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.