My Connection to Play

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning. ~ Fred Rogers

In our play we reveal what kind of people we are. ~ Ovid

Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning. ~ Diane Ackerman

                                                                                   

  

When I was a child it seemed like things were so much simpler than it is today. We had no worries about anything. I remember going outside and playing for hours with my siblings and my cousins. We would pretend we were in a marching band, play “tag”, basketball/volleyball, go swimming, and climb up in the hills to see what we could find. We would play until it was dark outside. Weather never stopped us from playing and using our imagination. My favorite activity when I was younger was playing school and playing with my baby dolls.

I was always the teacher when we all played school. I would have old books I would hand out and they would have paper and pencils. I would have them write their names 10 times or work math problems. I loved the feeling of helping others and them depending on me to help them learn new things.

I could play with baby dolls for hours even if I was playing alone. I would pretend to fix the baby her meals, bath her, change her, dress her up in pretty dresses, and take her to the doctor for check-ups. I loved taking care of babies and nurturing them. I have always loved babies and always wanted kids of my own and they desire is still strong in my heart. My favorite activities as a child really influenced my career choice in life. I have always wanted to work with children and feel like I’m making a difference in their life.

My parents were big supporters of play when I was younger. They were always involved in our life and the activities we chose to participate in at school. My mom would play school with us. She would make out work sheets for us, quiz us on want we have learned, provide us with lunch and then we went outside for recess. She would push us on the swing and play games with us. She was always a volunteer at our school and supported us in everything. My dad always coached us in sports (basketball and softball) even though I wasn’t very good he would practice with us all the time and encouraged us to try our best at everything we done. Together as a family we would also have “Family Night” and we would sit around talking and playing games or watch a movie and that was very important in my development I think and that is a big part of who I am.

Children and play today has changed so much since I was young. I know there is more danger and concerns today than they were back then, but parents still need to encourage play and interactions with us for their children. Most children today stay inside watching television, playing video games, listening to their iPods, text messages on their cell phones, and working on the computer and it seems like younger children are getting caught up into this also. The children are not getting exercise by running and playing outside and they are not being encouraged to pretend play and use their imagination to be someone else or to visit a place they have never been before. Play and interactions with others builds a child’s social development and they are learning from one another and by imitating and watching others.

I watch my soon to be stepson play with his wrestling men and how he uses his imagination to make them go to different planets, how he can turn into spider  man and he saves the world, and my favorite is when he turns into the Hulk. This is the kind of play that should be encouraged because kids have just great imaginations and that shouldn’t be wasted.

Malnutrition in Guatemala

Each and every one of the public health topics is very important and people from all over the world are faced with them on a daily basis, even in the United States. However, I chose to look into malnutrition because it is so important for children and families to have the food and nutrition they need to live a healthy life. You see on television about children from other countries that are suffering from disease and infections and body growth due to the lack of nutrition that they need to have a strong and healthy immune system to fight off illnesses and to develop normally and it truly breaks my heart and I just want to do something to help. I have a big heart and I love to help people in anyway that I can, rather it is donating money, collecting and donating food, or helping in clothes drives. It may just be a little that I am giving, but I hope that I am helping someone who truly needs it.
I looked into how children are suffering from malnutrition in Guatemala. According to UNICEF Representative in Guatemala, Gonzalez-Regueral, half of the country's children suffer from chronic malnutrition. Due to the severe malnutrition the children have lower IQ scores and stunted growth. The main reason for the stunted growth in the children experts say, is the lack of vital nutrients during the critical period of development from conception to age 2. Peter Rohloff, an American doctor who runs a group of medical clinics in rural Guatemala says, children are at least six to eight inches shorter than they should be (Gowen, 2010). Also, children suffer from impaired cognitive function and lower IQ, which shows that when the children grow up they are more likely to drop out of school and have little potential in economic success later on in life which just continues the cycle of poverty and the lack of food needed to live.
"If you want to break the cycle of poverty in Guatemala this is how you do it: Feed kids and feed them early before they get malnourished," Rohloff said (Gowen, 2010). Here is Rohloff suggestions to help with the issue of malnutrition. He encourages mothers to breast feed and begin supplement food at six months,
he teaches mothers how to use Incaparina, a locally made corn gruel fortified with vitamins and minerals that needs to be mixed with just the right amount of water, however the mixture will not work and can even be harmful if it is too diluted or used with unclean water (Gowen, 2010). He also suggested a supplement called "Plumpy Doz, a ready-to-use sugary peanut paste with milk powder and vitamins. However, due to not having a local Plumpy Doz manufacturer getting the product shipped in can be a hassle and expensive (Gowen, 2010). For nutritional intervention to be most effective, he said, it has to be done before the age of two. "Unfortunately, most programs in Guatemala are geared to school-aged kids but by the time they get to school it's too late," he said (Gowen, 2010).

What Dr. Peter Rohloff talked about is very important for all children in the world. This information has inspired me and something that I will carry with me throughout this program and in my future work. I want to make sure that children are receiving the adequate amount of nutrition they need to function and develop normally. I want the children to have a chance to grow and learn and to use their imaginations. All children deserve the chance to make something of themselves and when they are not receiving their daily nutrients they suffer in the classroom and they are more prone to common illnesses. I would love to start a program within my community at some point to help children and families receive the help they need to make sure they have a hot meal everyday.  I also, think that you should start teaching of the importance with young soon- to-be mothers and offer them with resources.Every one hears of other countries suffering, but they sometimes forget that they are children right in front of them that are suffering as well.

Gowen,G, & Martelli, J. (2010). Severe Stunting: Twelve Years Old Going on Five. Retrieved from
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/malnutrtion-severe-stunting-guatemala-children/story?id=12381731

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/guatemala_48087.html

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Britanie Sturgill and I'm a Activity Director and help in Social Services in a long term care facility and rehabilitation. I have my B.S. degree in Sociology & Human Services.
I'm engaged and will be getting married in June 2011 which I'm exteremly excited about. I have a puppy named Copper and I love being around my family.
I'm excited about working on my Master's because my passion has always been to work with children. I hope that we can support one another in this class help each other achieve our goal. If I can do anything to help just ask. I look forward to work with each of you.