My Connections to Play

Quotes 

“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.” -Diane Ackerman


“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.” -Charles Schaefer


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As a child for me play was exciting in that I participated in so many adventures. For a while I was the only child in the home besides my uncle whom is not much older than I am, lived down the street I played with anyone and anything. I became my uncles shadow and enjoyed every moment of climbing trees, hopping ditches on our bikes and attempting to play basketball. I will be honest basketball was most certainly not for me. There were a few girls in the neighborhood and the friends I had at school, we played house, doubled dutch, racing from one end a field to the next. That type of play build relationships, taught me limits, enhanced motor skills and so much more. Participating in play strengthen my social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills. The families in the community looked after every child as if they were there own.

Play is somewhat the same with families looking out for each other when their children are at play. There are more differences with play than similarities. Technology is the main difference, children are given every electronic the ask for which takes them away from physically interactive with one another.
There are many ways that children can be encouraged to participate in play. I would stress for anyone that can participate to actively do so in their home life and in the classrooms. It may leave me a little sore but, I never hesitate to get down and crawl, roll or act out whatever the children in my life enjoy doing.


References

Yourtherapysource. (2019, June 7). Play Quotes to Remind Us Why PLAY is so IMPORTANT. Retrieved November 23, 2019, from https://www.yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2019/06/06/play-quotes/.

Andras, M. (n.d.). Jumping Rope in the Park . photograph. Retrieved from https://www.alamy.com/children-kids-girls-children-jumping-rope-three-standing-holding-mid-image2516952.html

Children climbing the tree in the park illustration. (n.d.). Retrieved November 23, 2019, from https://www.123rf.com/photo_61180440_stock-vector-children-climbing-the-tree-in-the-park-illustration.html.

Stone, J. (2019, September 28). Best Roller Skates for Kids & Toddlers. Retrieved November 23, 2019, from https://www.rollerskatedad.com/best-roller-skates-for-kids-toddlers/#.XdnJ6ehKjIU.

Current Relationships

The relationship I have with my father is one of the most important relationships I currently have. Our relationship has always been important to me. My dad is whom keeps me grounded. When I have struggled with anything I know that I can go to him and we can talk through things. After our talks I will see things from a different perspective. My father is not biased in his talks with me, if I am wrong he will tell me and explain to me why he feels as such. It is important to have someone that is in your corner to encourage and push you when needed and my father is most definitely my first go to person for that. I was only supposed to take a semester off after I graduated in Fall of 2017 but that semester turn into a full year. My dad sat me down and reminded me what I told him my goals were moving forward and inquired what the hold up was. I had no good explanation to give him and we sat and planned my next chapter. I hit a few road blocks in my pursue to getting back on course with school. My dad had a resolution or suggestion for everything and would NOT allow me to be stagnant. We live so far away from each other with him in Maryland and myself in Texas, our schedules are crazy but if I ever call or text him he never hesitates to respond. I have lost and endured a lot in the last 4 years, my father has been my constant through ALL everything. I genuinely believe that if it were not for him checking in or booking flights to spend time with me I wouldn't be in the place I am now. I am generally an extremely outgoing, over energized , optimistic, jolly person and at one point I struggle to get back to myself after the loss of my mom. I am a religious person, I am grateful beyond words for the love and support of my dad not just during my dark times but he has been stellar my entire life. I am anxious for the next couple of weeks to pass so that I can spend time with him for the Thanksgiving holidays.
I believe that my relationship with my father has instilled in me the importance of consistency. Teachers, students and their families will need my consistent support and dedication to what is best for them. That support can range from guiding them to proper resources to being an ear to voice a need or concern. I feel confident that I will provide and assist anyone that I am given the opportunity to teach and help. Family emotional support is beneficial for academic outcomes as it promotes psychological well-being and facilitates greater student engagement (Roska, 2018). 

In addition to the relationship I have with my dad, the bond that I have with my daughters is also one of great importance. I valued the gift of being a mom and being blessed to have four wonderful daughters has given me happiness and a purpose beyond measure. My daughters are loving and encouraging about all things involving me. They are always telling me that I do not do enough for myself. If they have not heard from me, they will reach out or come home to visit to take me to dinner or just to be near me. My relationship with them is important to me because I need  them to know that it is never to late to go for what they want. Often times goals need adjusting as things do not always go as planned, when that happens seek out the positives and build on those positives to get you back on course is what I have told them. I am a firm believer in say what you mean and mean what you say. I would not advise my daughters anything that I would not be willing to apply for myself. Sometimes they have to remind me of that and I am perfectly okay with that. The relationships that I have with each of my daughters has given me different views and personalities that I am sure to encounter as they are all so very different. In having my four daughters, I have volunteered and spent an enormous amount of time over the years with educators, children and their families allowing me to experience what is needed to build a healthy relationship with students and their families. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the population of students aged 25 and older is projected to increase to approximately 43 percent of all college and graduate students by the year 2020 (Colorado Tech, 2017). Getting back on course with my education and having my father along with my daughters as part of my support system has made this a great chapter in my life.



References

Roksa, J., & Kinsley, P. Res High Educ (2018, June 30). The Role of Family Support in Facilitating Academic Success of Low-Income Students. Retrieved November 9, 2019, from https://firstgen.naspa.org/scholarly-article/the-role-of-family-support-in-facilitating-academic-success-of-low-income-students.

Colorado Technical University. (2017, June 29). Retrieved November 9, 2019, from https://www.coloradotech.edu/blog/2017/june/returning-to-school-as-an-adult.