Galway Play Therapy

08/03/2021

02/02/2021

Re-posting, because we could all use this reminder.

09/01/2021

Free play is SO important for children. Us adults do not need to interfere! Yes, there are loads of benefits to interactive and shared adult-child play too. And using play as a teaching methodology is super important. But please don’t forget about the incredible power of children’s free choice and independent play. This is a lovely image from . Click on it and zoom in if you want to read about some of the wonderful benefits of children’s free play.

07/01/2021

As we enter another phase of children “learning from home” please soak in these words. Every child is different, every parent is different, every home is different. We do not need to compare or to judge - our children, ourselves or others. Let’s support each other during the days and weeks ahead. Be gentle with yourself, be gentle with your children, and be gentle with the teachers of Ireland who are working in a new way too. Childhood is not a race, it is a time for children to play, to explore, to make connections and discoveries, to learn about themselves and the world we live in. They do all of these through play! If things get hard, if stress creeps in, let them play even more!! My children were delighted and excited to return to “school at home”, so much so they insisted we start this week. I am sharing, and will continue to share, some of the things we get up to in my stories. This may be helpful for some who are navigating this new journey too. Play on and let our children shine through 💫

05/06/2020

As lockdown starts to ease..... you decide for you, I'll decide for me. None of us have the same circumstances (medically high risk child/ family member or a business about to go under, etc.) Let's all stay in our own lanes and keep the judgement down as we begin to unlock. No one should feel pressured either way.
Just a thought... As all of us are trying to figure out how to ease back into normal, please remember:
🛑 Some people don’t agree with the unlocking.... that’s ok. Be kind.
🏡 Some people are still planning to stay home.... that’s ok. Be kind.
🦠 Some are still scared of getting the virus and a second wave happening.... that’s ok. Be kind.
💰 Some are sighing with relief to go back to work knowing they may not lose their business or their homes....that’s ok. Be kind.
👩🏾‍⚕️Some are thankful they can finally have the surgery they have had put off....that’s ok. Be kind.
📝 Some will be able to attend interviews after weeks without a job....that’s ok. Be kind.
😷 Some will wear masks for weeks.... that’s ok. Be kind.
💅🏻 Some people will rush out to get their hair or nails done.... that’s ok. Be kind.

❤️ The point is, everyone has different viewpoints/feelings and that’s ok. Be kind.

We each have a different story. If you need to stay home, stay home. But be kind.
If you need to go out, just respect others when in public and be kind!

Don’t judge fellow humans because you’re not in their story. We all are in different mental states than we were months ago. So remember, be kind.❤❤❤

02/06/2020

08/05/2020

Laura Coleman is part of the talented teaching team at the Children's Therapy Centre, she teaches on CTC's MA in Creative Psychotherapy (Humanistic & Integra...

26/04/2020

Thank you for sharing these tips from Dr. Bessel van Dee Kolk for helping children cope with Covid-19 anxiety. These suggestions are helpful for teenagers and adults too. Think about ways you can make them work for yourself and your loved ones.

💛Movement helps us regulate. Find ways to move. Dance it out, step it out, wiggle it out, bounce it out, move and move some more!

💛Have routines, things that bring regularity. These don’t have to be rigid school based tasks. Just things that are predictable in the day. Focusing on relationship building activities will really help too! Some garden time, play time, snack time, tv time, reading time, time to connect with friends online, family meal times. A general running order to these long days at home can bring predictability and security. For some, the predictable routines will be enough, others may benefit from a visual schedule using picture cues so that they can literally see what lies ahead. A simple “First-Then” board can work well. Pop a picture of what you will do first in the first section and what you will do next in the then section.

💛 Build in special things to look forward to. A special 1:1 playtime with one parent, baking together, a family movie, a family game, a zoom call with their friends. We really need things to look forward to, and regular engagement in activities that we enjoy. Build these in as often as possible. Keep joy and hope alive.

28/03/2020

My kind of homework! My daughter’s teacher kindly forwarded on this great Activity Bingo for the week ahead. Painting, playing, planting, helping out around the house! Perfect.

Thank you to the fantastic teachers in my daughter’s school, and to all of the teachers working so hard to support children’s learning at home. I love the relaxed, and fun, approach to this Bingo activity. Plus it is very clear that we do not need to feel any pressure to complete the activities.

As a parent, a teacher and a child and adolescent psychotherapist, I feel really strongly that parents do not need to put themselves under pressure to complete schoolwork with their children, to teach new concepts, or to try to replicate school at home. These are unprecedented times. The last thing we all need is more stress in our homes. We need to minimise the impact that the current Covid-19 crisis has on our stress and anxiety levels, and on the stress and anxiety levels of our children and teenagers too. Self care, compassion, calm and connection are key. I think I may create my own self care Bingo to go alongside this fun Activity Bingo 🌟👌💫

26/03/2020

Recording children’s sadness and distress for entertainment.

There has been a growing trend over the years of parents or other adults sharing children’s upset from being told someone ate your candy, baby reveals, frightening children, favorite Restraunt’s closed and many other situations to show real distress in children so someone can have a laugh. Some of these get millions of views and I am always left feeling shocked and wonder how can so many people find this entertaining, funny and share them.

Children learn in their deepest upset my parent or career laughs and videos me. A breeding ground for shame and humiliation.

As a responsible adult maybe if you reflect on this maybe you can see clearly now it’s not funny. If you share these videos you are part of the shaming to a child who does not have a voice.

Imagine in your deepest upset as an adult where you sobbed and showed your vulnerability to your loved one, but instead of a hug and connection they started to record you and than posted it on social media. Imagine if you were set up by a loved one to become upset and show fear and than they posted it on social media. It would be a very different story.

“ when we have not been seen in our deepest sadness’s it’s hard to see it in others”

Children's Rights Alliance Children's Rights ISPCC Childline

23/03/2020