#MelanieKlein’s work laid important foundations for many therapeutic approaches used today and continues to influence how play therapists think about symbolic expression, emotional meaning, and the therapeutic relationship.

#ChildCentredPlayTherapy (CCPT) #VirginiaAxline Within British Association of Play Therapists’ (BAPT) practice, CCPT remains a core, evidence-based and trauma-informed approach — honouring the child as the expert in their own experience. We’re rooted in Axline’s principles. 🧡

#VirginiaAxline Her seminal book, Dibs in Search of Self, offers a powerful and compassionate illustration of what happens when a child is met with unconditional acceptance, safety and trust.

#Axline believed that children, when offered a safe, accepting and permissive therapeutic space, naturally move towards healing and growth. Her non-directive, child-centred approach gave children permission to communicate their inner world through play.

On #WorldBrailleDay, we reaffirm our commitment to: 💛 Child-led practice 💛 Inclusive, accessible therapeutic spaces 💛 Valuing all forms of communication Because every child has a story to tell—and many ways to tell it. #PlayTherapy

“When it snows, children take over the city: they sleigh, throw snowballs, make snowmen and are more visible than ever. But what a city needs for its children has to be more durable than snow.” (Aldo van Eyck)

In #PlayTherapy, unconditional positive regard means allowing the child to be exactly who they are in the moment, without correction, agenda or expectation. Like watching a sunset unfold, the play therapist does not attempt to shape the child’s play, soften their emotions, or hurry their process.

#PlayTherapy From a place of being understood, children are able to integrate their experiences, restore a sense of agency and move forward in their own time, and in their own way. #CarlRogers

Bringing in a #NewYear full of #play! 💕⭐️

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#BAPTAdvent Day 24! #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.

Adults sometimes react more strongly than intended. Repairing with simple words like “My voice was louder than I wanted. You matter” shows accountability without shame. Repair teaches children that relationships stay safe, building trust and emotional resilience. #JogoCalendar2025 #families

Reflective practice supports therapeutic integrity. Taking a few minutes to notice where you offered playfulness, presence and permission helps maintain intention in child-centred play therapy. Regular reflection supports growth and keeps therapists grounded. #JogoCalendar2025 #playtherapists

#BAPTAdvent Day 23 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.

#BAPTAdvent Day 22 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 tasks, such as writing, dressing and self care. @thercot.bsky.social

#BAPTAdvent Day 21 When children regularly engage in board games and other structured games they develop transferable problem solving skills that benefit their academic work, social situations and everyday life. #ProblemSolving

Pausing isn’t a luxury, it supports regulation. A one-minute break to breathe, stretch or drink water can reset the nervous system and improve clarity. Encourage staff to pause today; it boosts wellbeing and models healthy regulation for pupils. #JogoBehaviourSupport #JogoCalendar2025 #schools

Children’s progress is often quiet and easy to miss. Notice one small step today, a calmer transition or a gentler response. Recognising these moments builds confidence and supports long-term growth.  #JogoBehaviourSupport #JogoCalendar2025 #schools #parents

#BAPTAdvent Day 20 #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.

#BAPTAdvent Day 19 Through #play children can build stronger relationships. Play helps to foster trust, strengthen communication and build empathy and cooperation between children and those around them. Shared experiences through play can create mutual support.

#BAPTAdvent Day 18 Physical #play is specifically important for developing gross motor skills but also activates and supports other areas of development and learning too. Where needed #physiotherapists and #occupationaltherapists can help provide access and/or adaptations.

A small regulation tray with dough or soft tactile items can help children settle after busy transitions. Adding feeling flags or cards supports emotional literacy and helps children name their experiences. Over time, the tray becomes a trusted regulation tool. #JogoCalendar2025 #schools

“Play is as natural to children as breathing. It is a universal expression of children, and it can transcend differences in ethnicity, language, or other aspects of culture.” Charles Schaefer and Athena Drewes:

#BAPTAdvent Day 17 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.

#BAPTAdvent Day 16 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.

#BAPTAdvent Day 15 #PlayTherapy can support children to process adversity and have the headspace to notice and connect with others. Once ready to play more freely and with supportive adults around them in families, schools and community facilities, they can continue to learn about social life.

A quick grounding game, touching wall, floor, chair and self helps children reconnect with their bodies and reduce tension. These playful resets support group regulation, prevent dysregulation and create a shared sense of calm.  #JogoBehaviourSupport #JogoCalendar2025 #schools

#BAPTAdvent Day 14 Physical agility can support development of a growth mindset, encouraging flexible bodies and minds. #PlayTherapy allows 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.

#BAPTAdvent Day 13 Child-led #play is naturally experimental and exploratory. Children who are allowed plenty of free play, enter a world of trying things out and responding to change. They get lots of opportunities to develop creative responses to issues and frustrations.

A 10-minute “special play time” at home lets the child lead while the adult follows, without teaching or correcting. These small, attuned moments build trust, connection and support the child’s therapeutic journey. #JogoBehaviourSupport #JogoCalendar2025 #Playtherapy #parents

#BAPTAdvent Day 12 In #PlayTherapy, the playroom becomes a safe stage for children to rehearse life. Through imaginative play, role‑play or play activities, children encounter feelings of joy, frustration, fear and excitement in a contained and supportive environment.

#BAPTAdvent Day 11 In play therapy, children have a safe and supportive space to explore differences and similarities, both in themselves and others. Through role play, cooperative games, imaginative scenarios and the therapeutic relationship they learn about fairness and kindness.

December can stretch families thin. Even five minutes of shared play—a guessing game, silly walk, or made-up sound—builds connection, lowers stress, and creates warm memories that support emotional resilience.  #Jogobehavioursupport #jogoadventcalendar2025 #families #playfulness

#BAPTAdvent Day 10 🩷❤️🧡💛🩵💙💜💚

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#BAPTAdvent Day 9 During play, children remember sequences, keep track of roles and juggle multiple ideas at once. Activities like building, planning, or imaginative storytelling require the child to hold information in mind while also adapting to new possibilities.

#BAPTAdvent Day 8 #PlayTherapy offers children a developmentally appropriate pathway to recover, integrate their experiences and move towards emotional well-being.

#BAPTAdvent Day 7 In #PlayTherapy, we recognise that sharing and turn-taking do not come naturally to emotionally young children. These are developmental abilities that unfold gradually as children feel safe, regulated and connected.  Play provides the ideal space for this growth.

#BAPTAdvent Day 6 #PhysicalCoordination In #PlayTherapy these skills grow naturally. A child-led environment allows children to experiment with their bodies, build confidence, regulate their nervous system, and develop physical mastery at their own pace. Coordinated bodies support coordinated minds.

One of my favourite playroom “toys” is FOAM! Messy play lets children create, change, squash, and even destroy and that can beautifully reflect how they are feeling inside. It gives them a safe, sensory way to express big emotions without needing words.  #jogobehavioursupport  #JogoTeam #Toys

#BAPTAdvent Day 5 #memory #Play is a powerful tool. Through repetition, imagination, storytelling, and sensory exploration, children strengthen neural pathways that support working memory, long-term memory, and the ability to recall information under stress.

#BAPTAdvent Day4 #Play is a child’s natural language. Through it, they learn to understand, express, and regulate their inner world. In #PlayTherapy, children are given a safe, accepting space where big feelings can be explored, stress can be released, and anxiety can be transformed into resilience.

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#BAPTAdvent Day 3 Through shared play, turn-taking, problem-solving, and navigating big feelings in a safe therapeutic relationship, children develop the foundations of social cooperation.

In #PlayTherapy, we know that movement is medicine for the developing body and brain. When children climb, jump, push, pull, balance, and explore, they’re not “just playing” — they’re building the foundations for lifelong physical confidence. #BAPTAdvent Day 2

#BAPTAdvent2025 Day 1 🎄 Children learn language best in relationships that feel safe, attuned and playful. In Play Therapy, they’re not pressured to perform words -they naturally discover them.

The #BAPTAdventCalendar2025 is on its way. 👀 It’s about #play! 🎄🤶 The beauty of play is that it does not require adult direction, expensive toys or specific rules. It is child-led, guided by imagination, with no set rules and no specific end goal.

Thanks for #BAPTconference2025 See you in 2026 👍💕