fear

Children are often scared of the dark or scared of anything that they are'nt used to seeing or hearing. The other day as I was doing my observations my family was watching a childrens' movie and it showed this cave that was covered in fog and looked dark. My sister quickly covered her eyes by shifting to my mom's shoulder. We all started laughing because it wasn't scary at all. I wondered why she was scared.

Through my research I found out that the reason children get scared easily is due to their imagination  developing and hence whatever they see/hear in real life can result in scary thoughts or images (CNN). This got me cariouse about adults being scared. "There's two types of fears. One is natural, as humans we are born with the ability to feel fear and we need this in order to determine everyday threats — basically animal instinct,"(Natsha Sharma). The second type of fear occurs when we're exposed to other people or overwhelming experiences in our lives that inflate our sense of fear. (Sharma). Adults and children aren't so different from each other when it comes to being scared. It's alright to be scared of monsters, spiders, or ending up alone, but we shouldn't allow fear stop us from anything. "The insides of our minds are the scariests things there are." -Anonymous. Basically the only thing to fear is our own minds, because it tricks us into beleiveing in things that aren't so terrifying. I still have an urge to fear the dark, or maybe what's inside the dark and I try so hard to control it however we are what we fear and what we believe and that makes us human and sometimes it's okay to fear the dark.

 

Web Cited

 Sharma, Natsha. "Common Phobias: Why Do People Get Scared?" huffingtonpost.ca. AOL lifestyle,

             13 Nov 2014. Web. 9 Nov 2014.





Grown Ups

  Many of my friends have jobs and act
like small grown ups. Jidney always seems to act like she's older then other kids her age. This week I got the chance to observe her while my family and I were getting dressed up for a party. I came into my room and I saw Jidney, looking at herself in the mirror,dancing. She usually does this when she knows she looks pretty because she's wearing a dress or skirt and her hair is actually combed. As I observed her I noticed she was wearing pink lipstick. I know because it was smeared all over her lips. She kept putting some on while watching tv. After she was done she shoved it in her small handbag.

   Watching my sister act like a minie grown woman made me think how sometimes teenagers try to act like grown ups as well. My sister, Jacky, is 13 years old, "She's always trying to grow up fast" is usually what my mom says. She always dresses older, like wearing heels when we go to church. Jacky puts on too much makeup sometimes, my mom sometimes hides her mascara. I know that she wants to be treated like an adult and wants to look like one, but she also has to maintain her responsibilities, which she doesn't. I know how she feels because I also went through that stage. Wanting to grow up may seem exciting but we have to remeber to enjoy who we are right now, because years past by very quick and we need to take them slow so we dont forget that being young is also exciting and wonderful. 

(Jidney painting her nails. Field Notes: Day 34) 

           

    (Jidney wanting to grow a mustache. Field Notes: Day 34) 

  When I was a child I never had anyone to play with, I didn't have any sisters or brothers. Now that I do have a brother and a sister I see how they play well with each other. The other day as I was observing  my sister my brother and her were playing together with sticks. I saw that my brother was wrapping tape around the stick and I saw my sister do the exact same thing with her stick. I really don't know why they were doing that, maybe they were decorating it. I also barley noticed that she was wearing my brothers pajama's. I asked her why and she said because she was lazy to go ask our mom to but her some of her own. "She's a very weird little girl" as I quoted on my field notes. Once they were finished with there decorations they both stood up and were fighting with the sticks as if they were swords. Now I understood why they brought the sticks in the house in the first place.

   As I was observing her play with my brother I had a question. "Why does my sister act like my brother?" In my research I found out why kids copy other kids and one of the reasons is because the smaller child admires the bigger kid. Not only do kids imitate each other but they also imitate grownups. "In fact, using their imaginations to pretend play—being a teacher or a fireman or a mommy or daddy is very beneficial for social, emotional, and cognitive growth." says  Adele Brodkin a pre-k teacher form scholastics. My research I got form a website called http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/why-children-copy.

