Play & Filial Therapy

08/11/2025

Thank you APA Journals for sharing latest Play Therapy research!

An effective parenting strategy to improve children’s behavior and mental health is child–parent relationship therapy (CPRT), which trains parents in child-centered play therapy principles and procedures to conduct play sessions with their own children. In a recent article published in the International Journal of Play Therapy, Drs. Iris Yuen-Fan Chau and Jennifer Baggerly investigated the feasibility of using online CPRT to improve the behavior of Chinese children of low-income parents in Hong Kong. Learn more about the findings of this study and areas for future research in this Article Spotlight: https://bit.ly/4hCK2YW

The International Journal of Play Therapy is a publication of the Association for Play Therapy

08/11/2025

Playful relational connection for the win 🏆🎄

Well done John Lewis & Partners 👏🏻

06/11/2025

There are evidence-based mental health interventions for children (like play therapy) that can when delivered through Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) to reduce many externalising and internalising difficulties, and peer problems - the main complexities the research (Borschmann et al., 2020) indicates require focused-support in childhood

We do not need anymore adolescent or adult interventions generalised to children (as recommended in this article). To create real reductions in childhood difficulties and increase strengths we need to advocate (through changed service offerings and funded services) for children to access developmentally sensitive support

Note: This article contains lots of good advice for professionals and parents!

This article outlines what self-harm behaviours are, how common they are, and why primary school-aged children may be self-harming.

04/11/2025

Looking forward to reading this new working paper on ‘Mattering’!

Recently, the concept of mattering—the feeling that we are valued and have value to add to the world—has gained momentum among scientists and practitioners as a key ingredient for well-being. While mattering is important to us all, our sense of whether or not we matter—to our loved ones, our communities, and the world at large—begins in the earliest days of infancy. And, while it’s never too late to build a sense of mattering, by starting early, we can have an outsized positive effect on children’s health and well-being across their lifespan.

To learn more about the importance of mattering in the earliest years and find concrete tips we can all take to help children develop a sense of mattering, see our new paper co-authored with Jennifer B. Wallace: "Mattering in Early Childhood: Building a Strong Foundation for Life"

📚 Read the paper here: https://bit.ly/43bXRaX

04/11/2025

This conversation makes a great little read 🤓

A conversation with the multigenerational leadership team at the National Institute for Play

03/11/2025

Anne Hollonds article in The Guardian today powerfully frames how “Australia is failing to protect its children”

Australian children have “unmet needs and underlying issues that we are failing to address because of systemic problems in health, education and human services.”

The childcare safety “crisis has highlighted the urgent need to make child safety, rights and wellbeing a national priority.”

I am part of the Act For Children Alliance calling for the Australian Government to Act for Children by:
▪️Appointing a Cabinet Minister for Children
▪️Making child wellbeing a standing priority of National Cabinet
▪️Developing and implementing a National Plan for Child Wellbeing
▪️Enshrining children’s rights in law through a National Children’s Act

Read more about the Alliance here: https://www.actforchildren.net/

And be sure to read Anne’s insights here: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/03/from-the-childcare-scandal-to-regressive-tough-on-policies-australia-is-failing-to-protect-its-children

There is an urgent need to make child safety, rights and wellbeing a national priority and to fix the accountability gaps putting them at risk

02/11/2025

💗 British Association of Play Therapists 💗

Whether through music, movement, art, or storytelling — play is the language of childhood. It’s how children communicate, explore, and make sense of their inner and outer worlds.

In Play Therapy, this natural way of expressing is used therapeutically. Within a safe and consistent relationship, a child is given space to explore feelings and experiences symbolically through play — using toys, sand, puppets, art, or role play.

A BAPT Registered Play Therapist ®️ is specially trained to understand the meaning behind a child’s play and to respond in ways that help them process difficult emotions, build self-esteem, develop coping skills, and strengthen their ability to relate to others.

At its heart, Play Therapy embraces the child’s innate drive to experiment, take risks, and delight in the process itself — transforming creativity into healing.

02/11/2025

**Excerpt below from the article in Kiddo Magazine about Monica Jones’s My Binkie Bear’s Magical Potty Adventure**

Dr Renshaw says My Binkie Bear’s approach creates balance — offering guidance for parents while giving children the independence they crave.

“Through the magic of imaginative play, My Binkie Bear helps children reframe this developmental challenge as an exciting journey of discovery. This supportive approach nurtures resilience and self-efficacy, empowering children to tackle future milestones with greater ease.”

We need more research informed playful resources for children and families, maybe you have one in mind…?

Read the full article here: https://kiddomag.com.au/buys/no-more-potty-panic-the-adelaide-mum-revolutionising-toilet-training/

No more potty panic! Australian mum and creator Monica Jones is helping parents and toddlers across the country say goodbye to toilet training stress with her newest innovation — Go Time Potty Time.

02/11/2025

Playful developmental tools benefit children and parents 🧑‍🧑‍🧒

I’d love to see more research informed resources (like this one) created that harness the power of play and foster playful relationships 🐻 🚽

Congratulations to Monica Jones on sharing My Binkie Bear’s magical potty adventures with the world 🌏

https://7news.com.au/best-picks/no-more-accidents-aussie-mum-revolutionising-toilet-training-with-complete-59-system-c-20505646

Shoppers can’t get enough of it.

01/11/2025

Important research for everyone providing care to children - https://theconversation.com/how-common-is-sexually-abusive-behaviour-between-children-how-should-daycare-centres-respond-268760?utm_medium=article_clipboard_share&utm_source=theconversation.com

Thanks Daryl Higgins for providing context grounded in research 👏🏻

The landmark findings of the Australian Childhood Maltreatment Study (ACMS) present difficult truths we must confront as a nation

The path forward is clear: Prevention, early intervention, and healing childhood trauma in childhood itself are among our most powerful tools for creating lasting societal change ❤️‍🩹

Our nation’s physical health, mental wellbeing, life satisfaction, and economic outcomes are all deeply connected to how we respond to child adversity. We must shine a light in these dark places and take meaningful action 🔦

Play Therapists have a unique role in prevention, early intervention, and trauma healing. This developmentally appropriate, child-centred approach needs to be accessible to all children, families, and childhood services across Australia 🇦🇺

I’m calling on the Australian government to prioritize funding for trauma-informed play therapy services ⚠️

What role can your organization play in supporting trauma-informed care for children ❓I’d love to hear your perspectives

Parents have spoken up about harrowing cases of their young children being abused by other children in daycare centres.

30/10/2025

I loved connecting with the first year students on the MSc Play Therapy at the University of South Wales tonight 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

29/10/2025

🚨 Children around the world are entering education more developmentally vulnerable than ever before

‼️ This means they need access to play, within psychologically safe environments that are supported by good quality relationships to foster their growth, development and wellbeing

💡 “Meanwhile, all parents like me can do is try to find a school that, when you walk around it, still feels alive with laughter and play, and hope there is a place for their child there.”

📋I support this petition and look forward to see it entering parliament in England for consideration (with input from multi-disciplinary experts on child development and growth)

In England, young children go from glitter clay and building dens to classrooms a Victorian would recognise – and that system is failing many of them, says Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett