I love pillows as props for responding playfully when my child feels like hitting or kicking! When kids are hitting or kicking, they are usually in a defensive state of fight-or-flight, which means they have lots of adrenaline pumping through their body, giving their muscles a surge of energy. Pillows offer the possibility of so … Continue reading Pillow games for responding playfully to our child’s aggression
Putting together my own observations and experiences, and what I know about the nervous system, I’d like to outline my understanding of what is going on when children lash out, how responding playfully can help, and why it can be so challenging for parents. WHY DO KIDS LASH OUT? When kids are lashing out, their nervous … Continue reading Kids’ aggression, responding playfully, and the challenge for parents
So last night my boy was bouncing a bit too vigorously on the sofa to the point that I thought he might damage the structure of the sofa. 🌼 From close by in the kitchen, I said to him in a silly voice, “I feel you are jumping too vigorously on the sofa!” (playful connection). 🌼 I … Continue reading Setting limits playfully – The “chase and can’t catch” game
As a new mum, I had a fairly easy time singing to and playing with my baby. This continued as my son became a toddler, with a focus on being present, following his lead, and sharing in his joy. As my son got older, I loved doing child-led play with him, often using soft toys, … Continue reading Play YOUR Way
A gorgeous mum friend asked me last week whether I might be willing to offer a workshop or two on playful parenting to her group of Playcentre parents. I felt really excited by her suggestion, and immediately started having ideas and making notes for what I wanted to include in the workshops! I’m tentatively calling … Continue reading Playful Parenting – What, When & Why?
Have you heard of power reversal play? When instead of being the bigger, stronger, wiser one, as we often appear to be, we play the part of the less competent one? The bumbling fool, even? Kids are so often the smaller and weaker ones. They are learning so much everyday, often not knowing how to … Continue reading What “The Book with No Pictures” can teach you about power reversal play!
This game is probably going to sound ridiculous, but it arose out of desperation. One afternoon, my son was not listening or cooperating, and I was feeling tired and fed up. I was trying to get something to happen (I can’t remember what), and I wasn't getting anywhere with it. I knew that the connection … Continue reading Playful exaggeration – when you are tired, fed up or just plain desperate!
My son has been pretty keen on “fighting” with my husband, Alex, lately. This could be any one or combination of non-contact karate-style fighting, wrestling or pillow fighting, throwing or bashing. One of the first things you’ll hear come out of my son’s mouth when my husband comes home from work is, “Fight with me! … Continue reading When wanting to fight is code for “I need connection!”
When my son was 5, we started to experience some hitting and kicking from him when he had big feelings. Pure empathic limits, where I offer a combination of empathy (e.g “I see you’re not happy with this”), a clear verbal limit (e.g. “I can’t let you hit/kick me”) and a physical limit to stop … Continue reading Using play to respond to my son’s aggression
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