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In honour of World Mental Health Day...

The research is clear, the lack of play and outdoor play in particular, has had a massive impact on our children's mental health.

As a mental health professional, I honestly believe that valuing play for plays sake is the first step to improving our children's mental health.

Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

In honour of World Mental Health Day...

The research is clear, the lack of play and outdoor play in particular, has had a massive impact on our children's mental health.

As a mental health professional, I honestly believe that valuing play for plays sake is the first step to improving our children's mental health.

Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Love this time of year...Nature provides so many wonderful resources 👌

Love this time of year...Nature provides so many wonderful resources 👌

The Dress -Up Area

This area is full of old scarves! Children use them to make:
🌟 Stylish dresses
🌟Capes
🌟Covering for dens
🌟Rivers
🌟Costumes
🌟Floor is lava
🌟Bed sheets...etc
Scarves are such a brilliant, open-ended resource!

The Dress -Up Area

This area is full of old scarves! Children use them to make:
🌟 Stylish dresses
🌟Capes
🌟Covering for dens
🌟Rivers
🌟Costumes
🌟Floor is lava
🌟Bed sheets...etc
Scarves are such a brilliant, open-ended resource!

These mats just happened to be in the room... amazing to see children's creativity develop when they are given the freedom to choose how they play.

These mats just happened to be in the room... amazing to see children's creativity develop when they are given the freedom to choose how they play.

Play is developmental. Once we create a safe and stimulating environment, play will naturally progress! #Trusttheplay #iftheyareengagedtheyarelearning

Play is developmental. Once we create a safe and stimulating environment, play will naturally progress! #Trusttheplay #iftheyareengagedtheyarelearning

It's such a privilege to get to work with student teachers. I think....*I think*... that I landed the message "If it's not child -led, it's not play." 😅#brokenrecord

I began to train as a play therapist to understand play more and now that I do, I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to share my knowledge. 🙏🙏🙏

It's such a privilege to get to work with student teachers. I think....*I think*... that I landed the message "If it's not child -led, it's not play." 😅#brokenrecord

I began to train as a play therapist to understand play more and now that I do, I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to share my knowledge. 🙏🙏🙏

Our topic at the moment is 'The Garden Centre.' My tuff tray was set up with compost, trowels, gardening forks, seeds and planting pots. (We had planned on being outside but the rain was too heavy the past few days🌧 😑)

Look at what one little dote did when I was playing somewhere else 😅 ... they created an AMAZING sensory experience!!

We poured this "slimy" mess into a basin on the tuff tray...I didn't want this delightful mess all over the floor!!

This type of play is essential for us all. For a child that delights in this, it soothes their nervous system... I'm thinking of children who may feel anxious or nervous... this is like giving their lower brain a massage. They feel extra safe... they will learn better and they just love it... it is fun.🤗

"You are really enjoying playing with slimy mess. You have a big smile on your face" was what I commented.

I also observe my little dotes who think it's a horrible mess. I wonder will they engage a little when they see the delight it brings 🤔.Will their curiosity lead them to explore??

Our topic at the moment is 'The Garden Centre.' My tuff tray was set up with compost, trowels, gardening forks, seeds and planting pots. (We had planned on being outside but the rain was too heavy the past few days🌧 😑)

Look at what one little dote did when I was playing somewhere else 😅 ... they created an AMAZING sensory experience!!

We poured this "slimy" mess into a basin on the tuff tray...I didn't want this delightful mess all over the floor!!

This type of play is essential for us all. For a child that delights in this, it soothes their nervous system... I'm thinking of children who may feel anxious or nervous... this is like giving their lower brain a massage. They feel extra safe... they will learn better and they just love it... it is fun.🤗

"You are really enjoying playing with slimy mess. You have a big smile on your face" was what I commented.

I also observe my little dotes who think it's a horrible mess. I wonder will they engage a little when they see the delight it brings 🤔.Will their curiosity lead them to explore??

Some times you can't beat the oldies... this chart is older than I care to remember 😅

Some times you can't beat the oldies... this chart is older than I care to remember 😅

This year when I was teaching Junior Infants a new sound...Inky brought us a food that began with that letter to smell and taste!!

Inky hid the food in our sound box somewhere in the classroom... and gave a chosen pupil clues if they were 'hot or cold' as they searched for the box.

I took out the sound and then we made guesses as to what food might be in the box... so much fun and excitement... and we were using two extra senses to help us remember the sound!!

I can't take credit for this idea ...I heard about it on @debbiecullinane_ Fantastic Sensory Play Summer Course and the credit for the brilliant idea goes to @siobhan_childrenstherapycentre 🤗🤗🤗

#playfullearning #sensoryplay

This year when I was teaching Junior Infants a new sound...Inky brought us a food that began with that letter to smell and taste!!

Inky hid the food in our sound box somewhere in the classroom... and gave a chosen pupil clues if they were 'hot or cold' as they searched for the box.

I took out the sound and then we made guesses as to what food might be in the box... so much fun and excitement... and we were using two extra senses to help us remember the sound!!

