BAPT British Association Of Play Therapists

Misconceptions of Play Therapy: “It’s Just Playing!” But Play Therapy is so much more than just play. Play is children's natural language. Through play, children can express emotions, explore experiences and communicate things they may not yet have the words to explain.

#ClocksBack

The Therapeutic Power of Toys in #PlayTherapy - #sand We stay curious about the process—what is chosen, what shifts, and what healing unfolds right there in the tray. www.bapt.info/

The therapeutic power of toys in #PlayTherapy #books

Happy #NationalAppleDay Thinking of the “core” of emotions …….

#PlayTherapy

#NationalAdoptionWeek Every adopted child has their own story, shaped by relationships, experiences and connections that are uniquely theirs. As #PlayTherapists, we recognise the importance of allowing children to explore their experiences without assumptions, expectations or judgement.

The Therapeutic Power of Toys in #PlayTherapy - Dress-Up Clothes: A superhero cape, a princess dress, a firefighter's helmet or an oversized pair of shoes. Dress-up clothes offer children the freedom to become whoever they choose, explore different roles and experiment with ways of being.

Always, all creativity relies on being able to see things differently. I've spent my entire life doing this, spotting the patterns and shapes around me. It's a child-like skill, but it's one that opens up endless possibilities. 😁

Gr8! #StayPlayful 🧡

#ChildPovertyDay Childhood should be a time of play, exploration, connection and opportunity. The experience of growing up in poverty can affect almost every aspect of daily lives. Children may not always have the words to explain these experiences, but the emotional impact can be significant.

🎈 The Therapeutic Power of Toys in Play Therapy: Balloons Something as simple as a balloon can bring so many opportunities for exploration into the playroom. Balloons can be exciting, unpredictable, frustrating and sometimes even a little frightening.

The therapeutic power of toys in the #playroom Worry dolls.

#Edusky

The therapeutic power of toys in the playroom - tea party toys. Who is invited? Kids set the rules. Sometimes everyone is welcome. Sometimes someone is left out. There might be disagreements, spills, demands for more cake or a guest who doesn't want to join in! That’s #PlayTherapy

BAPT latest video - small voices, inspired by #WorldMentalHealthDay #PlayTherapy youtu.be/KbUS96gxHLw

#WorldMentalHealthDay Listening to children's #LivedExperiences can lead to change in how adults understand them, respond to their needs and provide support.

This #BabyLossAwarenessWeek we remember the babies whose lives were heartbreakingly short, acknowledge the families who carry their loss, and recognise that children, too, may need understanding, reassurance and space for their grief. 🩷💙

#DyslexiaAwarenessDay This Dyslexia Awareness Day, let's recognise the importance of creating environments, both in education and the workplace, where dyslexic individuals feel understood, valued and able to thrive.

The Therapeutic Power of Toys in #PlayTherapy: #BoardGames can offer opportunities to explore frustration, flexibility, decision-making, turn-taking, mastery and relationships, while also sharing moments of fun and connection.

What if challenging behaviour is actually a child trying to tell us something? Before we correct the behaviour, what might happen if we got curious about the message behind it? Behaviour is communication. #TeachingTipTuesday #PositiveBehaviourSupport #BehaviourIsCommunication #JogoBehaviourSupport

Using figures, animals, dolls, puppets or other toys, children can act out emotions and experiences. Anger, sadness, frustration, excitement, joy and more. In the #playroom, children can explore without being told to calm down, stop being silly or that they're making too much of something.

#GrandparentsDayUK Grandparents can be an important part of a child’s world – offering connection, play and belonging across generations. For others, relationships with grandparents may be more complicated. #PlayTherapists make space for whatever these relationships mean to the individual child.

#WorldSmileDay Children may smile when they're happy, but also when they're nervous, unsure, uncomfortable or trying to manage big feelings. In the playroom, there is space for all emotions. Children don't need to be happy, cheerful or smiling to be accepted. #PlayTherapy

The therapeutic use of toys in #PlayTherapy Jump Scare games. Through this kind of play, children can explore fear and uncertainty in manageable doses, experience a sense of control and mastery, practise moving between excitement and calm, and build confidence to cope with the unexpected.

The #BigDrawFestivalMonth ✏️ There’s no need stay inside the lines, and no right or wrong way to create.

#ADHDAwarenessMonth As #PlayTherapists, we are interested in what sits beneath the behaviour and in understanding each child's individual experience.

The therapeutic power of toys in #PlayTherapy - CLAY

#WorldHeartDay

The therapeutic power of toys in #PlayTherapy - Masks

Therapeutic power of toys in #PlayTherapy - Bubbles 🫧 They look like simple fun, but bubbles are an incredible tool for emotional regulation.

🩷🧡💚💜💛💙

The therapeutic power of toys in #PlayTherapy - Magic Wand What would you change with the wave of a wand?

#InternationalDayOfSignLanguages #PlayTherapy

#AutumnEquinox #PlayTherapy Finding Balance in a Season of Change 🍁 Today marks the day of perfect balance where day and night are of equal length. For many children, September is a whirlwind of adjustments: new classrooms, new expectations, and changing routines. Balance is hard.

Therapeutic power of toys in PlayTherapy - Slime

#InternationalDayOfPeace Theme: Invest in Peace - For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day Peace does not mean the absence of big feelings. Peace is having a safe space to feel them.

The Therapeutic Power of Toys in #PlayTherapy - the toy telephone 📞 If you step into a non-directive play therapy room, you will almost always find a toy telephone. It looks simple, but to a child, it is a powerful tool for processing big feelings and complex relationships.

It’s here! #TalkLikeAPirateDay #PlayTherapy

On #YouthMentalHealthDay, we asked young people about the pressures they face and their hopes for building their futures #YMHD2026 #stem4

Delighted to be leading this next year. neu.org.uk/events/playf...

The Therapeutic Power of Toys in #PlayTherapy - paint

The Therapeutic Power of Toys in #PlayTherapy - baby bottles.

The Therapeutic Power of Toys in #PlayTherapy - Musical Instruments

🧡#PLAY!

Dan Hughes’ Cloak of Confidence reminds us that it’s okay not to have all the answers. Our children don’t need perfect parents. They need safe, connected parents who are willing to be curious and learn alongside them.  #Parenting #Attachment #ConnectedParenting #JogoBehaviourSupport

The therapeutic Power of Toys in #PlayTherapy - Baby Dolls 👶 In the hands of a child, dolls become something much bigger: a powerful tool for emotional expression and healing. As BAPT play therapists, watching how a child interacts with a baby doll gives us deep insight into their inner world.

#WorldSuicidePreventionDay

Happy #NationalTeddyBearDay To a child, a teddy bear can represent a vital transitional object. Coined by pediatrician and psychoanalyst #DonaldWinnicott, a #TransitionalObject bridges the gap between the familiar safety of a primary caregiver and the big, unfamiliar outer world.

Scottish Children's Health Week day 3: How play supports social development 👋 Which of these have you noticed when witnessing social play situations? Find more information and resources on our website: linktr.ee/playscotland