"Challenges"

Work Challenges:

As a child Care provider; I've had to deal with challenge pertaining to parents. Some parents seem to not value child care providers as professional teachers. Why? I really do not know. I do know that I value my job and what I do daily to make a difference in the lives of children. And not having that support from staff, parents can make my job stressful. I make it my business to meet/greet parents and children in the morning and evening; even when certain parent do not speak. I just find it to be very disturbing for parent's to not acknowledge their child's teacher. To me it saying to the child, "I have little or any respect for this teacher; so therefore you don't have to respect them as well." There are days I love my job and what I do as an early child care teacher. And than there are days when I feel I can't do this anymore. But than, I may call Alvin and he would say, " Just hang in there, don't give up." Some parents need to understand how important child care teachers need their support. Our jobs are already stressful enough; why add on unnecessary stress by not being kind, helpful and supportive.

I may not get the moral support I need at work, but I definitely receive it from home. Some days I come home and just be an emotinal wreck and my family is there to give me the emotional boost that I need. Without my family and fiance, I couldn't amagine functioning normally.

It does not matter what our career path are, we all need a support system to help us maintain daily. Imagine life without people who care or reliable sources, now that is something to really think about.

"My Support"

The definition of support to me is someone who holds your best interest to heart;  people or things we can rely and depend on.

I would have to say my main support system is"Christ" I lean and depend on Christ through the good times and bads times.

 Outside of my relationship with Christ, than I would have to say my "Family"

My Family; Mother, siblings, children, and my fiance have all been my foundation.

My Fiance, Alvin is my motivator. He encourges me to never give up on my dream.

My mother is my jewel, she is a very strong woman and she raised her children to be the same way. I can call my mother anytime of the day and she is there for me.

My siblings; my oldest sister lives in Minnesota, she's not only my oldest sister, but she's my best friend as well. We can talk about anything and I don't have to worry about being judged. I know that she's going to tell me what is right and I love her for that.


My daily calender and note book:

My daily calender and notebook is my keepsake/bestfriend that I could not survive without. My schedule from day to day is so extremely busy that sometimes I don't know if I'm going or coming. I need my daily calender to help me stay focus and organized. I also document up coming events, assignments, and appointments. My notebook is my second brain, I take notes on everything, from school work to what I experineces in a day. It's like a journal for me.

I benefit something from each person/thing that I named in my support system;

"Christ"-my bible is my foundation

"Family"-is my rock/support system

"Children"-are my encouragement, they play a big part of the reason I'm motivated

"Alvin is a wonderful man/person that Christ Blessed us to reconnect after twenty-five years. He has really been supportive of me working towards my Master's and I love him for that.

"Calender/notebook- helps me to stay oragnized and focused on my every day duties, assignments and future events.


The difficulties without my support system



If I did not have these people or things to help me stay focus and sane in maintaining my daily duties, task, adversities, and obsticles, I don't know what I would do. Life will bring us all types of debacles, and having that support system in our lives will make things a little more easier to deal with. One person can't manage life adversities and obsticles without having someone to vent/talk to. I know that I can't. I'm very greatful for the people and things that I rely on and need to help make my life a bit more easier. 

I could not amagine my life without anyone in my support system; for they all bring value and support in my life. As I stated before; my relationship with Christ has grounded and rooted me to the person I'm today. My mother is my rock she has impacted my life in so many different ways. Growing up she raised us to treat people the way in which we wanted to be treated. I have tried to live by this saying all my life. I instilled the same values in my children as they were growing up. She would always say, "It is nice to be nice." My children are grown now, but they have always been my reason for wanting to do better in life. I wanted to be an example for them; therefore they would hopefully walk in my footsteps. Education is something I value and I encourge my children to get a college education for one day it will pay off and be well needed.

Role of "Play"

My thoughts of role on "play," now and when I was a child; it is essential for children to be introduced to "play," but in a positve form. Children need to experience as many forms of positve "play" as to their developmental growth. Growing up, we all played together in the neighborhood and in pre-school. I remember playing with friends and experiencing times, were I may have cried or my feelings got hurt, but in the end, I learned different types of "play." Play is beneficial for children to go through in order to grow and learn from. I learned problem-solving skills, and how to deal with certain things through interacting with my peers. It is crucial in todays early childhood programs for children to experinces "play." Play stimulates children thoughts and allows them to make their on decisions. It is crucial for children to experience and learn things on thier own; this enables them to grow into productive individuals. Play is the first opportunity for children to discover the world in which they live in (Jona K. Anderson-McNamee, 2010).

Play is important because it is the way in which children are able to to use and reflect on their experiences, to represent their ideas and to ask answer questions that preoccupy them (Smidt 2006).

Entry on "Play"

In terms of the differences in "play," when growing up as a child as to now with children, is not much of a difference. We have to understand that times have changed tremendously with children and what they're introduced to in todays society; some are good and bad. I remember my Aunt who passed away a year ago saying, "Times are not like they use to be." And this statement is very much so when it comes down to children in the early childhood, in terms of "play." Children learn from adults; therefor we must introduce children to postive "play" regardless of what type of play they maybe experiencing out side of the early childhood environment.

My hopes for children in our today's society to be introduced to postive "play." Play is healthy for children to grow and develop. Developmentalist believe that play is the most productive and enjoyable activity that children undertake (Elkind, 2007).  

Childhood "Play"

Growing up as a child all the children in the neighborhood played together. It didn't matter what type of game we played, we all played. We all got a long and played well togther. Looking back on my childhood play; I would not have ever thought that the games we played together and the interaction between us, played a vital part in our developmental growth. Parents encouraged children to play together. The role of play was just as important than as it is now; just wasn't acknowledge as it is today.

Essential Pictures of "Play"

Whether children are building blocks, painting or running, these are all a forms of "play." Children are developing social skills, while enteracting with one another. Their developing while using their small motor skills. 

"MY Connections to Play"

Quotes:

*Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning. They have to play with what they know... to be true and in order to find out more, and they can use what they learn in new forms of "Play."
                                                                                    
                                                                     Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers Neighborhood

*It is a happy talent to know how to "Play."

                           Ralph Waldo Emerson

*It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for "play" without seeing the vital connection between them

                                                                           Leo Buscaglia, author, educator