"My Connections to Play"

Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game.

Michael Jordan
American basketball player

Play allows us to develop alternatives to violence and despair; it helps us learn perseverance and gain optimism.

Stuart Brown MD
Contemporary American psychiatrist

Growing up I had an old milk truck for a fort.  I spent countless hours using my imagination as I played.  I remember taking trips across the world, being a mom, delivering milk, or just having good ole fun with cousins during play.

As a young child, my brother Matt was my best friend.  We played together all day long (even when he didn’t want to).  As we got a little older, our play become more cooperative and we played together taking turns.  Our little red wagon is an example of a play time that represents my younger self.  Matt and I would pull each other around everywhere as we went exploring the world around us.

As a young child, I was pushed into the world to explore on my own.  I was the oldest of my siblings and many times was left in charge of watching them as we played outside.  We basically had two rules:  look out for each other and come home when it starts to get dark.  I can’t say that I remember really being supported in play as a child.

My definition of play has been clearly define as an adult and differs greatly from what I knew play to be as a child.  Today I have learned the importance caregivers have of guiding children’s play to support their growth and learning.  I hope to educate more caregivers on the significance of play.  Specifically the staff at my center as well as the families I provide care too.  Educating caregiver’s is vital to a child development.

Play is vital for both children and adults.  Play is as important to our physical and mental health.  It can be a stress reducer and adults still have the capabilities of learning new skills or becoming more comfortable with uncommon concepts.

Relationship Reflection

Jon and I have been married for 14 years.  He is my soul mate and my other half.  Our relationship is based on loyalty, honesty and love.  Together we form a partnership in providing for and raising our family as well as taking care of each other.  We have fallen in love over and over again.  Sharing the same philosophies and goals for our family has created a stronger partnership.

   Alixx is my 17 year old daughter.  She and I have a wonderful relationship.  We are open and honest with each other.  I ensure that I give her quality one on one time to build a strong relationship in which she feels comfortable, empowered, and guided.

Kamryn Ann is my eleven year old daughter.  She is very impressionable so I tend to spend lots of time talking to her about life.  The two of us have very different personalities.  In order to build a stronger relationship with her, I put myself in her shoes often and value her individuality. 

Jace is my 8 year old son, my baby, my love.  He has special needs and I tend to cater to his needs.  He has a huge heart and approaches life and its challenges positively.  Together we remind each other to stay optimistic and kind to others.  I have created a safe, warm and loving environment that he can successfully thrive in.

My mother, Teresa is my rock and inspiration.  She has taught me many lessons in life.  One lesson she taught me is to stand up for what I believe in and fight for what I want in life.  My mother and I are just like best friends.  We share common interests and understand each other’s unsaid words.  We have had our share of ups and downs, but always know each other are there when needed.  We have a mutual respect for on another that has built a strong relationship between us.

My Father-in-law, Bob and I have built a strong relationship.  He is a strong man who has faced many obstacles in life, one being the loss of his wife, Judy.  We have shared many conversations about life and he has brought the love a Jesus further into my life.  Our relationships continues to grow over time.

My two brothers, Marty and Matt are two very different people.  Marty and I share qualities of being out-going, adventurous, and thrill seekers.  Matt and I share qualities of having big hearts and willing to help anyone out in need.  We still have our disagreements, but that is what makes us love each other even more.  We use humor and respect each other’s likes and differences.  These factors have all contributed to our healthy relationships as siblings.

Through my experiences I have learned that relationships need to be nurtured.  They are built upon mutual respect and creating a safe environment.  Effective communication is another key quality to good relationships.  In order to maintain positive relationships there must be give and take.  We all make mistakes, sometimes through selfish thinking.  How we respond to other’s actions or how we correct our mistakes builds trust and forgiveness. 

I relate the relationships I have built with my love ones very similar to the relationships that I build with children and families on a daily basis.  Many of the same qualities are present in both settings.  Children and families need to feel safe, nurtured, and respected as well.  Open communication is a key quality too.  My relationships with families, turns into a partnership as we work together to help their child succeed educationally.  Building partnerships has a large impact on creating an effective program as well as my effectiveness as a professional in ECE.