Reflexivity

My approach to the blog was to focus on what I already knew about unity in diversity and play. When I think of play obviously children come into mind, this is why I chose to write about the child's side of play and unity. I was attending college to become an Elementary school teacher, although I do like children I decided that here in Florida the money wasn't right for a lifelong career choice. Many of my assignments while taking courses within the teaching program focused on child's play and unity in the classroom. Helping children come together through play is detrimental at a young age and helps with acceptance and learning behaviors. Although I am a Public Relations major now I still believe that bringing people together to understand a specific strategy or plan will be important, maybe not through play necessarily but definitely through explanation, interactive and visual approaches. I had a great time working with Blogger for the first time and being able to create our own personal page! Please feel free to check it out more :)

Child Diversity on Pinterest

Many of us have the Pinterest app downloaded on our phones and some of us may even be slightly addicted to all the wonderfulness it has to offer! It is a very popular app used in today's society and I think it is great that you can literally find almost anything on it. From do it yourself projects(DIY) to home decor, nature and tattoos, Pinterest is a treasure chest full of creativity and secret ideas. I found that on Pinterest there is a whole page of diversity activities for students to do in the classroom or at home. I personally am going to tell my step sister, a fellow pinner herself, about this page because she will be a first year teacher soon and may appreciate the fun tips.

http://www.pinterest.com/explore/diversity-activities/
Happy Pinning! :)

Interactive games in school from my perspective

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."-Albert Einstein

Throughout Elementary school I never really thought about what type of learner I was in school but as I got older I definitely started to realize what worked for me and what didn't work for me when it came to excelling. I am a visual learner and a hands on learner that likes to be involved in order to retain what I learn. In fourth grade my teacher's name was Mr. White at Meadowlane Elementary, I remember that man to this day because I remember so much great information from that class. You can learn just about anything but remembering what you learn to apply it to real life is when it counts! His teaching strategy was to be very interactive with students and create games that went with every lesson that we played each week. For example we played a game with the globe in order to learn states and capitals, we played a racing game with multiplication and division flash cards, also every Friday we had a little spelling bee in the classroom. The winners of the most games at the end of each week received candy of their personal choices no matter what it be, he would get it and reward us with it. My point is that in this class I learned all of my multiplication, division, spelling, and states and capitals; but not only did I learn them I actually remember all the information I was taught in fourth grade to this day because the positive impact of interactive games in the classroom.

Duck Duck Goose or Corre, Corre la Guaraca in Chile

http://www.parents.com/fun/games/educational/games-from-around-the-world/ 

 Chile: Corre, Corre la Guaraca

The fun-to-say game name translates to "Run, Run, la Guaraca." Chilean kids typically speak Spanish, but Guaraca is actually a nonsense word.
Players: Five or more, ages 5 and up
What You'll Need: A handkerchief.
How to Play: Players sit in a circle while a runner jogs around the outer rim with a handkerchief. The seated kids are not allowed to watch. They sing "Corre, Corre, la Guaraca who looks back will be bopped on his head!" Trying not to be felt, the runner drops the handkerchief on a child's back and runs. If he makes it around the circle before the player realizes that it's on her back, the seated player is out. If the seated player catches on, she must tag the runner. If she succeeds, the runner is out. If she fails to tag him, they play again, but this time player 2 is the runner.

Child's Play Starting at a Young Age

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=462

Researchers believe that child's play should start at a very young age in order for proper development. They suggest starting off as young as infantry and reading your babies brightly colored picture books to grasp their attention. It gets the mind going and from there everyday play is crucial to your child's learning. Playing games gets the child involved also motor skills and comprehension begin.

The Importance of Unity through Play

http://www.childs-play.com/teacher-zone/diversity_and_equality_for_tea.html

This is a great source for anyone who is a Teacher or is studying Child Development, or Child Psychology. "Child's play aims to reflect the diverse society in which we live and challenge stereotypes." Every child needs to feel like they belong to the "landscape" of children around them, weather they are black, white, Hispanic, Asian or even deal with a disability they were born with that the other kids don't have. Unity through play helps children cope with any insecurities they may have about themselves which leads to proper communication skills and a sense of belonging, both important at a young age.

Child's Play aims to reflect the diverse society in which we live and challenge stereotypes - See more at: http://www.childs-play.com/teacher-zone/diversity_and_equality_for_tea.html#sthash.tbDwMJiQ.dpuf

Child's Play aims to reflect the diverse society in which we live and challenge stereotypes - See more at: http://www.childs-play.com/teacher-zone/diversity_and_equality_for_tea.html#sthash.tbDwMJiQ.dpuf

Too much work not enough play?

http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754

I found this article to be very interesting while searching for the difference in play with American culture and the Chinese culture. I always heard that Chinese families are very traditional and pretty strict on their children because they want nothing but success for them. I think that Chinese families are very proud and want to reflect their success on other families to show them their pride. This article basically states that in the Chinese culture the word play is used very scarcely. In a sense that once you master a certain task or Ace a certain course then you become good at it, does becoming "good" at something mean you truly are having fun which leads to playing? I think that an open minded individual may be able to view their ways of life in this way. Although I can see how no playing as a child could be detrimental to social skills, children need interaction to learn from as well as book smarts.

Traditional Children's Games in Chiangrai

http://youtu.be/vaJRjkFSxVI <---------- Click link or copy and paste into your address bar!

- I find it amazing that these kids from Thailand use the materials they are able to find around them for entertainment. Materials that here in America we would probably consider garbage. Not only do these kids value what little they have, they have to become creative with these materials and think outside of the box in order to play. From the rules of the games to the objects they play with these kids literally create their own fun.