"My Connections to Play"

Here are some items that I grew up playing with. 

"My Connections to Play"

Quotes:
You can't stop the future, you can't rewind the past, the only way to learn the secret, ...is to press play.
Jay Asher

Time is a game played beautifully.
Heraclitus

Play is the highest form of research.
Albert Einstein

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, but when I became a man I put away my childish things.
I Cor 13:11

Monkey see, Monkey do...
Practice makes perfect...
Never judge a book by it's cover..

People supported play when I was growing up in pretty much the same way all over town.  There was a neighborhood theory, “It takes a village to raise a child”.  That phrase was used and understood by the adults and the children in the neighborhood.  It meant that if you were doing something wrong anyone in the neighborhood was free to correct you with your parents’ permission.  However, when your parents heard about it, you were getting another spanking when they arrived at home later.  Play was very much encouraged.  We mostly played outdoors with no toys.  It was understood that whenever my parents had company, we were to go outside (if the weather permit).  We were not allowed in the room when grown folk were talking.  When we went outside, we played games like: hopscotch, red light green light 123, red rover red rover, mother may I, Simon says, and many other games that required no toys.  Or either we made up our own toys, for example “telephone was a game that we used a toilet paper roll and a piece of string to pretend to speak to the person on the other end.  I enjoyed going to the park because my favorite thing to do was swing, and go down the slide.  Daddy spent time with me outside in the garden teaching my how to plant flowers.  Mommy loved to have standard tea parties with me so that we could discuss the latest gossip.  Finally, my brothers and I loved to pick up worms and snails and other animals that made my mommy upset. 

Play is different today than it was when I was a child for several different reasons.  First, if you use the village theory that I mentioned earlier, you might get cursed out.  People tend to get upset these days when you discipline their children.  Children no longer know how to play outside, nor do they like it.  Therefore, they are not made to pay outside.  Either it is too hot in the summer, or too cold in the winter.  They prefer games like the Wii, angry birds, or their tablets.  For example, recently in South Carolina we had some snow days where the children were unable to come to school.  When they returned I asked them to write in their journals about the fun things that they did in the snow.  Instead, several children told me that their mom or dad had them on Facebook looking at the snow.  Why were they not outside playing in the snow, because we do not get it often?  The parent could have provided an entire lesson on how snow feels looks, tastes, etc.  Instead, for most children it was supposedly too cold to go outside. 

Throughout my life play was encouraged in more ways than one.  My job was to play.  I performed my job well.  Although, I grew up with two older brothers and no sisters, I still loved playing.  I did not do a lot of girly things; I mostly played football, basketball, climbed trees and played with bugs.  But, all of this was very enjoyable for me.  My mom never stopped me or even tried to redirect my play to more female things. I loved the fact that she just allowed me to be myself.  I feel fortunate to have had the upbringing that I had and blessed to have been in a family with love and acceptance.

Stephy (BFF) and me

Mommy and Me (Mothers Day 2014)

“Relationship Reflection”

Relationships in early childhood are very important because it helps it helps a child discover who they are and how they should treat others.  Generally, it is the parent (in most cases) that the child comes in contact with first.  The child develops a certain attachment from the parents, whether it is secure or inconsistent.  There is a poem that I love that tells you why children are the way that they are:

Children Learn What They Live

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn . . .

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight . . .

If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive . . .

If a child lives with pity, he learns to feel sorry for himself . . .

If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy . . .

If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilt . . .

BUT

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient . . .

If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident . . .

If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative . . .

If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love. .

If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves...

If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is . . .

If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice . . .

If children live with recognition, they learn to have a goal.

If children live with sharing, they learn to be generous.

If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him . . .

If a child lives with friendliness, he learns the world is a nice place in which to live . . .

WITH WHAT IS YOUR CHILD LIVING?

 

I have always had a positive relationship with my parents.  I am so grateful that they taught me right from wrong at such an early age.  They taught me the Bible and what is expected of me.  From my father I learned how a man is supposed to treat me, and anything else is unacceptable.  From my mommy I learned exactly how to be a lady (Godly Lady).  Both of my brothers have always been there for me, no matter what I needed.  My BFF has been there for me to comfort me, and just listen to my problems whenever I needed her.  I am so forever grateful for all of these people that God has placed in my life on a daily basis. 

However, some relationships are harder than others.  There are some people who I thought were my true friends have let me down.  When times get hard, you tend to discover who is around for the long hall and who is only there for a season.  The problem is that there are some people in your life who are only meant to be there for a season.  When there season is up they are gone.  This is one of the reasons why you should never place your trust in “man”.  People are not perfect and they all make mistakes (even me), but it is so important that we remember to forgive them so that we can move on.  You never know when your expiration date will be and you want to have all of your ducks in a row when it’s time to expire.

I think that if Head Start had a positive relationship with the Boys and Girls Club, Girls/ Boys Scott of America and other organizations like that it would benefits all companies and everyone would get something out of it.  This would be a smooth transition for children and positive effects would develop from it.  Often time’s children get into trouble because they are bored with no challenge.  But if there is something available for them, they have no choice but to succeed.  My goal is to become a director someday, and at that point I plan to build positive long lasting relationships for the children in my program, providing them a better opportunity for the future.