Play Therapy with Julie Thigpen

11/02/2025

At eight, feelings start to grow faster than the brain can keep up.
Children are beginning to notice fairness, friendship dynamics, and their own internal world — but their emotional regulation skills are still under construction.

What you see as mood swings or overreactions are often signs of a brain learning to manage new complexity.
They don’t need to be told to calm down — they need calm to borrow from.

FOLLOW to see the whole series with a range of ages.

Explore Managing Big Feelings: The Toolkit for Parents & Educators — practical, brain-based support to help children build emotional understanding and resilience through these growing years. Link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

11/02/2025

🥰

Dear grown-ups who love children,

In a world that measures so much by numbers—grades, scores, likes, ranks—it’s easy to forget what can’t be measured. No number can capture a child’s kindness, their spark of creativity, or the way their heart lights up when they help someone else. These are the things that make each child priceless.

As we all nurture learning and growth, let’s remember that numbers are just tools—not truths. They tell us something, but not everything. Every child is a story still being written, full of mystery, potential, and heart. 🌟

✨Volunteer with us by signing up here: https://bit.ly/47FZhxA

10/28/2025

💞❤️‍🩹💞

There are moments in parenting when you wish you could take their pain away with just a hug.
You see the heaviness in their little shoulders, the way their eyes avoid yours, and you know — something has hurt them.

Sometimes, it’s a problem you can fix.
Other times, it’s simply your job to sit with them in it… to let them know that even in their saddest moments, they are never alone.

And in that quiet space, you hope they feel it —
that unshakable truth that no matter how big the world gets,
they will always have a safe place in your arms,
and a love that will never let go. 💛

10/24/2025

🌱 When Children Lie: Connection Before Correction 🌱

When a child lies, it’s easy to feel frustrated or disappointed — but lying isn’t usually about being “bad.” It’s communicatiion. A signal that something inside needs safety or understanding.

💭 Why children lie:
• To avoid trouble or shame
• To protect themselves or someone they care about
• To meet a need — one they’re afraid won’t be met
• To hold on to a bit of control, or a sense of security
• Because they fear losing connection

Lying is developmental, not a moral flaw. Kids are still learning how honesty, safety, and relationships fit together.

✨ Instead of focusing on the lie, focus on why they needed to tell it.
Ask yourself: “What might my child be afraid of right now?”

❤️ When children feel seen and understood, honesty becomes safer.
Connection builds trust — and trust grows truth. 💛

Read more here:
https://bonnieharris.com/why-kids-lie-and-how-to-handle-it/?fbclid=IwdGRjcANokThjbGNrA2hmEGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeNX3whSNrqf33i9riUJXbeTskm_HyX2lS0m2fnAZccNHUcT8dlBhkFqSL5ro_aem_9PJEckzMMqTuG0XIoWNZFg

Why DO kids lie? It's pretty straightforward but anything but obvious. Here's the break down on why kids lie and what you can do about it.

10/21/2025

At school, some children seem to ‘hold it together’ all day — only to fall apart once they’re home.

That’s not manipulation or attention-seeking. It’s masking.

Masking means suppressing natural responses, mimicking peers, or pushing through overwhelm to appear "fine".

It’s exhausting — and over time, it can lead to burnout, anxiety, and loss of self.

Recognising the signs of masking helps adults see beyond the surface — and offer support that feels safe and authentic.

Available in our Resource Store

Masking – The Toolkit
Practical strategies to help schools and parents support children who mask their true needs.
After School Restraint Collapse, the Toolkit for Parents & Educators
Links in comments or via our Linktree Shop in Bio.

10/19/2025

Play is language, Toys are words. 🧸🪀🪆🪁 Play therapy heals hearts! ❤️‍🩹

10/09/2025

09/21/2025

Resilience is earned not given ❤️‍🩹