my connections to play

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

My childhood may be over, but that doesn’t mean playtime is. Ron Olson











My parents supported my play by making sure my brother and I had all the "newest and coolest" toys out there. We were not allowed to have video games until we were 10. When we were much smaller we would always be outside playing sports with each other and my two cousins. We also all collected beanie babies and would pretend to talk to each other through them. My parents supported us because they never really interrupted us and let us do what we wanted without us getting hurt, obviously. We werent trouble makers anyways, so they didnt really have to worry about us doing anything dumb.

I feel like when I was a kid I would pretend to be all these different things, like the power rangers, or mickey mouse, and other stuff. I feel like pretend play doesnt happen as often at the child care center I work at. I always see the kids playing with the balls and stuff but usually someone gets hurt or a teacher interjects on what they are doing so they never get to explore the imaginary world. I love watching my students in my class pretend to be things. They are only two, so their imagination can only go so far with what they know. I love watching them pretend to go shopping, or be on a "important phone call", or be on an airplane or train. It is so cute, and reminds me of when I was little and what I was really interested in.

I can only hope that this generation of kids have as good a time with playing and their imagination then I did because my childhood was awesome and I would love to go back and just be a kid again, it's so simple and makes you look at life a whole different way.

relationship reflection

Relationships are important to me because without relationships in your life you have no one to talk to or lean on in times of need. I am very grateful for everyone in my life that I can depend on because without them I wouldnt be anywhere close to where I am now.

The people that I see very close and the most important relationships in my life are my Mom, my best friend, my grandmother, my aunt and uncle and my brother. Another really close relationship I had was with my dog but she recently passed away so I am still dealing with that loss.

My mom is my go to person. She is my best friend and when I need anything she is always there for me. My dad passed away when I was 17 so she really stepped it up for my brother and I and made sure we still had the best life we could. She is my hero and I wouldnt be anywhere close to where I am without her in my life.

My best friend Kaely has always been there for me through the good and bad. She recently just helped me get through these panic attacks and anxiety issues I was going through. If it wasnt for her and my mom I'm not sure what would have happened to me. I am all better now, but going through the anxiety and panic attacks was the hardest thing I have ever had to do and without them I'm not sure what would have happened. I am very grateful for Kaelys friendship and am happy we have been friends for so long.

My grandma, brother and aunt and uncle all are my other go to people. They are always there for me no matter what and I really appreciate knowing that I can go to them when I have no one else to talk to.

I have a lot of other people in my life, but these people I see as my go to people and I think I would struggle in life without them.

I have learned through my lifetime that the only way to maintain a relationship is to put in the effort just as much as the other person. It's not fair to you or the other person to be always there and then you not be there at all for them. I have gone through a lot of friends and boyfriends/girlfriends that either I just wasnt feeling it or they weren't making the same effort as well. You must know what you want and so does the other person too, otherwise it wont work out as a friendship or a relationship.

Characteristics that make a good relationship/friendship is trust, honesty, caring, sense of humor, effort, and I think just being good people. If you can't be honest or trust the person you are trying to be with or be friends with it basically is a waste of time to even try to make it work.

Knowing how to be a good friend/partnership in a relationship helps in the early childhood field because you learn that you must make the effort to show you care and be able to be trusted by these kids. In this field, trust is a huge thing. These little children wont do anything you say or be fully able to do anything successful if they dont trust you. These kids are trusting you with their lifes and you must, as the teacher, be able to show them that you are always there for them.

video and special thanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hn0O_L6lfI


this video shows all the milestones of a baby from birth to toddler. I really like it because it gives you the idea of what is going on and it shows them on the video. I really like that they give little fun facts too! This video I think really gives a lot of information, and it is entertaining to watch!



I also would like to thank Lynette and Candi for always taking the time to read my posts and giving me their insights on what they think of my posts and findings.

assessing children

I think one of the most important things to assess in a child is their behaviors. I think this because a child could be acting out to get attention maybe because they are not getting enough at home. They could also be destructive because they are getting abused at home and they dont know how to express it in any other way. I think it is very important for teachers to always be aware of how the child is behaving and never take it lightly or punish them before understanding the reasoning behind it.

