Big Bear's Treehouse

19/02/2026

As conversations about early childhood supports and play therapy continue, I find myself reflecting on something important.

Play therapy has many pathways into practice. Some practitioners arrive through counselling, psychology, social work, education or allied health. Others undertake postgraduate play therapy training. What matters most is not the pathway alone, but the depth of relational capacity, supervision, reflective practice and ethical accountability that sits behind the work.

For children and families, play therapy is not experienced through titles or acronyms. It is felt through safety, attunement, consistency and trust.

Healthy professional standards matter. So does accessibility. When conversations lean too heavily toward narrow definitions of who belongs, there is a risk that skilled, relational practitioners already supporting families may become invisible.

Children benefit from a diverse, collaborative workforce where practitioners bring different lenses but share a commitment to safe, ethical and relational care.

My hope is that as systems evolve, we protect both quality and inclusivity, ensuring families can access experienced practitioners while maintaining the warmth, diversity and relational depth that sit at the heart of play therapy.

At its core, play therapy is not a hierarchy. It is a relationship. And children feel that difference more than anything else.

12/02/2026

Big Bear’s Treehouse stands with Kids Helpline Official on banning nudity tools.

We stand with over 100 organisations, institutions and individuals globally to demand urgent action against nudifying tools – technology designed to create non-consensual n**e and abusive imagery, disproportionately targeting children and women.

These tools fuel sexual exploitation, extortion and harm, yet remain widely accessible with impunity. Together with Child Helpline International, INHOPE - International Association of Internet Hotlines, the Internet Watch Foundation, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Offlimits, Safe Online and We Protect Global Alliance, we call for:

⭕Global recognition of the irreparable harm these tools inflict
⭕Accountability for tech companies to implement safety-by-design protections
⭕Legal bans on development, distribution, and use of nudifying apps and functionalities

Read the full statement and recommendations: https://kidshelpline.info/3O86wqe

Join No to Nudify: https://forms.gle/uvYwAyDVQFCnAN3v7

05/02/2026

Sometimes the most powerful learning happens when children are given space to figure things out in their own time.

It can be so tempting (and very natural) for us as parents and carers to step in and help when something looks tricky or frustrating. But when children are supported to safely explore challenges, they often discover their own solutions, building confidence, persistence, and resilience along the way.

This little one absolutely nails it.

Thanks Janet Lansbury for sharing this beautiful video and reminder.

04/02/2026

Today I had to drop Izzy off somewhere new… and my anxiety absolutely tagged along with me.

Even as a therapist, those feelings don’t magically disappear.
What changes is how we respond to them.

So I took a walk by the ocean, slowed my breathing, and reminded myself that new experiences can feel big — for humans and dogs alike.

Sometimes the most helpful thing we can do (for ourselves and our children) is show them what it looks like to move through anxiety, not avoid it.

03/02/2026

Play Therapy Week 1 - 7 Feb 2026

Play isn’t something children grow out of, it’s something we all grow through.

This week, we’re quietly celebrating the power of play to support learning, connection, and wellbeing at every age. 💛

26/01/2026

24/01/2026

We keep adding more structure to childhood because we think it helps children learn faster and behave better. In reality, it often does the opposite.

When adults control the materials, the steps, and the outcome, the experience stops being play. It becomes an activity. Crafts, classes, organized sports, guided games, and most table work fall into this category. They are adult-directed and predictable by design. That doesn’t make them bad. It just means they serve a different purpose.

The problem is that these experiences have started to replace the kind of play children actually need most.

Child-led play is where children make decisions, test ideas, repeat what interests them, move their bodies freely, and work through challenges without being constantly corrected or redirected.

When children initiate their own play, they activate the networks responsible for executive function, emotional regulation, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. These skills do not develop through passive participation or constant instruction. They develop through active control, trial and error, movement, and self-directed problem solving.

When children spend most of their time following instructions, they get good at following instructions. They do not automatically become more independent, creative, or resilient.

This is why we’re hosting our upcoming live webinar on Invitations, Provocations, and Sensory-rich Experiences. We’ll break down how to create environments that support child-led play without over-structuring, overloading materials, or placing unrealistic expectations on children. You’ll walk away with practical strategies for simplifying setups, choosing better materials, and designing experiences that actually support development instead of getting in the way of it.

Join us live on Wednesday, January 28 at 12:00 PM EST. Replay included for everyone who registers.

🔗 Register for FREE: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MW53E8Q0Tr6c-jIKLJrKVQ #/registration

🔗 Register with CERTIFICATION: https://www.weskoolhouse.com/store-webinars

23/01/2026

Big Bear’s Treehouse has put down new roots in Tweed Heads. 🧸🌿

Today we signed the lease on our new clinic space — the next home for Big Bear’s Treehouse as we continue growing our work with children and families in the region.

The space will be lovingly refurbished over the coming weeks, with doors opening toward the end of February.

For now, we’re quietly celebrating this milestone… and letting Izzy check out the reception desk. 🐾💛

27/12/2025

Play is so powerful

Learning is not just about repetition. Neuroscience shows that a child’s brain forms new neural connections through practice, but the number of repetitions required depends on engagement. When a task is dull or forced, it may take hundreds of attempts to build a lasting connection.

Play changes everything. When children are actively engaged and enjoying themselves, the brain becomes more plastic, more responsive, and more efficient. Instead of 400 repetitions, a child can form the same connection in as few as 10 to 20 attempts. The excitement and motivation of play act as a catalyst for learning.

This explains why children often learn complex skills faster when they are having fun. Games, role play, and playful exploration not only make learning enjoyable but also deeply strengthen the neural pathways that support memory, problem-solving, and creativity.

Parents and educators can use this insight to design learning experiences that are playful and interactive. When the brain is having fun, it works smarter, learns faster, and builds connections that last a lifetime. Play is not a break from learning; it is learning at its most efficient.

14/12/2025

We’re sharing this with care.

This post from Dr Justin Coulson speaks directly to the impossible position many Jewish parents and children are in right now, having to carry fear, vigilance, and questions no child should have to hold.

We’re sharing it because it names what many Jewish families already live with, and because it offers guidance grounded in honesty, dignity, and belonging.

At Big Bear’s Treehouse, we believe:
• Children need truth held with steadiness
• Safety is built through connection and community
• No child should feel targeted or unsafe because of who they are

To our Jewish families: you are seen here. You belong here. This Treehouse stands for safety, shelter, and care, always.

To all parents and carers: much of what’s shared here applies to every child navigating a world that can feel frightening. Calm, honesty, and connection matter.

We encourage you to read with gentleness, and to hold space for one another today.

🤍🌳

Send a message to learn more

26/11/2025

Tis the season to be grateful.

For some families, Thanksgiving is a big celebration. For others, it’s just another Thursday with school runs and dinner dishes.

Wherever you are, I hope there’s at least one small, steady thing that helps you feel held today.

Wishing our Big Bear’s Treehouse community a gentle Thanksgiving Day.
Julie 🤎

24/10/2025

some great times for helping children stay safe online

The internet is forever, so sharing too much online can pose significant safety risks for youth. While staying in touch is simple, protecting your information and privacy requires extra care. Download our new infographic on staying safe online here: https://bit.ly/42RvOxq