Lenka de Villiers-van Zyl Play Therapy

I'm so excited to share news of our upcoming webinar with you! Be sure to join us for tips and tricks to handle separation anxiety.

Join us for our upcoming webinar Starting Playschool - Navigating the first steps together.

This webinar is brought to you by Meg Faure and Lenka De Villiers-van Zyl designed to support both parents, children AND TEACHERS in the exciting transition to school life.

Starting school is a bIg step for little ones but a much bigger hurdle for their parents. Battling with separation anxiety can be a challenge all round. As a teacher, you want to know how to help parents to and little ones to cope. As a parent, you need tools to make goodbyes a little easier.

As your child embarks on this pivotal journey, we understand the blend of excitement and apprehension this milestone brings for both young learners and their families.

Explore practical strategies as they partner together to bridge the gap between home and school.

Date: Tuesday, 30th January (online)
Time: 8pm (SAST)
Tickets: R150 (Free for Play Sense parents)

Book now: https://playsense.org/discover/school-beginnings-navigating-the-first-steps-together/

🎈❤️

♡ If you would like to be kept in the loop on everything Synergetic Play Therapy or get resources to support you on your therapist journey, submit your details here: https://linktr.ee/synergeticplaytherapy ♡

How Children Process Grief and Loss Through Play Young children will likely process the tumultuous events of 2020 in the only way they know how—through play. Here’s how adults can be supportive.

Connecting through play is such an important experience for little ones - it teaches them so much about the world, themselves, and relationships, and fills their emotional cup. Here are a few tips on how to make the most of it!

In play therapy, play is the child's language – we have come to understand that children communicate through play much like adults communicate by talking. Play provides them with creative ways to express and make sense of what’s happening for them on the inside. This opens up emotional and cognitive space for new experiences and healthy development. Yay for play!

Sensory and messy play are such important components of the play therapeutic process. While grounding each child in the present moment, it also fosters curiosity, imagination and exploration. Sensory play provides ways for children to express themselves freely in novel and creative ways. While planning, experimenting and expressing themselves with messy play, children build self-confidence with non-threatening and easy-to-manipulate media such as play dough, paint, sand and water. And to top it all off, it’s loads of fun! Messes are magical!

So much WE can do as parents and educators.

❤️We don't have to know all the answers! ❤️

Self-regulation is only able to occur after many incidences of co-regulation. The adult needs to attune emotionally to the child. Through a physical connection child and caregiver can harmonise and regulation happens. Co-regulation needs to happen many, many times before children can competently self-regulate. Sometimes even children competent in regulating themselves normally will need an adult/caregiver to support them with cuddles and attunement depending on the situation.

Love this simple graphic...may we all find co-regulation in a storm.

7 Habits Of Highly Emotionally Intelligent Kids The good news is that parents can teach children essential skills like empathy and gratitude.

29 Reasons Why Play is So Important During Times of Crisis and Stress | PlaygroundEquipment.com When a child’s environment is stressful and confusing, they often naturally turn to play to help self-soothe, gain a sense of control, and sort out their emotions. A child’s play provides a powerful, resilient tool for cultivating peace, confidence, and empathy. These qualities can help children...

💙 Educate yourself and use your voice 💙

Such an important message of hope for our children during these challenging times

Rain Before Rainbows Walker Books has released Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Halls and illustrated by David Litchfield as a free eBook to raise awareness for Save the Children’s Save with Stories campaign which is helping children most affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The rainbow has become an incredible symbol ...

Many schools will begin welcoming back more of their children tomorrow. Understandably some parents and some children may be feeling anxious about this. We've put together some ideas for parents to support their child with this transition.

Perspective | Why kids love building forts — and why experts say they might need them more than ever Kids are using sheets, pillows, blankets and more to create safe havens as the covid-19 world feels out of their control.

It's a Pandemic...So Why is My Child So Calm? | Attachment and Trauma Network %During the pandemic, parents have asked ATN, “Why is my child so well-behaved?” Well, your child may feel safer, or they may be freezing or fawning.

What does "Here, your Heart" mean? ⋆ Here, your Heart In the first blog post for Here, your Heart, I share my thoughts about why I chose this name for my business and what the name means to me.

LOVE THIS!!!

The Three R's via Dr Bruce Perry

In my latest blog, I explore some ideas for helping children to navigate the challenges that come with our current global situation, and the struggles of lock down. Stay safe and take care of each other

Now is the time for compassion ⋆ Play Therapist ~ Lenka De Villiers-Van Zyl The Covid-19 pandemic has swept through our homes and lives as a great invisible force, turning much of what we know upside down. As a therapist and early childhood teacher working with children on a daily basis, I am becoming more and more aware of both the obvious and the subtle ways our children....