Play to Blossom

14/02/2026

💕💕

10/02/2026

❤️ growth mindset ❤️

A growth mindset helps kids believe they can learn, grow, and figure things out, even when things feel hard. 🌱
When kids hear messages like “mistakes help me grow” and “I can do hard things,” they begin to build confidence from the inside out.
✨ Parent tip:
Instead of focusing only on outcomes, try praising effort, persistence, and problem-solving.
“You didn’t give up” goes a long way in building resilience.

02/02/2026

❤️

‘Making sure they aren’t alone in it’ means making sure we, or another adult, helps them feel seen, safe, and cared as they move towards the brave, meaningful, growthful thing.❤️

26/01/2026

❤️❤️

24/01/2026

In many ways, this mirrors play therapy. Just as educators benefit when young people co-create learning, children in play therapy guide the process of their own growth.

Through self-directed play, children show what matters to them, express what they need and explore experiences in ways that make sense to them. The play therapist’s role is not to dictate, but to provide a safe, responsive space following the child’s lead, witnessing and supporting.

When we honour children as active partners, whether in education or therapy we open the door to learning, understanding and healing that truly belongs to them.

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15/01/2026

Responsive Parenting Inspirations 💗

11/01/2026

SECOND CHANCE SUNDAY

Ever noticed how a child can “hold it together” all day… then explode at home? It is also relevant for us as adults.

This is one of my favourite ways to explain why that happens — and it’s simple enough to do with a real Coke bottle.

Sit with your child and pass the bottle back and forth.
As you talk about their day, gently shake it each time a stress or trigger comes up. Share your own triggers also.
Noise. Work pressure. Friendship stuff. Trying to behave. Trying not to cry.

Then pause and ask:
“What do you think will happen if I take the top off now?”

That moment matters.

It helps children see that the explosion isn’t about being naughty or out of control — it’s about pressure building with nowhere to go.

From there, you can explore the real question:
How do we take the lid off without an explosion?

We talk about letting the bottle settle first.
Deep breathing.
Quiet time.
Food.
Movement.
Connection.
Time to decompress.

Regulation isn’t about forcing calm.
It’s about releasing pressure safely — a little at a time.

👉 You can find The Coke Bottle Activity linked in the comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

I’d love to know — what “shakes the bottle” most for your child after school?

06/01/2026

Is your child struggling but doesn’t know how to explain it?

Play therapy helps children heal, grow, and thrive - through play. At Play to Blossom, we meet children where they are, using evidence-based play therapy to support emotional regulation, self-esteem, and healthy coping skills.💛
👉 Message anna@playtoblossom to learn more or schedule an appointment.

04/01/2026

The return to school after Christmas can feel heavier than other transitions.
Weeks of connection, slower mornings, flexible routines and togetherness suddenly give way to separation, noise, structure and expectation.

If your child is showing more tears, worries, meltdowns or resistance right now, it isn’t a step backwards.
It’s a nervous system recalibrating from safety and connection back into demand.

You’re not doing anything wrong — and neither are they.

We’re sharing posts to help children transition back to school after the Christmas break.
Explore our recent posts and access our free downloadable resources to support regulation, reassurance and smoother mornings.

23/12/2025

Merry Christmas from Play to Blossom 🎄

As the year pauses, I just wanted to say thank you to all the children and families I’ve worked with. It’s been a real privilege to witness play, curiosity, feelings and growth unfold in so many different ways.

Wishing you a restful Christmas with space for play, connection and doing things at your own pace. See you in the New Year 🙂

Love from Anna xx

18/12/2025

Physical play is specifically important for developing gross motor skills but also activates and supports other areas of development and learning too. Examples of gross motor play include ball games, playing tag, negotiating obstacle courses, riding bikes and scooters, dancing, climbing, swinging and sliding, monkey bars, crawling, running, jumping and all sports. It is play that includes all the big muscles. The motor skills, and strength of children, develop and progress directly in relation to their access to this kind of play. Play-centres, parks, gyms and playgrounds are very important facilities for children.

Where children have physical bodily challenges to accessing motor play, physiotherapists and occupational therapists can help provide access and/or adaptations.

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16/12/2025

Children need to play and if allowed to they will. It is a vital part of their development and a huge contributor to emotional well-being. In the flow of child-led play there is relaxation, release of difficult feelings, learning and development. Local communities that value and provide play facilities, both indoor and outdoor, are underpinning the building blocks of so much in the lives of the children they serve.

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