Mandala Play Therapy

10/02/2022

Children’s Mental Health Week 7th-13th February ❤️
With 1 in 6 children and young people having a diagnosable mental health problem, children's mental health has never been more important 🌈❤️

02/02/2022

05/01/2022

03/12/2021

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Interplay Therapy has created an advent calendar for you! Happy holidays! :)

23/08/2021

Last week I was talking with a Mum who was very worried about her teenager and her anger. This teen was 14 and would scream and rage when told to turn off screens or that she wasn't allowed to go out and see her friends.  Her anger was scary - so much so that this Mum asked me "Does sh

17/08/2021

Love this from Seed & Sew! Playfulness is the P in Dan Hughes PACE model (the others are Acceptance, Curiosity & Empathy) and it really can make all the difference in transitions and many other situations!

Sometimes I get so focused on the tasks at hand that I forget that it doesn’t have to be so serious. Does that happen to you, too? You’re so focused on moving through the things that have to get done that playfulness gets pushed to the side?

When we bring playfulness into transitions it can be an awesome way to connect with kiddos and lead to collaboration. It turns off the alarm center in the brain, allowing them to feel safe and secure.

What have you found helpful during transitions?

20/07/2021

CUBE Community has put together a lovely and useful list of places of cheap/free places in South Wales you could visit with your children this summer.
This is a great chance to get outside exploring and enjoying nature.

Happy Holidays 💜🌈💜
Parc Cefn Onn
The Wenault
*Cardiff bay Barrage
Ebbw vale owl sanctuary (by the shopping outlet)
Newport wetlands
*Bryn Gawr house
Fforest fawr
Pontneddfechan (waterfalls, head to the angel inn)
Cwncarn forest drive, Newport
Forest farm nature
*Gawr nant visitor centre
*Margam park,
Welsh mountain centre
The big pitt.
Ogmore castle & beach
Southern down beach
Aberavon
Ponty Park (I am sure the lido will be closed)
Blaenovan ironworks
Roman baths in caerleon
Amphitheatre Caerleon
Gnoll park
Barry siding country park ponty
Dare valley country park
Merthyr mawr
*St Fagans
Cardiff Museum
Bute Park
Barry Island
*Porthkerry
The knap
Jackson's Bay
*Cosmeston Lakes
Bendricks beach
Penarth Pier
Porthcawl
Fontygary
Porthcawl
*Beechenhurst Lodge, Gloucester
Penarth Cliff tops
Alexander Park, penarth
Roath Park
*Tredegar House - National Trust
*Amelia Trust Farm
Hensol Woods
Blaencuffin Canyon
Fonmon Castle

🤔Not sure if your children will be entertained enough by running through the forest? Take some string, find a longish stick and make a walking memory stick, as you go along collect things and tie them to the stick with the string, for example, some leaves, some flowers, a bit of bark etc and afterwards why not get them to tell you a story with all the things they have collected.
❤️Or play go find me... Just ask them to find things as you walk along, find me something green, something rough, something tall, something smaller than a snail, something purple etc. Great for some mindful moments and to keep them entertained and gettong connected to their surroundings.

🌌Why not have a night under the stars or go searching for sea sparkle (bioluminescent plankton) we have done this and it has been magical.
🌠Camp in your garden under the stars.
If you are a national trust member there's loads of places to go. I love national trust.

*Small cost for parking or entry (£10.00 as a family or less for the day)

Due to covid-19 you should check ahead that these places are open before you head there.

25/05/2021

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Image from Buddha Doodles, Instagram.

09/04/2021

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Mindfulness primes your child's brain for better focus, sleep, and calming skills. Here are 25 small things you can do with your child to discover and enjoy small moments of mindfulness together🌳🌼🌤.

Inside: Teaching mindfulness to kids in an appealing way can be tricky, here are 25 fun mindfulness activities for kids that they'll jump right on board with.   The more I learn about mindfulness the

19/03/2021

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01/03/2021

A good article on the physiology of a child's brain when they are struggling to regulate their emotions and some advice on how you can support them through this...

And how to nip them in the bud before they start.

27/02/2021

"Observing the behavior of an anxious child is sometimes like looking at the tip of an iceberg: underlying the anxious behavior are layers of emotions and experiences."

07/02/2021

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19/01/2021

Quote of the Day

02/11/2020

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10/10/2020

"Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives."
—Bessel Van Der Kolk

For this year’s World Mental Health Day, let’s consider safe connections as a mission for positive mental health.

https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/world-mental-health-day-2020

23/09/2020

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