"My Connections to Play"

 

Two quotes that summarize what play meant and still means to me are:

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." -Plato

"If you want to be creative, stay in part a child, with the creativity and invention that characterizes children before they are deformed by adult society."  - Jean Piaget


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PLAY ITEMS FOR MY YOUNGER SELF.......

Cabbage Patch Dolls, I had at least 10 of them!

One of my FAVORITE CHILDHOOD TOYS





Paper Dolls....boy, did I ever play with these!
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In my childhood, I spent a lot of time alone in my room playing by myself.  I remember playing with my dolls and doing a lot of imaginary play in the mirror.  I was an only child so most of my memories are of playing by myself, but I do have a few random memories of playing with Lincoln Logs in preschool with a boy named Peter.  We used to build together and I remember always following him and playing what he wanted to play.  I don't remember my teachers much, just Peter being very nice to me and always building legos and blocks with me for my dolls.

 

I don't think play has changed all that much because I see my students playing with the same things I used to play with and I see friendships that are inseparable.  I have two students that I have to encourage to go to different centers because they choose to do the same things together every single day and their parents want them exposed to other friends and other learning centers.  I also see my two sons playing together all the time and it's different than my upbringing because they have eachother so they always have a playmate. 

 

I think play was a big part of why I wanted to become a teacher.  I always played "school" in my room and my cabbage patch dolls were my students.  I used a chalk board to teach them and I always, always talked to myself in the mirror.  Some things haven't changed much because I still talk to myself in the mirror all the time!  ha ha ha.... I also love to play with my kids and with my students and I always want to have that little kid in me alive inside!  You have to live a little and that means being a kid sometimes, it's the funnest time of your life!



RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

I think relationships and partnerships are important to me because they provide support, guidance, advice and most of all, LOVE.  Here is a picture of my #1 relationship...

These are my amazing children!  They are my love, my life and my world.  I have different relationships with each of them and they are special in their own way.

My oldest son is now 17 years old, driving a car and driving me crazy!  Our relationship has gone from mother/baby to mother/young man.  It has evolved into friendship consisting of understanding and trust on both our parts, and that was no easy challenge.  Teenagers can be challenging, but I think he and I get along beautifully and we have a very open relationship, one that I wasn't able to have with my own parents, so I treasure it very, very much.

My middle son is now 10 years old, getting into an age where he is finding his own identity and doesn't want to "need mommy" all the time.  He is very independant, and takes his role of big brother (to his little brother) very seriously.  He comes to me as a last resort, because he feels like he's a big boy now and can do everything on his own.  Our relationship has probably been the most challenging because he doesn't like to be seen as a baby, and thinks I embarass him all the time.  It has been hard to watch him grow and let him become independant, even more challenging that my oldest, I'm not sure why?????

Lastly, there's my baby who is not so much of a baby if you see him.  He may be 8 years old, but he thinks he's 2!  That one needs me for everything and he's not embarassed to say it.  He and I still have a mommy/baby relationship and I'm not going to lie, I'm glad he's growing up slower than the other two.  I can really understand how people always said that kids grow up too fast.  I love our relationship and I wish I could keep him this age forever!

It may be difficult at times to juggle the three relationships I have with my children, but I try my best to be fair and give each equal attention.  It's true that sometimes I'm pulled in three different directions, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

Having and maintaining positive relationships comes from within ourselves.  If you approach a relationship in a positive mindframe, chances are you will have positive results.  These are the most important relationships in my life and they have each shown me how to be more caring, empathatic, nurturing and loving which in turn has made me a better teacher.

I show love, respect, empathy and care for every one of my students.  I make sure to treat them fairly and most importantly, I treat them the way I would hope my children are treated by their teachers.