Concept created by
a Children's Therapist
How can I help my child
with their emotions?
What is a
therapeutic story?
As a children's therapist, this is the question I have been asked the most by parents, and as a parent, what I most often asked myself. We all want the best for our tiny humans as they grow and navigate their rainbow of emotions and new experiences.
Emotions at Play, a collaboration between a play and creative arts therapist, and an award winning illustrator, has been designed as a helping hand through this . Together we bring you the magic of therapeutic storytelling, the most engaging characters and illustration, a unique and immersive playful experience, and that all-important connection with their favourite playmate - you!
Therapeutic stories are designed to help children to process difficult feelings. They often introduce this through simple metaphor, allowing an emotion or new experience to be introduced via the safe emotional distance of a character. The experience of this character is designed to gently mirror the child's emotional journey, reflecting this back to them and helping them to problem solve and feel understood.
There is no better way of addressing feelings with young children, because play is their natural language. Unlike adults who have the ability to consciously talk through their emotions and experiences, this is not how children process feelings.
This is because the part of the brain responsible for 'thinking about thinking' has not yet fully developed. In fact, the prefrontal cortex is not developed until at least the mid twenties!
Play engages the creative right side of the brain, meeting children where they are developmentally. Used alongside the left brain thinking and learning, this aims to provide the magic recipe that is Emotions at Play. Our stories invite the adult and child to journey alongside the character, providing a developmentally appropriate and fun way to learn about and process feelings.
There are four collections in our book series, with every story book sitting within one of these colour coded titles.
In your Emotions at play book, you will find simple experiments, art and crafts, fun games and sensory activities weaved throughout the tale to bring the story off the page and into the child's world. With the help of our mascot, 'Rags', children are encouraged to lead the play and be curious about the characters. The creative activities centre around things you are likely to have to hand, such as recycled and natural materials, keeping the materials accessible to you and kind to our planet.
Every story has it's own focused parent/carer information area on our website, accessed by a QR code that comes with the book. This is filled with tips and support.
Children don't say
" I had a bad day, can we talk?
They say
"Will you play with me?"
Lawrence Cohen
Join the
Program
So, how does
it all work together?
How will playing help?
This is the part we are really passionate about.
Explains a lot, right?
Feelings
Challenges
Diversity
Experiences
Therapeutic story
Art & craft
Experiments
Sensory activities
Fun & Games
As a parent or carer, you know your child the best and you are your child's favourite and most important playmate. Through Emotions at Play you will learn how to make the most out of this very important role with top tips and guidance on ways to bring in connection and emotional understanding through the play.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
ANNA, PLAY THERAPIST
As a play therapist, I really value a resource such as this that allows children to explore their emotions in a non-intrusive way. Being able to do this with the parent/carer is a wonderful connecting experience for all involved. I will recommend Emotions at Play books to the families I work with.
YVONNE, PARENT
There is something so comforting about the story and illustrations, and my children seem to love the message that it's okay to feel your sad feelings -I need a reminder of this sometimes too! I have found the parent information page really useful in knowing how to help my children with their feelings, and I have a new perspective on play as a result.
RACHEL, CLINICAL DIRECTOR
When the Rain Came Down is a beautifully accessible book for helping children explore the importance of all feelings. The engaging story, relatable character, and thoughtful activities encourage understanding of emotions as essential for wellbeing. I’m excited to have this book in our therapy space to support younger children in processing their emotions
OUR COLLECTION
POP OVER TO THE SHOP TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE...
