MY SUPPORTS

Within my daily life, there are many supports that are in place to keep me sane and on track.  My spiritual support allows me to be a better person from all stand points.  I need my spirituality to always be in place so that I can deal with certain situations and circumstances in a proper and worthy manner that is pleasing to God.  The support of my family and friends are also important to me.  Family and friends provide me with the comfort and attention that I need.  Having some one that is there to talk with me when I am stressing or worrying about the things in life I know I can't change, means so much to me.  If I did not have the supports listed above, I don't know how I would be able to survive.  They both provide me with the strength, motivation, and determination to continue to become a better mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.  My life would be miserable without these supports in it.  I love my God, family, and friends!!


We all dream and imagine life without someone or something.  Thanks to my support, God, I am able to live my life accordingly.  Recently I have noticed in the news how families are losing their homes to the banks and foreclosures.  I am thankful that I am still able to pay my mortgage.  For this assignment, I will imagine my life with no home.  If this were to come to pass, I would no doubt need a support system in place to help me along the journey.  Of course the main factor would be a place to live.  This is where family and friends come into place.  There has to be some one that is willing to take me in so that I am not sleeping in my car or an unsafe place where I am open to violence and drugs.  I would want to stay with a family member or friend who had my best interest at heart.  I would have no stability, self-worth, or motivation to continue on.  Without a stable home, I would not be able to provide for my two boys.  This would be a miserable life with no home and no one to turn to.


Thank God this is only using my imagination.  I am so thankful for all that I have and all that I need.  There are some out here that may not have what I do, and I thank God for it daily.  I have a job, home, and the love of family and friends. 

My Connections to Play

Whoever wants to understand much must play much.

--Gottfried Benn

 

Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity,

--Kay Redfield Jamison

 

 
As a child, play never really was looked at as a way of learning but as a method of enjoyment.  As I can remember, we were not encouraged to play like the children are today.  Play did help me learn and explore new things, but it was not a main focus within the classroom or at home.

 

 

Play today seems drastically different from play when I was a child.  There is a greater focus on making sure that children get the time to be involved in play so that they are able to grow both physically and developmentally.  Play today must be incorporated so that children have the opportunity to learn new things.  There are new advances and changes within the area of play.  Toys and items are being designed so that children can develop within different areas of learning.  Play is necessary in order to gain new knowledge and understanding.  Children learn by play and adults can also do the same.  There are many different ways in which children play and adults are no different.  Play is essential for all!

 

 

Two toys that are essential to play that I chose are alphabet blocks and books. The blocks can be used to learn colors, shapes, and the alphabet. Books are always important in play. Children learn letters, colors, and how to tell stories through reading and understanding.
                              

Relationship Reflection

Throughout life we must form relationships that will end up becoming vital to our development and make a great difference within our lives.  When relationships are built, we are subject to face love, support, and comfort from those in which we build those relationships.  Relationships are very much important to me because it provides me with essential emotions that I so require. 

There are currently three people within my life that provide me with positive relationships.  Those three people include my boyfriend and my two sons.  My boyfriend has been apart of my life for almost five years now.  He has given me the love and acceptance that I desire within my life.  Since my two sons, which are now adults, left home, he has provided me with the proper love and support.  He is available when I need him and is always there to cook a hot meal for me when I get home.  The relationship that I have with my two sons are very much important to who I have become.  Both sons have encouraged and motivated me to continue my education.  There support and motivation has led me to earn my Bachelor's degree and to pursue my Master's degree.  These relationships have proved very beneficial to me becoming a better person, mother, and girlfriend. 

When attempting to gain valuable and meaningful relationships in life, we must be open to allowing others into our lives.  Making sure that your best interests are at heart is very vital to whether a relationship will become beneficial to your development in life or whether it proves as a life lesson that teaches you to be careful with the way in which you feel. 

The relationships in which I have are making me stronger each and every day and I appreciate and love those who take part in my daily life.

Child Quote

The way parents are with children is how children will be with the rest of the world.
                                                               -Dr. Karl Menninger

This quote spoke to me greatly when I read it.  The quote means that what a parent attempts to install into a child during all areas of development will continue to resonate in their lives as adults.  Children soak up each and everything that we do or say and it is vital that we as adults show respect, care, and love to all.

Testing Intelligence

When considering the "whole child", there should be adequate testing done that is able to determine what area or areas needs improvement and ways in which educators and administrators will work towards solving this problem.  Measuring or assessing a child's ability will only prove beneficial to the child's education later in life.  Ways in which this can be successful rests solely on the child and the researchers in which they focus their time and energy.  An example would include a 10 year old student who is having problems passing written exams and is unable to read properly.  However, the student is doing excellent within areas that require her to orally communicate her learning's.  This shows that the child may need to be tested or assessed for a reading disability or dyslexia. 
School-age children within other countries learn differently from those within the United States.  Being able to receive the best education is the main goal of all schools.  However, students located within India are less likely to attend school.  Within this region there are 39.4 million children with disabilities that are denied the opportunity to receive an education.  Because there is a difference in which each country handles their educational endeavors, many disabled students are turned away from education because the school refuses to accommodate their disabilities.  To prevent and assist those who has disabilities, a conference was formed to assist those students who were suffering from disabilities and not able to attend school.  Eventually, children with disabilities were allowed into schools with other children and allowed the children to have full participation and an equal right of that of other students and children within society.

United Nations Children's Fund (2003). Children with disabilities towards inclusive education in South Asia. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org.

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

As children we all witness certain circumstances and situations that others around us may face.  I can remember being a child and being able to recognize that my cousin was being isolated by her mother.  She had five other siblings at the time and often times felt as though she was the “outcast” and didn’t fit in with her sisters and brothers.  She also felt that her mother did not love her as much as the others and she felt alone.  As a result of her feeling this way as a child and not receiving any help in this area, she still feels to this day that she is not a loved and valuable member in her family.  She separates herself from family functions and outings and drowns herself in her work instead of focusing on other important factors in life.  The way in which a child feels will affect the way in which they view life as an adult.  When children face such stressors, they are vulnerable and cannot fully understand why things happen the way they do. 

Since the start of the war I have been concerned about the stresses that children from that region face.  Known stressors that affect the life of children in Afghanistan are military violence, possibility of post traumatic stress, and trauma.  War affects us all but it affects children more.  Often time’s children witness this violence and may seem powerless to what can be done to save and protect their family.  War is a major factor and there must be some plans set in place to find possible solutions to such a horrible problem of children.  Soldiers are trying to limit the amount of violence that children experience but cannot fully prevent such stressors from occurring. 

ScienceDaily (2009 June 24). Afghani Children Suffering From Post-Traumatic Stress.  Retrieved on November 22, 2012, from www.sciencedaily.com.

Reference for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Kids Health. (2011). The Nemous Foundation.  Retrieved on 10 Nov 2012, from www.kidshealth.org.

The Lancet. (2010). Causes of deaths in children younger than 5 years in China in 2008, 375(9720).  Retrieved on 10 Nov 2012, from www.thelancet.com.