During my visits with Dexter, we completed two activities: Roll A Story and the Curly Winter Tree art project. For Roll A Story, Dexter enjoyed rolling the dice and choosing the basic parts of the story, but he did not want to add extra details. Even though his story stayed simple, he was still engaged and smiling the whole time. For the Curly Winter Tree activity, Dexter had trouble rolling up the paper branches. He became frustrated when the branches didn’t look the way he imagined and was not understanding how to roll the strips tightly, so I stepped in to help him with the rolling. Once the branches were finished, he felt better and continued decorating the tree more confidently.
Working with Dexter showed me a lot about how he handles activities. He gets excited at the start and has fun, but he becomes frustrated quickly when things don’t work out the way he wants. I could see this in his facial expressions and the way he would pull his hands back or go quiet when something was difficult. To support him, I focused on staying patient and giving calm, step-by-step guidance. Showing him an example first and reassuring him that we could fix the problem together helped him stay focused. I also noticed that too many suggestions at once made him more upset, so I learned to give smaller, clear instructions. When I did that, he was able to stay on task and enjoy the activity again.
These visits connect directly to my inquiry question: How does play help develop storytelling and language skills in children? Roll A Story showed me that playful activities make it easier for children to try storytelling, even if they don’t add a lot of extra details yet. Dexter was more willing to participate because the game made it fun and low pressure. Even though he kept his story simple, the activity helped him practice choosing characters, settings, and events. I also saw how building a positive relationship through playful interactions like laughing together and his hugs help him feel comfortable using his voice and expressing himself. This has helped me understand that play doesn’t need to be perfect or complicated to support communication and storytelling growth.
Overall, I feel like I am getting to know Dexter better with each visit. I enjoy spending time with him, and I am learning how to support him in ways that help him feel successful. Every activity shows me more about what he needs and how play can support his confidence, language skills, and creativity.
