Play to Blossom

09/08/2025

❤️❤️

Recipe for a Play Therapist

Ingredients:

2 heaped cups of empathy

1 strong foundation in child development

3 generous scoops of patience

1 cup of creativity (rainbows and puppets optional)

½ cup of humour (to laugh with, never at)

A pinch of therapeutic limits

4 tablespoons of active listening

A splash of imagination

Endless sprinkles of curiosity

Essential: a calming voice and a warm smile

Instructions:

1. Start with empathy as your base — it’s the heart of every good play therapist. Mix in a solid understanding of developmental psychology to give your work structure and depth.

2. Stir in patience and creativity slowly. These will help you connect with children at their own pace, in their own world.

3. Fold in humour to help ease anxiety and build rapport. Just a pinch can bring light to even the most difficult sessions.

4. Add your listening skills, being sure to include both what is said and what is shown through play.

5. Season with imagination and curiosity. Let the child lead — your job is to follow, understand, and reflect their world.

6. Top with a warm, consistent presence. Children thrive on predictability and safety, so your steady, genuine approach is the glue that holds it all together.

7. Let it simmer over time. Progress is slow-cooked, never rushed.

Serves: One child at a time — with care, compassion, and connection.

03/08/2025

Starting school and moving on to high school are big steps for children & young people – and for parents and carers too! ⭐🤗🎒

Which is why Parent Club has tips and advice to help calm any nerves or worries about going back to, or starting, primary school and secondary school, as well as advice on supporting mental health – helping the school years to go more smoothly 💟

Find out more, visit ➡️parentclub.scot/topics/school-education

01/08/2025

Perfect way to connect too ❤️

This Wednesday is Playday, and it's a perfect excuse to unplug and play together as a family!
Play isn’t just for fun — it’s how children learn, grow, and thrive.
No need for fancy plans, whether it's the garden, the local park, or just your street — get out and play!

18/07/2025

Play Therapy normally takes place in a private, child-friendly and confidential setting where the Play Therapist sees the child on a one-to-one basis.

Consistency is key in the development of a trusting therapeutic relationship. There will be practical agreements made to support this. The Play Therapist will meet the child on the same day, at the same time and in the same place each week with the same play materials.

During play, the child has an opportunity to express deeper thoughts, ideas and wishes which allows the Play Therapist to gain valuable insights into how they experience their world. Therefore, through the Play Therapy relationship, the child is able to make sense of their life experiences and to express difficult feelings through their play.

Generally, the specific details of the therapy sessions will remain confidential between the Play Therapist and the child. Parents/carers and professionals will not be given weekly feedback and it is important that the child is not pressured into talking about what they have been doing in the sessions. This promotes the child’s feelings of trust with the therapist and the safety of the therapy space.

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27/06/2025

How Play Therapy Can Help Children with PTSD:

When children experience trauma, their feelings often live in the body and in play—long before they can be put into words. Play therapy provides a safe, consistent space where children can express and process what they have experienced without the pressure to talk.

In child-centred play therapy, we don’t ask children to relive their trauma. Instead, we offer them the freedom to play it out at their own pace, in their own way—helping to restore a sense of safety, choice and connection.

Through the therapeutic relationship and symbolic play, healing begins.

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15/06/2025

🎪 Den spaces in play therapy provide containment, foster imaginative play, and support emotional resilience ❤️

Play helps children feel safe 🧸

Do you remember that feeling of being snug in a den?

Den building is more than just having fun. Children create a world of their own, where they feel secure, in control, and free to explore.

In a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming, play offers a vital sense of comfort and security. 💚

This image is from Scotland's Play Vision Statement and Action Plan. Read more about Scotland's Play Strategy: https://www.playscotland.org/policy/play-strategy/

07/06/2025

❤️

Let’s bust a few myths!
❌ “They’re just playing”
✅ Complex processes (neurological, physical, and relational) occur in playful moments
❌ “Learning does not happen through playing”
✅ Learning through play has important pedagogical functions
❌ “Playing won’t help you if you’re stressed”
✅ Play is a natural stress reliever
❌ “Play Therapy is not evidence-based”
✅ Play Therapy is evidence-based with substantial empirical research

Repost from Play & Filial Therapy 💕

19/05/2025

Play is how children connect - it's their way of saying "be with me". When we play, we speak their language ❤️

17/05/2025

❤️ Born ready to connect ❤️

Quote of the Day

12/05/2025

Is your child feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or struggling with big emotions?
Play Therapy could help. 💬🧸

At Play to Blossom, we offer a safe, supportive space where children can explore their feelings through play — their most natural way of communicating.

Whether it's anxiety, low self-esteem, or a tricky life transition, play therapy helps children feel heard, understood, and more confident in themselves.

👩‍🏫 Sessions are led by a qualified Play Therapist (BAPT-accredited)
📍 Based in Bo'ness
📄 Click the leaflet below to learn more

09/05/2025

Understanding the why, can help us respond with more patience and connection ❤️

04/05/2025

❤️💕