My Connection to Play

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

Donna R. Barnes
Contemporary American psychologist

1896–1980

It is in playing, and only in playing, that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self.

D.W. Winnicott
British pediatrician
1896–1971

Our all time favor game was hid-n-seek, as we used multiple yards to play.

 

As a child growing up play was a way of escaping from the daily chores, since both of my parents worked and as the oldest child a lot of responsibility fell to me.  The neighborhood we lived in was amazing as everyone had gates that connected them to the house behind them.  We will often play hid-n-seek between the yards.  Even the neighbors who did have children didn’t mind us playing in their yards as long as we respected their property.  I can remember playing until it was dark and going home so tired that I was relaxed from my other responsibilities.  The neighborhood supported all of the children in play allowing us an open area to roam and explore.

Play today is different from when I played as a child.  There is so much technology out that children stay inside playing games, on the computer or watching television.  As a child television wasn’t important.   We created our own games as most parents didn’t have extra money to buy games.  Children don’t know what it is like to go outside and play.   I would love to see more parents and education systems encouraging play for all children.  Play offers a nice break in the academic day and is a good stress reliever for all age’s of children.  Play is the first steps to children learning socially, emotionally, cognitively and helps to promote a healthy development all around.

I think play has helped me to be creative in my own hobbies.  Looking back play was a time for me to escape and be a kid.  Often time was not permitted for play and I think that has affected some of my social confidence, especially when speaking in front of others.  I remember the times the neighborhood children got together to play we had fun laughing, hanging out and just being with others our age.

Kickball was the best when all the neighborhood kids could get together for tournament.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me because they are my life line living overseas.  Through my relationships I am able to love and care for the people that mean the most to me whether it is family or my extended family.  These individuals are a support system for me whenever I need to call or ask for help.  It is heartbreaking to build relationships with my extended family as they eventually move, with the military, after three to four years. 

My daughter and I have a wonderful relationship.  Now that she is older we are friends as well.  She knows that we have an open line of communication and can discuss any topic with me.  This relationship has taught me patience and amazing listen skills.  It is because of her that I challenge myself in so many different aspects.  I can always count on her to be there and I likewise for her.  Her relationship is special in that we have grown with each other each and every day since she was born.

For relationships to work you have to care and be able to trust the other individual.  Learning to trust someone is not an easy task.  I’ve trying living by the rule that I will trust until you do something wrong.  I try to enter every relationship with an open mind and heart.