Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Play and The Pediatrician's Role
Play and The Pediatrician's Role
Emotional Healing
Just as adults feel helped by talking
things out, children experience healing
through play
Connection, empowerment and
laughter have signicant healing
e$ects. As do the tears that often
follow fun and play because the child
feels safe to release overwhelming
sadness that is too intense for giggles
Releasing a backed up ood of tears is
good and healthy. We should 'stand by'
and allow this, without trying to stop it
too quickly and risk sending the
message that intense emotions are
unacceptable
It easy to be frustrated when children
'melt down' after we have spend hours
entertaining. If we anticipate it, we can
deal with it more e$ectively
Play out di%cult situations: "let's play
school," "lets play getting dressed,"
"lets play you want this toy real bad
and I won't share it," "lets play
crossing the street && oh no, the bunny
is going to get hit by a car!"
"There are some things that are so
predictable and inevitable, faced by
almost all children, that it is hard to
call them traumas. Nevertheless, they
are painful and they sap a child's
condence. Losing a friend, having a
secret betrayed, and being teased are
just a few examples. As parents, we
want desperately to help children
escape these hard lessons of life, or
at least master them when they do
happen. We know that lectures don't
work but we keep giving them
anyway, just in case, because we
aren't sure what to do. A playful
approach is much more helpful."
He drew a circle that shut me out
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!
"Outwitted "
By Edwin Markham
(1852-1940)
Siblings
Competing for lled cups: power and
connection.
Children learn about morality by
arguing over rules
Schedule free play time with each child
Human tug of war: kids tugging you or you and
your spouse tugging over a child hamming up how
much you want them and need them
Sharing: try taking the toy they are ghting over
and run away saying "now it's mine and you guys
can't get it," then they can unite to chase you
Side with the younger sibling in a playful way
against a bigger one, but be us the bigger be still
feels powerful enough
Don't underestimate younger siblings: "gee whiz,
that looked like it hurt, what do you do to get back
at him when he does that?" Or "that was mean,
what's going to happen next?" This gets them
thinking on their own about conict resolution,
whereas a lecture is quickly forgotten.
Teach older children how to "help" younger siblings
play.
Collaborative Problem Solving or "half-answers"
Try to unite them
in play #against
you"
Stand back, but
with your eyes
open
Discussion?
The End