My Connections to Play

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood”.

Fred Rogers
American Television Personality
1928-2003

“Play gives children the ability to enter into make-believe allowing them to transform a simple object into a play prop”.

Joan Almon
The Vital Role of Play in Childhood
2003

Below are photos of toys from my early childhood days.





Describe how people supported play when you were younger and/or the role of play in your childhood

As a young child growing up, we were allowed to play most of the time. The only time I did not play was when I was doing homework, sleep or doing my daily chores. During my younger years that’s what children would do go outside and play while the grownups visited with each other.

Write a brief entry on how you feel play today is similar or different from the play in which you engaged as a child and what your hope for young is now with regard to play.

Play is very different from when I was a child. Young children have a variety of toys, games, TVs, computers and many other objects to play with. I hope parents take more control over their young children by showing authoritative strategies that will demonstrate that they are in charge. Also have them to engage in more outside play activities and less time in the house. When I was a child I could not sit around grownups and listen to their conversation. Most parents now want to be their children friend rather than the parent. Parents need to go back to being parents.

Include your thoughts regarding the role of play throughout your life and/or the role of play throughout childhood and adulthood

Throughout my life, I have always been involved in play activities with my children, grandchildren, niece’s nephews and other children as well. Being involved in play has been a healthy tool in my life. I feel as if it has kept me young at heart and abreast of the changing trends.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are very important to me. Relationships are a tool that combines love ones together. Having a strong and connected relationship with family members and friends is very important and is an amazing experience to be a part of. Being involved in a good relationship with other expresses the way you are and how you can deal with the world around you. A good relationship can also help someone else appreciate you and share your happiness as well.

Relationships with my children and grandchildren are very important to me.




Relationship with my 32 year old son is quite interest to me. He talks about any and everything just as he would talk to his male friends. He is very protective of his mother and calls every day to say I love you. My son and his girlfriend are over every holiday and birthday to celebrate and to tell me how wonderful my cooking is. We don’t get to go out for dinner a lot because they all prefer my cooking.

Relationship with my 30 year daughter is much different from my son. My daughter don’t talk as much, but will listen to what I have to say if it right or wrong. Our relationship is strong and very loving. We share personal business with each other and she values my opinion. My daughter and the grandchildren also visit all holidays and birthdays for family gathering.

The relationship I share with my grandchildren is very positive in many ways. We talks about the bible verses, play games, read stories, watch movies, take long walks and eat out sometimes. My oldest granddaughter is 11 years old and attends Dunbar Magnet School. Her extra curriculum involve dancing, band and baton. On her night to perform one of these tasks, she is expecting grandma to be there for support. She smiles at all of her supporters, but when she sees my face, the smiles get bigger. My 17 months old grand baby is much energized and always babbling about something. She love giving a dance show and afterward she want a hand clap. The relationship the three of us shares is like none others.



My siblings and I have a close and positive relationship. Although all of them but one other lives out of town, we still maintain a close relationship. We all get together every year in the little town where we were born on the 4th of July week. Until that time of year come around, we call one another and everybody ends up on the phone. Our parents bought us up to love, share, communicate and to look out for each other. So we will continue to support each other as best as we can.



I have learned that one of the biggest challenges of maintaining a relationship is to be careful of the words that come out of your mouth. I have witness and seen many relationships break apart because of words that come from the mouth. We have to be very mindful of what is said because we can hurt someone feelings if we are not careful. Another challenges is making time to involve yourself with love ones and enjoying every moment.

Relationships are based on honesty and spending quality time together, whether it is on the phone or through e-mails. When my daughter is working, I make sure that my grandchildren are getting the necessary care they needs. I provide the same instruction their mother provides. This includes getting a meal and homework before taking a nap or watching TV and playing games.

As an active reflective contributor, I will first reflect on my values and feelings before coming in contact with students and their family members. I would get to know each individual child and their parents, because parents can give important information concerning the child upbringings. I would be an advocate for all young learners. The environment would be safe, loving, colorful, and friendly for young children’s growth and development.