"My Connections to Play."

"My Connections to Play."
1. Quotes:
"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."

~ Plato (Greek Philosopher)

"Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold."

~ Joseph Chilton Pearce


2. Pictures of toys for myself:





      When I was younger, my play was supported simply by my parents telling me and my siblings to go outside and play. I lived in a small town surrounded by fields, forests, and lakes. It was there, where I grew up, that before the age of nine I had been a princess, a doctor, a teacher, a police officer, a professional ball player, an architect etc. Of course, my professions were not earned, but rather acquired through my imagination and "interests of the day." The role of play in my life supported my interests and creativity and allowed me to be engaged in my activities. 
      Play today seems less meaningful to children than it was when I was a child. As a child, my play did not involve too many devices with screens. My play involved using my imagination and creativity along with learning to collaborate well with my peers in order to meet many of my goals in playing. Therefore, my hope for children today is to have more opportunities to be engaged in activities that are child-directed and provided materials that encourage activities that are meaningful and promote learning. 
    I think the role of play should positively impact children so that it is evident in their years as adults. Play supports children's learning about their environment. And, within an environment, children learn how to make sense of their world and how to solve problems more effectively. Additionally, children also are more likely to learn how to be effective communicators with others and gain better perceptions of others as well. Overall, play fosters the type of learning and skills children will need to support their success as adults.

　




　

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me for many reasons. One reason relationships are important are becuase positive relationships are edifying, support my self-esteem, and teach me how to treat others in a way they want to be treated.

Diana (Mother):

My mother and I have a positive relationship because she supports my ideas and encourages me to take risks. She also gives me honest advice when I ask her for it and she gives me suggestions on ways I might want to consider when making big decisions.


"Nanny" (Grandma):

My grandma and I have a positive relationship because she also supports my decisions and offers support by reflecting on what it was like "back in her day." Factors that contribute to my relationship with my grandma are commonalities between us. I enjoy learning about "her day" and believe that older individuals have a lot of wisdom to offer.


Kalpana (Friend):

My friend and I have a positive relationship because I feel we are both honest and open with each other. We give advice to each other, even when the advice is not something we want to hear. We also come from very different cultures, as she is from India and I am from the United States, and seem to value each other's cultures and beliefs, even when we think parts of our cultures are strange. Factors contributing to our relationship is our honesty and open-mindedness.


Patients (Dental Patients):

I felt I should mention my patients because I feel I have earned their trust and have formed a positive relationship with them over the years. Factors that have contributed to my relationship with my patients are having good listening skills, valuing opinions, and being compliant.



     Although my relationships are mostly positive ones, there are some challenges to developing and maintaining relationships that I have learned to experience over time. One challenge is learning what is important to them and how I can find ways to value their beliefs. Another challenge is to have effective conversations when I disagree with them. In addition, it is also challenging keep relationships current. I think one characteristic to my relationships being partnerships is having a common interest in something and cultivating that interest and a will in wanting to invest in forming a relationship with someone. I feel my relationships with others in my personal and professional life contribute to my work as an effective early childhood professional because I have effective relationships with individuals who have differing cultures, views, and beliefs other than my own. I also feel my ability to be a good listener and value differences will be supportive in my impact on being an effective early childhood educator.