My Connections to Play

“Play allows us to develop alternatives to violence and despair; it helps us learn perseverance and gain optimism.”  Stuart Brown MD

This quote is a true reflection of how play affected my childhood.  I was not exposed to violence as a child but my family was in despair quite often.  I had a favorite tree that I would go to at the ‘Tree Park’ located two blocks from my home.  I was able to climb into this tree and pretend I was flying to exotic places and engaging in exciting adventures.  I played with big Maytag appliance boxes, making them into castles and fancy cars.  During the summer months we played outside from the time we woke up until bedtime; riding bikes, playing hide and seek, kick ball or playing red light green light.  During Halloween I would make a haunted house in our apartment with blankets and chairs; as my little brother and his friend crawled through the dark tunnel of blankets they would stick their hand in cooked spaghetti, jello and tomato sauce with me telling them they were feeling a brain, a heart and blood. This play supported resiliency and adaptability as my family experienced despair throughout my childhood.

“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

 As a teenager I was provided an opportunity to work in Glacier National Park where my uncle was the facilities engineer for the big hotel and cabins.  During my three summers of working there, I did engage in many exotic adventures; hiking up mountains and to glaciers deep in the mountains, canoeing and swimming in clear, clean lakes, and horseback riding.  My aunt and uncle always made sure I had food in my backpack, bug spray, blanket, first aid kit, bells to keep the bears away and extra socks in case my feet got wet.  It is these experiences that kept me optimistic through different life struggles through my teenage and adult years.

             

Play for children today is different than it was 40-50 years ago.  We did not have cable television with Disney or Nickelodeon.  Going to a movie theatre was a big treat when I was growing up, now there are big screen televisions with high definition to show movies at any time.  Legos and Lincoln logs took the place of video games and playing outside when it is dark is an absolute NO today compared to when I was a child.

The topic of play this week has caused me to look at play in my adult life.  I have an 8-year-old who is very good at keeping me active with play and using my imagination.  I am just not too sure I would be as playful without her in my life.  I also have a 30-year-old who has accused me of being a workaholic so without the 8-year-old to remind me how important play is, I may have spiraled into a depressed workaholic.  Unless this college class saved me from being my own worst enemy and I included play in my life to remain optimistic, adaptable and creative.

Relationship Reflection

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~Marcel Proust

I have a reserved personality, my family is small and I am not a social butterfly.  My relationships are few and mighty.   Relationships allow you to multiply your happy times and cut your sorrows in half.  Relationships with family, colleagues and friends are established because of mutual interests.   It is through experiencing these shared interests that allow the relationship to blossom.

My husband and I have created and maintain a nice home for our children.  We enjoy providing a warm and nurturing environment for our children and all their friends.  We have fun riding our bikes and walking the local beaches and beaches in Hawaii.  We have been there to support each other in the deaths of our moms and we have celebrated holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, births, and promotions.

My 30-year-old daughter and I have seen each other in the best of times and the worst of times.  We can talk with each other about anything and everything.  We can tease each other, we laugh at each other’s silliness, share our frustrations and share our daily experiences in life.   We are both in the field of early childhood and share a passion for supporting a foundation of learning for zero to five-year-old children.

The 8-year-old is the light of my life.  We sing silly songs, play Mario brothers on the Wii, exercise, take nice walks, play games, and read.  We also enjoy playing Skeet Ball at the arcade in the mall, and then it is fun to watch her decide what prizes she wants from all the tickets we win.  Making silly faces in front of the camera at the little photo shops in the mall is also a highlight for us.  We also enjoy our quiet times in the rocking chair cuddling; her talking about the daily experiences with me listening and asking questions.

I have a unique role in the field of early childhood.  As a member of the training and technical assistance network my work is with Head Start directors and content area managers.  Establishing relationships with the staff from 34 different programs can at times be challenging because they see me as a federal employee there to find their faults.  Once they learn I was also in their positions relying on my T/TA provider and I am there to support them to be successful in providing quality services for children and families the barriers slowly come down.  Partnerships are established because of mutual interests and our mutual interest is for children to thrive in the classroom and families to thrive in the community.  I try to ask the right questions and then become an active listener.  I am a learner of the dynamics and demographics of Head Start programs in 34 communities which are all made up of unique strengths and challenges; being a learner of each program is the key to establishing partnerships with the staff.