Hello everyone,
I am forever grateful to my parents for not pushing, and overpowering me with learning, but gently encouraged me from an early age. Please, don't get me wrong, they were well aware of the importance of a good education, but were more concerned with my happiness in mind, body, soul, and spirit. In their view, if these areas were not secured early, it could hinder my academic learning, social and emotional well being.
Books were brought into my life early, even before I could read them. My books always had colourful pictures which captured my attention. Looking at the pictures closely helped me to get an understanding of what the story was about. When I started to read but had difficulty with some words, the pictures helped me to try and pronounce the unknown word, then find out what it meant.
My mother read a story to me at bedtime regularly. She tried her best (and was successful) at characterizing the characters in the story to make it 'come alive'. These bedtime stories which my mother read to me in my early childhood years, helped me in primary school and high school to understand how to use the imagination to write a story with fictional characters, be it an adventure, fantasy, or about something interesting that really happened.
I was given lots of opportunities to scribble, draw, and, 'write' in my own way. I was gently reminded, that the walls in the house were not for drawing on, and was provided with substantial paper, and wax crayons to support my activities. I must confess though, I was often curious about some of the books my father was using in his studies. Looking at the first few pages of some of his books, I noticed blank pages, so I decided in my 'wisdom' to add some of my colourful pictures to them! My father accepted the drawings, and was pleased that I thought carefully about where I drew them!
Social interaction with other children, and conversation with adults in the presence of my parents, played an important part in my social development. To be able to talk with my peers, and have appropriate conversation with adults, in a polite manner, were considered necessary for me to develop self-esteem, self-confidence, and the ability to get along with others in socially acceptable ways. Now, as an adult, I find it distasteful to resolve an issue in an antagonist, and irrational manner. Putting one's point across, and agreeing to disagree while respecting the perspective and opinions of others, is my preferred approach to a discussion, and conflict resolution.
Play, was the most enjoyable part of my early childhood in terms of playing games. Cooperation, (especially if one is to keep friends), to communicate well, respect others, their feelings, and most importantly, to reason and settle matters peacefully during play, are of great significance in a young child's development. The principles of play in early childhood from an educational standpoint, are building blocks that lay the foundation for positive social interaction in the middle, adolescence, and adult years.
"Play is a child's life and the means by which he comes to
understand the world he lives in"
Susan Isaacs
Who Am I in the Lives Of Children? (Feeney, Christensen, Moravcik, 2006, p.167).
I would like to enourage parents to try and take the time to participate in their young children's play, My memories of my parents joining in with me, for example, in a game of football, throwing and catching a ball, or Hide and Seek, made me feel that they were interested in what I liked to do, understood the games I liked to play, and that they cared about my enjoyment and happiness. Play was not just about what their child did, it was something they believed that they should be a part of.
Until next time
Grace
