My Connections to Play

"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. 

But for children, play is serious learning"

- Mr Rogers

"Children need the freedom and time to play. 

Play is not a luxury.

Play is a necessity."

- Kay Redfield Jamison

As a little girl I got one of these for Christmas at a young age and I absolutely loved her. I would play Mommy for hours.

Cabbage Patch Kids were a huge craze when I was growing up and we had to go to the shop and formally adopt one.

Something we did very often would be to draw a tennis court on the road infront of the house and play tennis games. 

We grew up with a swimming pool and would spend all summer playing different games in the swimming pool with our cousins and friends.


I grew up in a very playful house, a lot of laughs and a lot of games.  My Dad being a sportsman always had some kind of physical game or big competition going with the kids.  He would engage in hours of playing with us and when I think back he really enjoyed it.  We learnt skills and rules through different games.  40 years later he is playing games with my 3 sons - getting down to their level and engaging with what is important to them and connecting on their level.
My grandmother used to play boardgames with me and bake with me.  She taught me to play cards and different boardgames, we would play and laugh and drink tea together - those memories are yet to fade.  Children want to feel loved and accepted, special and valued - through playing with children adults can share moments on their level and get a better understanding of them. 

Although the world is a faster and more technical place than it was when I was young - essentially play that was present then is still present now.  Many of the games that we played children still play now.  The big problem is that children are often so over stimulated by electronics and television that they don't play.  When these stimuli are taken away children are left to their own devices and imagination and have to room to play again.

Play is an essential part of childhood.  Through play children can model, express and understand the the world around them.  They acquire social skills while playing with others as well as teaching each other different things about the world.  Play is a natural way of learning that is on a child's developmental level and makes sense.  As adults we still play and should.  Sports, board games and playing with children even, these are all positive outlets and important part of our lives. 

RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

My meaninful relationships in my life


"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: that man is here for the sake of other men."

— Albert Einstein

Looking back through the years of life, I could not imagine my memories without the relationships that I have formed and experienced.  All my fondest and also sadness memories are linked to people that I have shared moments, times, experiences and emotions with.  Many of those people have taken separate paths to mine and some are still travelling along side me.  Whether someone shares a season of your life with you or stays for the full journey, the impact can be just as intense and memorable.

My husband and 3 sons are my life and the relationship I share with them is very deep.  My husband I have have been together through thick and thin for 17 years. We continue to learn and deepen our relationship, through mutual trust and respect, communication and putting our family first above all.

For me I have always had the constant of my family, my mother and father, my brother and sister and my Grandmother.  My grandmother that has passed away is the person that has left the biggest imprint in my heart and my life.  I felt her unconditional love always and as a child she was firm and loving.  She was interested in everything about me and I felt that. She taught me things and took me to simple but special places, she made time for me - and I felt that.  She gave me boundaries and love, she was a constant in my life.  Her love never changed nor shifted throughout my life and our relationship grew naturally into that of an adult one. 

Living an expat life that I do, I have made new friends at a later stage in my life.  There is something special about making new friendships but there is also something to be said for old and established friendships.  I have friends from 25 years ago, we don't always keep in touch but when we see each other it's as if no time has passed and we pick up from where we left off.  To share memories and a past together is precious. 
A relationship for me, whether it be friendship or intimate, needs to be based on trust and respect.  We can't want nor expect our friends or partner to have the same thoughts and ideas as we have.  We need to celebrate each others differences and learn from each other.  To foster a good relationship we need to be open and listen to our friends, think about others and make time for them. 
Relationships are not always easy sailing and they require work and dedication.  I have had issues in the past with a friend and even though we both felt very differently about the same situation we talked and decided to agree to disagree - as our friendship was more important that arguing over opinions. 
This posting may be getting long, but I feel that I need to share this special piece that a very person in my life just posted.  I thought it was very apt when talkign about relationships.  SHe has recently given birth to a little girl with mosiac down syndrome and she need open heart surgery.  They do not have the money for the surgery have reached out to friends and family for help.

In the process of living our lives we plant seeds wherever we go with all the people we meet in all the unique ways we influence each other. The initial nourishment and attention given so vital so that the soil can become rich, fertile with inspiration and love.

That encouragement helps the seeds grow up with branches that reach out and bear fruit to nourish others. Remembering its all thanks to the strong roots its been blessed with.
This amazing list of donors reminds me of all the seeds I have had planted and scattered through out my life. How lucky I am that they were given the attention needed to be nourished, inspired and loved. How deep those roots have grown. How beautifully influenced and enriched my life has been as a result. And now, at a time when I need it most, it is raining love on the sweetest little flower in my garden to help her grow strong with encouragement, inspiration and love too.
Thank you all- friends, family, colleagues, students and their families, community networks, acquaintances, friends of friends, strangers... Thank you for your nurture. Thank you for your support.

When working in Early Childhood I made sure to have open and warm relationships with the parents of the children in my class.  For many of them it was their first schooling experience for their child and of course daunting and often emotional.  As a teacher I felt that I needed to be compassionate to that and understanding and by giving the families support they felt cared for and had more confidence in leaving their young children in my care.  It was a mutual respect and the through these relationships the children also felt more secure and happier at school. 

                                            My 3 boys and I, Joshua 4, Jayden 3 & Nicky 1

                                            My beloved Grandmother - Mariella Puccini

                                              The birth of our 3rd son, Nicholas Frank

                                   My brother, Frank, and I growing up with our dog Sandy

                                                    My Mom, brother and sister, Jacinta

My Dad and I, 39 years ago 

Setting up my professional learning community

I have been fortunate enough to have worked at 5 different schools on 3 different continents and through those experiences I have met many diverse and interesting professionals.  I have kept in touch with many of them and have chosen 2 for this excersice.

Julie Hanocque, is a preschool coordinater at International School of Riau (Sumatra - Indonesia)

Frankie Rees - Preschool teacher/coordinator and art teacher at International school of Amsterdam (Holland)

These 2 professions have graciously accepted my request and will gladly help me by answering any questions and giving their opinions.

The organisation that I have chosen is NAEYC.  A good friend and colleague is passionate about this organisation and I have always wanted to know more about it.