In Africa, they dont assess the children on how they behave its more of what they need as a person like food or clothes or medicine. Some parts of Africa are so poor that they dont really worry about the child's education, they worry about more of their well being. They assess health, clothes, and the environment they are living in. The teacher will then decide (assess) what the child will need and will try to help them as best as he or she can.

I recently had to do some assessments on children in my classroom who are turning two. I had a few of them average and then one of them was below average and no where near what he should be doing. His parents never wanted a meeting or anything. I'm not sure if it is because he's only two and they think eventually he will catch up, but I feel like if I were a parent I would be making sure I was doing everything I could for the child.


http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED119942&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED119942

disease

I have a friend who has a cousin that has cancer. He has already beaten cancer once, but now it is back again. It is so terrible that cancer can come back! This disease especially, effects his cousin because he cant go to school and with all the medicines and trying to get rid of the cancer his body is not developing the way it should be. Currently, the boy is coping with it by being at the hospital until they have gotten rid of it. He is 8 years old, and looks basically like a 5 year old because of all his body has gone through. His parents have decided to home school him until he can go back to school, but in reality how much schooling is he going to get while feeling like crap and fighting cancer. It is terrible that things like this can happen to people, especially children!




A place that I looked up was a subsaharan tribe in Africa and they are fighting against AIDS. Out of all disease, I feel like that is a huge disease to be fighting against, especially with so little funds. However, the website I looked at said that the tribe is decreasing in the HIV testing so that means the tribe is slowly getting rid of the disease, which is good! People from "Global Fund" have gone over there to help them with testing and giving them medicine.
Having AIDS in your tribe as a child can be frightening. Not only are they trying to fight against that disease, but I can guarantee there isnt much education being taught over there. I guess in some countries, its more about surviving then school. Getting AIDS also decreases your growth and development, and eventually you die. These kids need as much help as they can get!

breastfeeding

I chose breastfeeding because I have always heard its the best for the child. I have also heard doctors will try and pressure you into it. I think it should be your choice and your choice only what you want to do. My brother and I were not breastfed and we are never sick and live great healthy lives. I think it all depends on the child. I personally dont think I will be breastfeeding, but I dont want to have people judging me and saying I dont love my child if I dont. From my own experiences, it seems that no matter what you feed your child, as long as you are taking good care of the child you will have a very healthy child.

In an article that I read about an African culture, it said "In many African cultures it is normal to breastfeed until well into toddlerhood. It is also normal for older children under the age of six or seven to breastfeed again with their younger sibling." (www.incultureparent.com) I think that in that kind of culture it is normal for them to be breastfeeding that old because they dont have many utilities or food or milk. I have always found it strange when a mother in America is still breastfeeding their child at the age of two. It creeps me out. However, it is their choice, and it is not my opinion that matters. In Africa they call it "extended breastfeeding" when the 6 or 7 year old decides to start breastfeeding again.

With this information, I now have more knowledge about another cultures way of life. In my line of work, I work in a childcare center, and I am seeing mothers breastfeed all the time. In my work however, I haven't seen any still breastfeeding at an older age. I think that in our day and age parents know it is weird to do, especially in public, so maybe some of them still do at home, but I never see any in my workplace.


References
www.incultureparent.com

special birth

The special birth I only know is of my own. I was born on New Years Day and everyone gets incredibly excited every time I tell them my birthday. I think it is a cool birthday to have. However, now that I am older, my birthday isn't as fun because of the night before being New Years Eve. I do know that in my birth my mom had to have c-section, I never really knew why or anything, but she had one with me and then she had another with my brother. Other then that I don't really know any great birthing stories. I am very queezy so I would never go watch someone have a baby even if it is a "miracle". I will only be present for the birth of my child when I get pregnant and that is it. I think when you are carrying a child you need to be as cautious as possible. You are carrying a life in you! I think it is crazy that us women can carry a child and push one out of us. I think if you are going to have a baby then you better be ready for the responsibility and commitment it comes with.

I looked up a tribe in Africa and they are so different then we are its crazy! I also watched the movie "Babies", and watched a bunch of different places have a child. I thought the tribe in Africa was just insane. These mothers literally just squat down and have a child with no medication! I don't understand how anyone can do that. They also licked their baby clean and wiped their poopie butts on their knees. It basically looked like they were animals, and it basically grossed me out. It blows my mind how different countries can be.