"MY CONNECTIONS TO PLAY"

"Children have always learned and created places for themselves through play."

Donna R Barnes

"Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game."

Michael Jordan

"Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning"

Fred Rogers

We basically played all day long when I was a child; hot, cold, and even rain. I remember going out early in the morning, during the summer, and the only rules were that we had to let someone know if we were leaving from the house, and we had to be back before the street lights came on. My mom use to let use use old pots, pans and spoons to cook with while we played house behind the bushes.  She always made sure we had skates, and we use to be able to go a few streets over to the newly paved street and skate. We use to play on dirt piles and in mud puddles, and it was ok, as long as we didn't track it into the house.  I remember the street flooding during heavy rains at our apartment complex, and it would be like a giant swimming pool after the rain stopped. The entire complex would be outside playing in the water and waiting on someone to try and drive through and get stuck.

Play today is different because children don't get outside as much, and if they do they complain about it being too hot or too cold, or they say it's nothing to do outside.  They are content with staying inside with the computers, video games, and ipods.  Parents don't encourage physical activities unless it's something like team sports such as football, basketball, baseball, etc. and then, it's only because they want to raise a ball player.

It concerns me how play, or the lack of, has changed over the years.  I have wonderful memories of my childhood and the opportunities I had to use my imagination and be creative.  I enjoy talking with my sisters & brother, and old friends about all the crazy and fun things we use to do as children.  I worry that my children won't have the same type  of memories to share when they are older.  Even as adults we need to take time to play and have fun.  I have coloring books and crayons that I use now, because it was one of my favorite things to do as a child, and it helps me to relieve stress.  I guess that's also why I love teaching preschool. It keeps me young by allowing me to lay on the floor and color, sing kids songs, read my favorite children's books, play house, etc.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” George Bernard Shaw

“Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good” Lucia Capocchione

"We all need empty hours in our lives or we will have no time to create a dream."
Robert Coles

Relationship Reflection

I believe what makes a relationship strong is being able to trust and depend on someone.  It doesn't have to be a relationship where you talk with the person everyday, but it's knowing that they are always there for you.        My most significant and most important relationships are the ones with my children. ( ages 13, 16, 20)  Being a single mom, I always try to maintain a good positive relationship with my children.  It's not always easy because we go through the bad along with the good, but what I always want them to know is that I am always here for them regardless of how much trouble they think they are in. We spend a lot of time together, talking and listening, and I think they are secure enough in knowing that they can always come to me, even with the hard stuff.  I try to keep communication open and honest so that when in doubt, they will not be lead astray by others, but instead will say, "wait a minute, I have to call my mom first."

Maintaining positive relationships can be challenging because people grow apart by changes in their lives. Circumstances change people and there may not be as much effort put toward maintaining or even developing new relationships.  Some relationships are unspoken understandings between individuals that others can't understand even when you try to explain, so eventually you quite trying and leave them guessing.

As an early childhood professional, I try to build positive, open relationships with others as I do in my personal life.  I try to maintain relationships positively and make lasting impressions, so that even if life sends you in different directions, you can continue the relationship if you meet again.

Quotes about Children

"Children are one-third of our population and all of our future."
                                                     Unknown


"When you put faith, hope and love together, you can raise positive kids in  a negative world."
                                                     Zig Ziglar


"Children are like wet cement.  Whatever falls on them leaves an impression."
                                                     Dr. Haim Ginott


"He who teaches children learns more than they do."
                                                    German Proverb   

Week 8 -Quote

Life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our 
children - all of our children - a better world.  Even it's difficult.  Even if the work seems
great. Even if we don't get very far in our lifetime.
                                                                               
BARACK OBAMA, speech, Jun. 15, 2008                                                      

Stressor

I had a friend that I grew up with whose mother and her boyfriend would fight all the time.  Most of the fussing and fighting came after they had either been out drinking all day or they were at home drinking all day.  I remember them coming home drunk, and she would run in our house to keep from being embarrassed by the two of them. Most of the the time she would play with us as if nothing was wrong, but when they started to fight, she would become very quiet and withdrawn.  She would beg my Mom to let her spend the night because she knew what it was going to be like at her house anytime they were drinking.  She talked about how there was never anything for her to eat at home, and she couldn't study or sleep because of the noise.  My Mom always let her stay and it got to the point where she was at our house more than she was home.  My mother told her she was always welcome there, and all she had to do was come over.  After awhile she learned to overlook the drama at her house, because she knew she had a place to go were she felt safe and comfortable, and she didn't have to worry about being embarrassed.

India has a very high rate of domestic violence, especially against women.  It's considered the fastest growing crime in India with a crime recorded against women every three minutes.  Children of domestic violence tend to behave normally at home if the violence is hidden from them.  If they see it, they tend to be unhappy, silent and reserved.  They may develop stress related health problems, try to help and get hurt, or become damaged mentally, as well as copy the behavior when they become adults.  Children, also, lose self confidence, become angry and/or afraid and blame themselves.
Public, private and governmental agencies are making huge efforts to control and reduce domestic violence in India.  Researchers are also making efforts to reduce domestic violence by focusing on social conditions.  The Domestic Violence Bill of 2001 was passed in India to protect the rights of women.  The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005 was also passed.

NUTRITION/MALNUTRITION

I chose this health topic because it really bothers me that there are so many children in this world who don't get the proper nutrition they need and suffer from malnutrition as a result.  I stay on my children, constantly, about not wasting food and being picky because so many children don't even get to eat, much less have the opportunity to pick and choose.  It is so very important for children to have proper nutrition in order to grow and develop properly, and even to function day to day without being tried or hungry.  
As I continue to learn more about nutrition/malnutrition, I hope to able to advocate for better nutrition by emphasizing how important it is for children as they grow and develop.
Nutrition/Malnutrition in China
In China, 12% of poverty areas are being affected by malnutrition.  Over recent years, China has often met or exceeded  agricultural needs, but they are now facing nutrition and food concerns in poorer regions.  Many adults and children suffer from malnutrition and vitamin & mineral deficiencies.
In 2010, free lunch programs were started for some students in high poverty areas.  Many of these children suffer from low weight and shorter heights because of malnutrition.

Birthing Experience

The birth of my second child, who is now 16 years old, was completely different from the births of my first and third children.  This is the birth that I had to have a very unexpected emergency c-section with.  I was scheduled to be induced at exactly 36 weeks after spending the six weeks prior on bedrest. I had been telling my doctor and my mom the entire time I did not want a c-section. Everthing started out fine that morning after I was induced and eventually received my epidural. All of a sudden my daughter's heartrate began to drop due to a reaction to the medicine.  I ended up having an c-section, anyway, but my daughter was born healthy at 5lbs14ozs.  She was also born with an extra digit on each hand and an extra digit on one foot.
I chose this example because it was different and harder than my other natural births.  I prefer the natural birth, and I often say if the c-section was the only way to give birth, I would probably have one child instead of three.  (Thank God for natural birth!)
My thoughts regarding birth are regardless of what we want to happen, sometimes we have to do whats best for ourselves and our unborn child.  As children grow older, we have to continue to do whats best for them regardless of what they want to happen.

Births in Sweden
Midwives handle the entire pre, during and post birth, unless there are complications.  A doctor is seen after birth to check the ears, eyes, heart, etc.  C-section rate is lower that most western countries. (17% compared to 31% in U.S.)
The differences are that my pre, during and post birth, was done by a doctor. Similarities are that if complications arise, a doctor will deliver care.