I can't take credit for this idea ...I heard about it on @debbiecullinane_ Fantastic Sensory Play Summer Course and the credit for the brilliant idea goes to @siobhan_childrenstherapycentre 🤗🤗🤗

#playfullearning #sensoryplay

I really enjoyed attending this yesterday with my gal
pal Leonie @thriveoutdooreducation.

It is safe to say there is a play revolution under way!

I really enjoyed attending this yesterday with my gal
pal Leonie @thriveoutdooreducation.

It is safe to say there is a play revolution under way!

Inspired by Lorraine @all_things_primary to share how I set up my role play areas.

Once the topic starts with the children's interest it takes on a life of it's own.

Inspired by Lorraine @all_things_primary to share how I set up my role play areas.

Once the topic starts with the children's interest it takes on a life of it's own.

Conflict is a healthy part of all relationships. Normalising it is very important.

Dealing with it in classrooms can be challenging.

Here are some tips that I hope you find useful... they will only work of course, when I am regulated, teacher regulation has to come first.

Would love to hear your approach to conflict resolution.

Conflict is a healthy part of all relationships. Normalising it is very important.

Dealing with it in classrooms can be challenging.

Here are some tips that I hope you find useful... they will only work of course, when I am regulated, teacher regulation has to come first.

Would love to hear your approach to conflict resolution.

Slime Monsters... perfect messy play for Halloween. These would be suitable for any class.

Swipe for recipe ➡️

Slime Monsters... perfect messy play for Halloween. These would be suitable for any class.

Swipe for recipe ➡️

We start and finish our day with this affirmation....simple, but so very, very important.

We start and finish our day with this affirmation....simple, but so very, very important.

Jill Vialet believes that the root of dysfunction in our society is our inability to be respectful and tolerant in our disagreements and conflict.

Play is the ideal context for children to learn how to navigate conflict.

Last day of registration for my webinar tomorrow night with @esc_kildare

Jill Vialet believes that the root of dysfunction in our society is our inability to be respectful and tolerant in our disagreements and conflict.

Play is the ideal context for children to learn how to navigate conflict.

Last day of registration for my webinar tomorrow night with @esc_kildare

Observing child led play can give us valuable insights into a child's social and emotional development.

I will be talking about this at my Webinar on Thursday night. Still time to register!

Observing child led play can give us valuable insights into a child's social and emotional development.

I will be talking about this at my Webinar on Thursday night. Still time to register!

Here's a few ideas I put together for play areas in Senior Classes.

Please let me know if you have any other ideas that I can add to the list.

#playon

Here's a few ideas I put together for play areas in Senior Classes.

Please let me know if you have any other ideas that I can add to the list.

#playon

As a teacher, I am very aware of my negative bias. It is so easy to focus on the challenges, the overloaded curriculum, the big behaviours...

But, lots of really good stuff happens in classrooms or on the yard everyday.

In Infants, as we wait in our line for home time we have 'The Good News!' I jot down 3 positive things that I notice during the day ( I have to jot them down because I will not remember them otherwise 😅) I then share The Good News to end our day.

In older classes, pupils could jot down one good thing that happened during the day on a post it and stick them on a Good News poster each afternoon.

I think it's important to end the day on a positive note!🥁😂

As a teacher, I am very aware of my negative bias. It is so easy to focus on the challenges, the overloaded curriculum, the big behaviours...

But, lots of really good stuff happens in classrooms or on the yard everyday.

In Infants, as we wait in our line for home time we have 'The Good News!' I jot down 3 positive things that I notice during the day ( I have to jot them down because I will not remember them otherwise 😅) I then share The Good News to end our day.

In older classes, pupils could jot down one good thing that happened during the day on a post it and stick them on a Good News poster each afternoon.

I think it's important to end the day on a positive note!🥁😂

"But you know about The Ish??"... heard this from the brilliant @carolduffy2023.

This is a book that I believe should be in every primary school.

Teaching children about The Ish means they are not afraid to have a go...our work is not supposed to be perfect... it can be 'ish'.

Good enough is good enough!

Thank you for your work and inspiration @peterhreynolds

"But you know about The Ish??"... heard this from the brilliant @carolduffy2023.

This is a book that I believe should be in every primary school.

Teaching children about The Ish means they are not afraid to have a go...our work is not supposed to be perfect... it can be 'ish'.

Good enough is good enough!

Thank you for your work and inspiration @peterhreynolds

How to facilitate the healthy release of aggression... no dolls were harmed in the making of this video!

How to facilitate the healthy release of aggression... no dolls were harmed in the making of this video!

I love this phrase...

⭐It's so easy to judge...Good/ Bad...Right/Wrong...judgement doesn't leave room for curiosity.

⭐ "I wonder..." fosters empathy and it's a great way to support creative thinking.

I love this phrase...

⭐It's so easy to judge...Good/ Bad...Right/Wrong...judgement doesn't leave room for curiosity.

⭐ "I wonder..." fosters empathy and it's a great way to support creative thinking.

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