My Connections to Play

Growing up as a young child, I remember the play time I spent outdoors with my sister. We would get up early in the morning and head outside to start our day. We spent time exploring the trees, and the fields that surrounded our house. We would also head down the road to the neighbors barn, which we were allowed to play in. We did not have electronics or fancy toys to play with. We played with dirt and made mud pies. We used rocks and sticks to play baseball. We used our imaginations. I believe that so many children today do not have this opportunity.

Our mother supported our play by providing real items from her kitchen during our play mud pie making. She always encouraged us and ensured that we had ample time to explore and leave our creations to return to after lunch or dinner time. Playtime for me was the time to be whatever I wanted to be and do whatever I wanted to do. I had no limitations other than the limits of my imagination.

I remember playing school throughout my childhood. My mother would always provide paper, pencils, books, crayons and even a pointer stick for the teacher. I believe that my ability to develop this interest is the reason I currently work as a teacher. Children learn what their true interests are during free play. Do not constrain a child's imagination and watch him grow.

I remember playing with these when I was growing up:

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"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

“Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.” 
― Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. 

Relationship Reflection

Relationship are important to me because life would be meaningless and worthless without relationship. When I think of relationships, there are three different types of relationships that come to mine. Think of them as different levels of circle, each contained within the largest outer circle. 

The first of these are outer circle relationships. These are the relationships that we have with good friends, co-workers, school friends, church friends, in-laws and acquaintances. These are the types of relationships that really have minimal affect on our development. Yes, these types of relationships can cause stress from time to time. But at the end of the day, they are not the most important ones. This is where the relationships with my students' families would be. These types of partnerships are important because we work together for the good of the child. Having open communication is what makes this type of relationship work.

The second of these is the middle circle. These are the relationships that we have with our siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, best friends, and grandparents. These type of relationships tend to be more important than that outer circle relationships. If there is turmoil in these relationships, then we tend to worry or be stressed. Since I was raised around my extended family, I cherish these relationships. I tend to play peacemaker repeatedly. This can cause stress for me. These type of relationships are important to me because they helped make me the person I am today. I learned family values and commitment from them. My best friend is the relationship I will use as an example. I have been best friends with her for 17 years. Although we no longer live in the same town, we talk constantly. I know that I can talk to her about anything and she will not judge me. She is there for me when I need her and I am there for her. Our family tends to be very careful about who we let into this circle. Mostly it must be blood related. But occasionally we have some in-laws that fit so perfectly that we let them in. Two of these people would be my nephew's wife Melanie. She came into our lives and it was like she had always been there. And then there is my niece's husband, Duane. His entry took a bit longer, due to him and I being so much alike, but he is now in our middle circle. He helps maintain the stability of that circle. 

The third of these relationships is the inner circle. These relationships are the most important and most precious ones that a person can have. These relationships are the ones that you have with your parents, spouse, and children. These relationships affect our day to day living and our health. These are the most important relationships. Turmoil in these relationships can have a negative ripple effect on the outer two circles of relationship.