Engage Playfully

02/03/2026

New Research highlighting the benefits of animal assisted therapy.

New Research Highlights the Power of Animal-Assisted Therapy

A recent study has reinforced what we see every day at ATL — animal-assisted therapies can have a meaningful, positive impact on autistic children’s development.

The research highlights improvements in:

- Social skills and communication
- Anxiety reduction and emotional regulation
- Emotional wellbeing
- Engagement and motivation

Animal-assisted therapy provides a safe, supportive environment where children can build confidence, connection, and regulation skills — often in ways that feel more natural and less clinical.

At ATL, we are committed to improving the accessibility to evidence-informed, compassionate therapy that supports children and families to thrive.

You can learn more here:

https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/68630?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQEaldleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeVsr5DU3rCGJAm1KMBUKd6tvP5AjjjaSj7hsS-eUTKa8x-zwhH2xqBUYrRgo_aem_bATlqKerJQVoKBrh5v8mnQ

01/03/2026

28/02/2026

March marks the month for Women’s International Day and Engage Playfully is featured in this months Issue of the Mornington Peninsula Magazine Keryn helps to deliver services along side Poppy to help young people feel safe, understand and able to be their true authentic self. Check it out

27/02/2026

Supporting Children With Positive Reinforcement
From the team at Engage Playfully
At Engage Playfully, we believe children grow best when they feel safe, capable, and celebrated for who they are. Positive reinforcement isn’t about rewards or “good behaviour” it’s about noticing children’s efforts, strengths, and progress, and helping them feel proud of themselves.
Here are some gentle, effective ways to support children using positive reinforcement:

Notice the Small Wins
Children thrive when their efforts are seen. Celebrate the tiny steps a brave attempt, a kind gesture, a moment of regulation, or trying something new.

💛 Name the Strength You See
Instead of “Good job,” try:
“You worked really hard on that.”
“I noticed how patient you were.”
“You kept going even when it felt tricky.”
This helps children understand what they did well and builds internal confidence.

🐾 Use Connection as Reinforcement
Warmth, shared smiles, playful moments, and time together are powerful motivators. Our therapy dog often plays a role here offering comfort, encouragement, and a sense of achievement when children engage kindly and confidently.

🌱 Focus on Effort, Not Perfection
Children learn through trying, exploring, and making mistakes. Reinforcing effort helps them develop resilience and a growth mindset.

🎨 Offer Choices and Autonomy
Positive reinforcement isn’t only verbal. Giving children choices (“Would you like to try this or that?”) reinforces their independence and builds confidence.

🧸 Match Reinforcement to the Child
Some children love verbal praise. Others prefer a high‑five, a quiet smile, time with the therapy dog, or a moment of shared play. Follow their cues.

🌟 Celebrate Progress Over Time
Growth is rarely linear. Acknowledge the journey the courage, the attempts, the moments of regulation, the gentle steps forward.

At Engage Playfully, positive reinforcement is woven into every interaction. When children feel seen, supported, and celebrated, they begin to see those strengths within themselves and that’s where real growth begins.

25/02/2026

School Program Lesson of the Week: Our Wobbly Toolbox
Today we explored what we can do when our body starts to feel a little wobbly, those moments when emotions feel big, our thoughts get tangled, or our body needs help finding its calm again.
We talked about how everyone’s regulation toolbox is unique. What helps one person might not help another, and that’s the beauty of learning what your body needs.
Some of the strategies our students shared today included:
🎶 Dancing
🎧 Listening to music
✏️ Drawing or colouring
📚 Reading a book
🌿 Having quiet alone time
🎣 Imagining going fishing
🌬️ Taking 5 slow, deep breaths
And of course…
🐾 Being with Poppy, cuddles, pats, gentle play, or simply sitting beside her. She definitely features in many of our toolboxes.
Building a Wobbly Toolbox helps children recognise their body cues, choose strategies that support them, and feel confident in managing tricky moments.
What helps your body feel steady and regulated again?

25/02/2026

How Play Therapists Support Children at Engage Playfully
At Engage Playfully, a play therapy session is so much more than “just play.” It’s a carefully held space where children feel safe, seen, and supported to explore their inner world at their own pace, often with the gentle presence of our therapy dog by their side.

Here’s what our therapists are doing during a session:
🌈 Creating a Safe, Welcoming Space
We begin by offering warmth, predictability, and genuine connection. Children thrive when they feel safe, and our therapy environment, including our therapy dogs helps them settle, breathe, and feel ready to explore.
🧸 Following the Child’s Lead
Children communicate through play long before they can put big feelings into words. We honour their choices, their pace, and their creativity. When a child leads, they build confidence, autonomy, and trust.
🧠 Observing With Curiosity, Not Judgment
Every choice a child makes in play tells a story. We watch for themes, patterns, strengths, and emotional needs. These observations guide our therapeutic approach and help us understand what the child is working through.
🐾 Supporting Co‑Regulation With Our Therapy Dog
Our therapy dog is a co‑facilitator offering comfort, connection, and a calming presence. Children often find it easier to express themselves, try new things, or regulate their emotions when a gentle animal is nearby.
🎨 Inviting, Not Directing
We offer therapeutic invitations such as drawing, storytelling, sensory play, or animal‑assisted activities. These are optional and always attuned to the child’s readiness. The goal is to support expression, problem‑solving, and emotional growth never to push or overwhelm.
💛 Holding Space for Big Feelings
Whether a child is exploring joy, frustration, fear, excitement, or uncertainty, we stay present and grounded. We model emotional regulation, help children make sense of their experiences, and celebrate their strengths along the way.
🌱 Reflecting and Adapting
After each session, we reflect on the child’s progress, adjust our approach, and ensure therapy remains responsive, trauma‑informed, and aligned with their goals.

At Engage Playfully, play is the language, connection is the foundation, and growth happens gently one moment of safety, creativity, and courage at a time.

23/02/2026

23/02/2026

🌟 Engage Playfully is coming into schools! 🌟
We’re excited to offer our Animal-Assisted Social Groups a playful, evidence-based program designed to support students’ emotional and social wellbeing through the help of our gentle therapy animals.
These small-group sessions help children learn and practise skills such as:
🐾 Emotional regulation – noticing big feelings and finding safe, effective ways to calm
🐾 Understanding body cues – recognising early signs of overwhelm, anxiety, or dysregulation
🐾 Reading social cues – building confidence in friendships, communication, and connection
🐾 Navigating social conflict – learning practical, child-friendly strategies to problem-solve and repair
🐾 Co-regulation with therapy animals – experiencing safety, warmth, and connection that supports learning
Our programs are trauma-informed, strengths-based, and designed to meet students where they’re at. Schools can use School Mental Health Fund Menu allocations to support these programs.
If your school is looking for a nurturing, engaging way to build emotional and social skills, we’d love to chat.
📩 Get in touch to book a program or learn more.

19/02/2026

✨ Bubble Magic & Big Feelings ✨
Yesterday Poppy reminded us that sometimes the best way to practice emotional regulation… is through pure, simple joy.
Watching her chase bubbles with her client giggling, pausing, breathing, and connecting was such a sweet reminder that regulation doesn’t always look like sitting still. Sometimes it looks like movement, curiosity, and shared moments of delight.
Bubbles popped, smiles grew, and a beautiful bond blossomed right in front of us.
Small moments, big growth 💛🫧

12/02/2026

Meeting children where they are at 🥰

11/02/2026