My Connections to play!

1. “Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.” -Mr. Rogers 
2. “We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.” -Charles Schaefer 

These Pictures Represent the essential items I remember when I was a child and I would play.  

     When I was a child Play was simply going outside with friends or inviting friends over to play barbies or make up our own games to play.  My parents definitely encouraged play with me and my brothers and sisters. They didn't want us sitting inside to watch television my mom always said we should be out exploring even though I could not leave the "block"or go across the street without permission.  We had to explore in our own boundaries and I grew up on a street with a lot of kids and everyone played together.  We would all meet up at someones porch and take it from their whether we played hide and seek or the girls would play barbies and the boys would wrestle or play with action figures.  My childhood was a lot of fun because for most of my play I got to use my imagination and learn from the other kids around me.  

     Play today is definitely different from when I was a child.  Technology has taken over today and kids don't go outside to play anymore with other kids.  There are ipads, and cell phones that children are so fascinated with today.  When I was a kid it was fun and we didn't have that at all I didn't get my first cell phone until I got to high school and kids today have them at 5 years old.  The imagination kids from my generation had was so different because we had to actually use only ourselves, but it never got boring for one second.  My hope for children today and for my own children in the future is for them to be allowed to play more without technology and television interfering so much.  I had an amazing childhood and I am grateful for the many things I got to learn just by playing.  

     Play for me allowed me to be creative and It made me realize just how creative I am.  I enjoyed playing pretend and being someone I am not.  It was fun to be in another world and that is partly why I have a passion for acting, when I was a child playing pretend allowed for me to be anyone I wanted and to make up scenarios and It was fun for me and easy for me I feel like every child should have that kind of experience because they can learn so much and discover new things for themselves and that is an amazing feeling.  

Relationship Reflection

         Relationships definitely mean a lot to me, the reason that they mean so much to me is because it is a reflection of me and the people that I care about the most in life and how we show our love and support for each other.  I have some really amazing people in my life that I am so proud to have here.  My dad and mom, my sisters and brothers my nice and nephew Also my grandparents.  There  are so many more people in my life that I have really positive relationships with and they all mean so much to me.  Below I have displayed a few pictures of some of my loved ones.
         The relationship I have with my parents is really positive.  They both support me in my decisions and goals and always provide advice and I do the same with them.  They have been here for me through a lot and have helped me when I have struggled and this relationship works because we have a certain dynamic and love that has been built for years and years.  I have always been really close to both of my parents and if it were not for them I would not have made it so far.
        My siblings, my brothers and sisters we have all supported each other in everything. We look to each other for guidance and have always had each others backs in so many different ways. We have that bond that works even when we haven't seen or talked to each other in a while nothing changes and that is what I love about my entire family, it is never weird we have an unbreakable bond that is filled with love and support.
        Some of the challenges that I face with maintaining these relationships is that I am all the way across the country from all of my family. I live in Los Angeles, and my family for the most part live in Chicago.  I have made a better effort to call and contact them when I can to keep the communication going and they do the same.  I also visit whenever I get the chance and they do as well.  I have lived in Los Angeles for 7 years now and we all have made an attempt to make our relationship work and it has never changed.
       The special characteristics that I do have with my family is that I am always open and honest with them.  They are always honest with me as well and we respect each other for that.  I know my family pretty well and I share with them a lot of my life since they are not able to be here all the time to see it.  My experience with knowing how to maintain and build these relationships with the people closest to me will definitely impact me as early childcare professional. I know how to communicate effectively and I have learned that over the years with having to learn that in my own family.  I have opened up a lot and ask questions and share my thoughts well.  I have learned to work hard at keeping my relationships positive and giving as well as receiving.  All of this will help me when I have to build on relationships and partnerships in my own career as an early childcare professional.