Toys

As a child I was very spoiled, at the time I was an only child and my toys were my only friends. I remember  having the whole cast of toys of "Toy Story." I had Woody, Buzz lighter, Jessie, Bullseye, and Mr. & Mrs. Potato head. I was very fond of the movie and still am. I still currently have the toys, even though they're in bad condition due to my brother and sister. My sister Jideny has many toys as well but she's more into barbies and baby dolls. As I was observing her I asked her what was her favorite toy and she grabbed a barbie that was half dressed and told me that that is her favorite toy. I asked her why and she said "She has polka dots, she has blue eyes, and a head, and arms, and blond hair." I immediately start to laugh because she mentions something every barbie has that is arms, and a head. I think it's beautiful how children point out things that they love without having any fear unlike adults that strive to achieve that.

One of the thoughts that came into my mind about children and their toys is the  danger that kids are facing. As I came upon YouTube I found a video called ''20 Most Dangerous Kids Toys Ever Sold" and it mentioned Polley Pockets as number #12. In 2006 about 4 million children had swallowed the magnet thinking that it was a candy and teenagers would use them as piercings. I also found out that "Every year in the United States, an average of 165,000 children are treated in hospital emergency departments for injuries associated with toys.'' says the Nationwide Children's ''Toy Safety." Through out my research I am more concern about what my sister is playing with and am focused on telling her to be more carefull of what she is doing. If you are carious or have any concerns or would like to know more visit the the website 

http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/cirp-toy-safety


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXfOWMgWYLk 

"crystal stair''

"Mother To Son"

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor-
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now-
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Langston Hughes  Famous Family Poem

  When my sister, Jidney, received her report card on Friday my Mom made me read to her what it said. The teacher said that my sister always asks questions, shares with her friends, and pays attention. The teacher also said she should have the family read with her. My sister was blushing because of all the nice things her teacher said about her. Mom was very happy with Jidney and told her how proud she was of her.

 This poem reminds me of how much a mother loves their child. How they want their child to keep walking up the staircase no matter how many splinters the child comes across, to never sit down and never quite climbing even if it's no crystal stair. As a sister I want her to climb as high as she can. Helping her along the way like reading to her every night, I know she'll climb every single step of the way. 

                          (Field Notes 10/23)








               

Work Cited 

Hughes, Langston. Mother To Son. familyfriendpoems.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2014.





                              

Little Singer

     I always thought that kids were really annoying, the way they scream for everything or the way they always cry for not getting what they want. But one of the most heart warming things about children is when they sing. The way kids are able to sing with so much passion in their voice.The other day I was helping my sister, Jidney, change into her dress. I notice that she started to sing a song that every child has might heard of before called "Let It Go." The reason she started to sing this song was because my mom bought her little small heels that were Frozen themed and she was going to wear them to church. After she was all dressed up she constantly was staring at her heels and had the widest smile I've ever seen on her. She quoted to me saying "I feel like a princess."

    According to this website http://www.music.rice.edu/ycd/res001.shtml I found a school called  "The Shephard School of Music" that specializes in kids singing. I learned that the reason kids sing a lot is because it expresses their emotions and ideas. Music helps them learn more easily such as learning the ABC's. It's an easier way to memorize new subjects for kids to learn. Singing has a powerful force to help children go to sleep and calm a child who is scared. I recorded my sister that same night and asked her if she could sing me "Do you want to build a snowman?" from the movie Frozen.

               

Not Knowing

Throughout my experience of these past two weeks I've not just learned more about children but about my sister's flaws and abilities. It's been difficult to observe my sister because she's a wild child she starts to jump around beds and runs all over the house so I have to keep up with her. As I observe her I always have to make sure I don't miss any small movement she makes because it might be a sign that she constantly makes. Not knowing what her next move is really interest me because it makes me wonder how she will act as she grows up. I hope throughout this observation I will learn more about my sister and will make me a better sister so I can learn to help her out through life and struggles.