Top Tips on Keeping it together- When supporting a child (Part 2 of 2)

November 1, 2018 Full Cup Play Therapy (Rachel)

Following last month's article on cultivating your inner calm, this month we are focussing on when things have escalated and you haven't got any more calm to share (it happens to us all!). So this time we are focussing more specifically about not joining the chaos! Because let's face it, we can't always keep up with our calm cultivating practices (that we touched on in the last article). Sometimes it seems there's just a perfect storm of things going wrong and you get wound up. You are human after all.

First be sure to download your free printable refrigerator sheet that accompanies this article so you can easily put this into action!

You don't have to be the "perfect parent"...

July 18, 2018 Full Cup Play Therapy (Rachel)

Photo by Sue Zeng on Unsplash — Photo by Sue Zeng on Unsplash

Good news! Your child doesn’t need you to be the perfect parent (whatever that is!?)

Don’t get me wrong there are definitely wrong ways to parent. There are definitely abusive ways to parent. But if you’re a regular reader over here you probably already know that. You’re probably a subscriber because you deeply care about your child’s emotional wellbeing, you value play and you want to be the best parent (or teacher, therapist) you can be. And there’s something I’ve been saying a lot to the families I work directly with recently, and I want to share it with you…

Your child doesn’t need you to the perfect parent!

Make this the BEST year ever for parenting, by adding this goal to your new year list!

January 5, 2018 Full Cup Play Therapy (Rachel)

Around this time of year everyone is setting New Year Resolutions, have you? In my family we tended not to do this. Dad said it seemed to be setting ourselves up for failure so we avoided it altogether!

It seems pops was on to something though because there are a LOT of depressing stats out there about how many of us fail in our resolutions by the end of January…oops!

I think the reason for this is because the format of resolutions is very negative. “I will stop….eating ice cream, yelling at my kids, staying up late (fill in the blank!)

While being mean to ourselves and forcing ourselves to do without may work in the short run, for more long term change we need to feel good about doing it!

So instead of “I will stop yelling at the kids” tweak it to the positive that you want more of. E.g. “ I will speak with more kindness and authority to the children.”

Christmas Gift ideas for your kids that will touch their heart!

December 22, 2017 Full Cup Play Therapy (Rachel)

Last minute gifts that will touch your child's heart. Inexpensive and you most likely won't even need to leave home! WIN WIN! #giftgiving #childtherapist #parenting #giftsfromtheheart #parentchildbond #playtherapy

Why is my child playing with younger toys?

October 5, 2017 Full Cup Play Therapy (Rachel)

Why does my child still play with baby toys- PLAY BUTTON.jpg

"Mum! Daddy! Please I really want this! I will play with it all the time. Please, please, please!"

After some consideration you get it. It looks vaguely educational even!

A week later, it’s gathering dust. You search around and find where your child is playing. To your surprise they’re stuck into the stacking cups that you put by the door to donate to charity. They are 9 years old after all! They keep showing an interest in toys that seem far too young for them lately. What is going on? What should I do?

Keeping your child emotionally safe during a typhoon

September 2, 2017 Full Cup Play Therapy (Rachel)

Image by Kian Gallagher. N.B. Full Cup Play Therapy knows how personal and powerful creative work done in therapy is. Therefore we never share any artwork from child clients. — Image by Kian Gallagher.
N.B. Full Cup Play Therapy knows how personal and powerful creative work done in therapy is. Therefore we never share any artwork from child clients.

After ensuring the physical safety of your child, support their sense of emotional safety at home. This article gives tips for trauma proofing your child and when to seek extra professional help.

The Horrors of Play!

October 30, 2015 Full Cup Play Therapy (Rachel)

Play isn't all sandcastles and blowing bubbles...

Understanding your child's play & What to do when it gets a little scary!

In honour of Halloween, I thought I'd touch on that common occurrence of when play goes a little...well...dark!

I suspect most parents have been in the situation when they're playing seemingly "nicely" with their child and then bam, "Barney's head gets sliced off and rolls into a massive bone crunching machine"! This is then often followed by a sinister little laugh. Creepy!

Perhaps you said "are you sure that's what happens next?" Or maybe you tried to rescue the grim tale "but then McQueen comes and blocks the blade and they all talk it out before becoming best friends,right?" Maybe you said nothing and just let your mouth hang open as you slowly edge away in a mild panic that your son is going to turn into some sort of psychopath!

Travel your way into your child's mind

September 10, 2015 Full Cup Play Therapy (Rachel)

How travel helps you understand your child (whether that's your inner or outer child!)

This is not your typical travel anecdote.

I cringe to say it but I guess you could say I'm a "well traveled" person. I come from a long line of Irish folk with itchy feet. I've lived in Hong Kong now for over 8 years so most of my trips tend to be around Asia. Not this summer. This summer I was thrown into the alien yet somewhat familiar culture of America!

5 Tips if your child has been abducted by an iPad. How to set limits for screen time.

February 26, 2015 Full Cup Play Therapy (Rachel)

At first it was fascinating and cute watching him explore on the iPad with his chubby little fingers and eyes full of wonder. But now, long gone are the days of the old "out of sight out of mind" tactics for managing screen time.

Empowering children to help themselves- Full Cup Play Therapy