have that mutual respect for each other and their son. 
My mom and step-dad (on the right) are my biggest cheerleaders. The two of them are more calm and reserved than my dad and step-mom - it is nice to have that balance in my family. My step-dad had his work cut out for him when he joined my family (my brother and I had some issues from my parents divorce) but he willingly accepted the challenge and won!