Play Therapy and social distance

Today the world is a different world. The day to day life we had crated, full of duties, places to go, and people to see has come to a halt.

As parents, we are faced with new routines, emotional demands, physical challenges and overall domestic life.

Our children are having to ride the roller coaster of days that are not holidays, weekends of sick days. They are just odd, "weird days at home".

As a family we are mixing more than usual, sharing space, juggling expectations and meeting needs...yes, even the pet's needs!

In my practice as a Play Therapist I have realized that the key, the real heart of the therapy lies in connection. Change and healing happens when children are connected to an attuned adult.

In the Play Therapy room, the children come to practice this connection with me. They have a go at expressing without the emotional toll, they can recreate scenarios without anyone having an input, and they can start learning or remembering how to connect.

But all parents have the capacity to connect playfully and lovingly. Use the bedtime to do so, use the morning to reach, use any little given chance to be playful, to smile, to make eye contact, to roll on the floor for 10 minutes, to cook, or just to be.

There is nowhere to go, and there is no more important job than to use this time to change, to bond, to strengthen and to heal.

This is the time for us to hug more, say sorry more, talk more and overall, connect more.

Keep safe,

Paloma