The Play Pod

09/12/2025

N IS FOR NATIVITY 🌲⛄

Another creative writing piece, a different one from before...

No guilt, no shame
No one to blame
As I sit and wait for the Nativity

No lots to do, and no
"I'm sorry I'm not there for you"
As I sit and wait for the Nativity

No rush and be quick
"I'll be back in a tick"
As I sit and wait for the Nativity

No rushing thoughts of what I've left behind
Constantly playing on my mind
As I sit and wait for the Nativity

Instead it's a moment of peace and ease
Knowing I've made the right decision to please
As I sit and wait for the Nativity

So yes it's a time I never thought would come
Being fully present, not guilty as a Mum
As I sit and wait for the Nativity

I'll ease into this moment with joy and content
Knowing many more of these will come and what it is truly meant to be able to..WATCH my daughter's Nativity!

Being self employed certainly has its perks when it comes to this time of year...

🌲 No shame or blame whilst watching my daughter's Nativity
🌲 Dedicated time within my normal working day to write reports
🌲 Being more present with friends and family
🌲 Blocking out days for proper self care (Reiki, having time to think what does my body need in this moment)
🌲 Permission to slow down not speed up and having the physical and mental space to do this

07/12/2025

L IS FOR LIFE!

Life of a Play and Creative Arts Therapist...

Arts and crafts are abandoned by my own kids so I'm doing my own collage with what I have in the kitchen! 🤣

So much more present this year, minus the extra demands of my previous job 🌲⛄

03/12/2025

L IS FOR LIFE!

Life of a Play and Creative Arts Therapist...

Re-shuffling our Christmas decorations this year to match our new lounge.... This means old decorations are now part of my tool kit in therapy

🩶 🩶 🩶 🩶 🩶

28/11/2025

P IS FOR PRODUCT!

Some of you may know that my mum had an operation a few weeks ago and to support her recovery she took it upon herself to knit x 3 emotion balls bags!

They are now ready!

Please let me know if you would like one!

27/11/2025

G IS FOR GROW!

Day 1 of my Emotion Coaching Programme today I am piloting in one of my schools and so conveniently this was in my journal entry today.

Be kind to yourself ❤️

Step 1 of this programme is looking inward on yourself, to feel grounded, connected and at peace in order to offer co regulation with others around you.

Not always easy but by giving yourself loving kindness FIRST allows for amazing connections to follow.

Donna Ashworth

21/11/2025

R IS FOR REGULATED!

With the power of AI I have created my first handout for my Emotional Coaching Programme I mentioned that is being piloted in one of the schools I am working in and hoping to launch digitally early next year!

Since, beginning my Play Therapy journey I have seen first hand why and how being regulated before any sort of interaction takes place is vitally important.

For ourselves, but also as a way to act as a co regulator for the children and young people we work with.

We never get it right 100 % of the time but by having this knowledge is a good first step to look internally out ourselves before we begin to support others around us.

19/11/2025

W IS FOR WINDBACK WEDNESDAY!

A different post from me today...

This was me....16 years ago.

Graduating for my Foundation Degree in Early Years.

Not knowing what lies ahead...

Knowing that Play is so vital in those early years led me to get my BA (Hons) in Education Studies and later my QTS, later still my NPQSL. Still teaching Early Years then later still teaching Year 1.

Always pursuing the next best thing within education status.

However, 16 years later there has been a shift I no longer crave 'the next best thing' I'm happy and content with my current training status. Of course adding to my CPD annually but there is no pressure to chase status to my portfolio.

It feels like embedding what I have and sharing what I know is the most important thing right now ❤️

18/11/2025

I IS FOR INTEROCEPTION!

I love this imagery from The Contented Child, Child Wellbeing Consultancy

Clear way of explaining what INTEROCEPTION is.

One I will be sharing with families and schools I work with.

https://www.facebook.com/share/17XJ3Dfujf/

ONE OF OUR POPULAR POSTS in the What Is.... Series that we are resharing with a free bite size info sheet.

If a child seems to “go from 0 to 100” with no warning…

If they melt down suddenly…
If they struggle to tell you what’s wrong until they’re already overwhelmed…

There’s often a hidden sense behind it — interoception.

Today’s one-page visual breaks down what interoception is, why it’s so important for emotional regulation, and how you can gently support a young person whose internal signals feel confusing or too loud.

If you’d like the free parent information sheet to go with it, comment INTEROCEPTION below and I’ll send you the Dropbox link. ⬇️

17/11/2025

L IS FOR LAUNCH!

Looking into launching my first Digital Download resource in the New Year!

Very excited to be working behind the scenes embedding this in one of my schools I work in with the view of launching a digital copy to share!

🌟 5 week inputs/themes for classes
🌟 Resources including videos, handouts and scripts
🌟 Grounded in Polyvagal Theory, co regulation and connection
🌟 Weekly handouts for staff
🌟 Observational checklist
🌟 Reflective tracker ... and much more!

15/11/2025

SH IS FOR SHARING SATURDAY!

A different share from me this weekend!

A fellow Play Therapist shared this yesterday and it sooo rings true!

It made me think....

Take note of what pulls us in!

🎶 Nostalgia from a boy band - reliving our youth
🎭 Going to the theatre - reliving a core memory
👃 A smell or a scent - brings back a sense

When we can STOP and be in the moment and see what SHOWS up is super powerful and insightful.

11/11/2025

W IS FOR WHAT!

The Contented Child, Child Wellbeing Consultancy yet again providing such a great resource!

WHAT to say when a child is dysregulated.

❤️ Minimal words to start
💜 Slow our breathing
💛 Relaxed body language
🩵 Understanding this will all pass

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BmmnM9dMY/

During a meltdown, the goal is not to 'fix' or 'stop' the behaviour.
The goal is to help the nervous system return to safety.

What we say — and how we say it — makes a profound difference.

When a child is overwhelmed, the thinking parts of the brain are offline.
They can’t reason, respond, or problem-solve yet.
They need co-regulation, not correction.

This post offers phrases you can use at each stage of the meltdown cycle — not to control the moment, but to support safety, connection, and repair.

Because when a child learns:
“I can have big feelings and still be safe with you,”
they develop emotional resilience, trust, and self-understanding.

If you found this helpful and would like a deeper breakdown of each phase (with step-by-step support strategies), you’ll find the full Timeline of a Meltdown resource via link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

Save this to come back to when things feel overwhelming