The Therapywise Foundation

The Therapywise Foundation Putting the mental health of children, young people and their families first

When animals choose to engage in Animal Assisted Therapies many of these benefits can also be seen between human & anima...
20/02/2026

When animals choose to engage in Animal Assisted Therapies many of these benefits can also be seen between human & animal, especially when play is also involved. And that’s why I love working with my dog with some of my clients! She also loves it 💛🐾💛

How can pets support a child's mental health?

Pets support a child's mental health by:

providing unconditional love, reducing stress, and decreasing feelings of loneliness, which can significantly lower anxiety and improve mood. They foster responsibility and empathy through caretaking, provide non-judgmental companionship, and encourage physical activity. Pets act as comforting, stable, and calming emotional anchors for children

Key ways pets support child mental health:

Reduced Anxiety and Stress: Stroking, cuddling, or simply spending time with a pet can release oxytocin, lowering stress levels. Pets provide a calming presence, particularly during emotional upheaval.

Emotional Support and Companionship: Pets offer a constant, reliable companion, which can combat loneliness and provide a safe outlet for emotions without fear of judgment.

Increased Empathy and Responsibility: Caring for a pet teaches children to recognize the needs of another living being, fostering empathy, kindness, and responsibility.

Improved Social Skills: Pets can act as a bridge for social interaction, helping children feel more confident when talking to peers or family members.

Routine and Structure: Feeding, walking, or grooming a pet helps create a daily, consistent routine, which is beneficial for managing anxiety.

Physical Health Boost: Walking a dog or playing with a pet increases physical activity and time outdoors, which improves overall mood.

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists. Have loved the
24/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists. Have loved the

Play helps children develop self-awareness by giving them opportunities to explore who they are, what they enjoy and how they respond to challenges. It builds passion by sparking curiosity, creativity and intrinsic motivation through joyful, self directed experiences.

Some play may not be obviously developing a sense of self, but a child will direct their play to explore their likes and dislikes, what they find interesting or not and what they are capable of engaging with at different development stages. If we trust in their desire to learn and grow we often find that they discover themselves and the things in life they are passionate about, which in turn may spark their future career choices. Let them play and discover for yourself, as adults, that play is not a luxury but a necessity.

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Thank you British Association of Play Therapists
23/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists

Play supports children socially with their listening skills by giving them real life opportunities to practice hearing, interpreting and responding to others in meaningful interactive context.

Through games, role play and group activities children can learn to tune in to verbal and non verbal cues, wait their turn and respond appropriately. Thus strengthening communication and empathy in their relationships.

Play types which supports listening development are imaginative role play, rule based games, cooperative play, barrier games and music/movements games.

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Thank you British Association of Play Therapists
22/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists

Play supports the physical development of a child's fine motor skills by strengthening the small muscles in the hands and fingers, improving coordination, and building the precision a child needs for everyday tasls, such as writing, dressing and self care.

Play activities that boost fine motor skills include, play dough modelling, threading, lego/block construction, drawing/colouring, cutting with scissors and games with small pieces

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Thank you British Association of Play Therapists
21/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists

When children regularly engage in board games and other structured games they develop transferable problem solving skills that extend into their academic work, social situations and everyday life.

Skills such as breaking down complex problems into manageable steps, weighing up options and predicting outcomes, collaboration with others or building resilience in the face of challenges are all key skills in game play that transfer to life situations.

Games in essence provide a safe and enjoyable environment for practicing real world problem solving skills, turning play into a powerful learning opportunity.

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Thank you British Association of Play Therapists
20/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists

Play helps children with their emotional wellbeing. It supports children in processing fear by giving them a safe, symbolic space to explore overwhelming emotions, rehearse coping strategies and regain a sense of control.

Through imaginative and physical play, children can externalise their fears, experiment with solutions and gradually transform frightening experiences into manageable narratives.
For example a child afraid of the dark might create a game about 'monsters' and in this play defeat them, symbolically mastering their fear.
Play supports Fear Processing in Children through :
* Safe expression of emotions
* Rehearsal of coping strategies
* Regulation of the nervous system
* Restoring control and agency
Strengthening relationships

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Thank you British Association of Play Therapists
19/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists

Through play children can build stronger relationships as it helps to foster trust, strengthen communication, build empathy and cooperation between children and those around them. Shared experiences through play creates and strengthens bonds, as well as teaches essential social skills.

Play builds relationships through :
* Creating a foundation of trust and connection
* Building communication skills
* Fostering empathy and compassion
* Learning conflict resolution and cooperation in play with others
Building a child's social idea d sense of belonging

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Thank you British Association of Play Therapists
18/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists

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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Thank you British Association of Play Therapists
17/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists

If you’re feeling down, struggling to get started on a job, can’t work something out – try moving, take a short walk, do a task that involves using your body. Play that involves movement can help with cognitive regulation and stimulate the brain to act or to work something out. Children instinctively know this and, if allowed to, like to spend plenty of time moving.

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Thank you British Association of Play Therapists
16/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists

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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Thank you British Association of Play Therapists
15/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists

In the therapeutic relationship of play therapy, a child can develop their communication skills, gain confidence, try out social skills, increase their feelings of regulation and learn about empathy through being met with empathy and understanding by the therapist.

Play Therapy can support children to process adversity and then have the headspace to notice and connect with others. Once ready to play more freely with other children, and, ideally with supportive adults still around them in families, schools and community facilities, they can continue to learn about what works well in relationships with others. There is joy in shared playing, planning, turntaking, having ideas and trying them out.

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Thank you British Association of Play Therapists
14/12/2025

Thank you British Association of Play Therapists

Agility play involves quick changes in speed, direction, coordination, starting and stopping and balance. Some children can find challenges like this stressful if they are in teams or working against each other, but others flourish in that kind of competition. It's important to allow for children to practice these skills against themselves instead if they want to, independently discovering whether they can beat their own personal scores and rise to challenges. Physical agility can support development of a growth mindset in learning, encouraging agile and flexible minds.

Play Therapy supports children to get into their own flow and engage in the sort of play which they instinctively know will support their growth both emotional and physical.

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