The Playful Lens

✨Shaping minds, connections and creativity through play, playfulness and playful learning for all✨

Welcome to The Playful Lens - the podcast where curiosity, creativity and coffee fuel big conversations about learning, wellbeing and play.

Hosted by Gillian (@the_glitter_and_coffee_teacher) and Helena (@experiential.wellbeing).

In this enlightening conversation, Siobhán Prendiville, a child and adolescent psychotherapist & play therapist, discusses the profound impact of play on child development and well-being. She emphasises the therapeutic powers of play, not only in therapy settings but also in everyday environments like home and classrooms. Siobhán highlights the importance of child-centered play, the role of educators in facilitating therapeutic play, and the need for play across all age groups. The discussion also covers the benefits of play in developing problem-solving skills, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution, ultimately advocating for a shift in educational practices to embrace play as a vital component of learning and development.

Learn more about the Children's Therapy Centre here: https://childrenstherapycentre.ie/

Follow the conversation on Instagram @the_playful_lens_podcast and subscribe wherever you listen!

We hope you enjoy
Gillian and Helena
[email protected]

✨Shapingminds, connections and creativity through play, playfulness and playful learningfor all✨
Welcome to The Playful Lens - the podcast where curiosity, creativity and coffee fuel big conversations about learning, wellbeing and play.Hosted by Gillian (@the_glitter_and_coffee_teacher) and Helena (@experiential.wellbeing )
Summary
In this episode of The Playful Lens, Regina Igoe, a child and adolescent psychotherapist, discusses the significance of play and psychoeducation in child development. Sheemphasises the importance of understanding typical child behaviour, the role of play in exploring emotions, and how children learn conflict resolution through play. Regina also highlights the need for adults to facilitate a safe and supportive play environment, allowing children to express their emotions and build resilience. The conversation delves into the complexities of aggression and meanness in play, the impact of parenting on children's play experiences, and the necessity of creating a play-friendly environment at home and in schools.
You will find more information about Regina and the parenting programmes she is involved in here: https://reggiesplaytherapy.ie/parents/
Regina also has a playful parenting page on Instagram: Playful_Parenting_

✨Shaping minds, connections and creativity through play, playfulness and playful learning for all✨

Welcome to The Playful Lens - the podcast where curiosity, creativity and coffee fuel big conversations about learning, wellbeing and play.

Hosted by Gillian (@the_glitter_and_coffee_teacher) and Helena (@experiential.wellbeing).

In this episode of The Playful Lens, Angela Cummins, a teacher in an Autism Support class, shares her insights on the importance of play in autism education. With over two decades of experience, Angela discusses her unique teaching environment, the significance of building relationships with children and the role of play in fostering learning and development. She emphasises the need for inclusivity, life skills and the magic moments that occur in the classroom, all while maintaining a playful and engaging atmosphere for her students.

Follow the conversation on Instagram @the_playful_lens_podcast and subscribe wherever you listen!

We hope you enjoy
Gillian and Helena
[email protected]

✨Shaping minds, connections and creativity through play, playfulness and playful learning for all✨

Welcome to The Playful Lens - the podcast where curiosity, creativity and coffee fuel big conversations about learning, wellbeing and play.

Hosted by Gillian (@the_glitter_and_coffee_teacher) and Helena (@experiential.wellbeing).

The episode explores the shift towards playful learning in a Redeveloped Curriculum, the understanding of play in the curriculum, evidence of learning and assessment, professional responsibility and reflection, and the concepts of consistency and adaptability in teaching.
It emphasises the integration of assessment into the teaching process and the importance of being responsive to the context in teaching.
The conversation covers the role of the progression continuum as a tool for teachers, the fundamental right of play in childhood, the curriculum's relationship with play, the importance of professional judgment and reflective practice and the message from the inspectorate.

Takeaways
Playful learning makes assessment more visible, not less.
Consistency is about showing up and being responsive to the context, not about doing the same thing as everyone else.
Assessment is integral to learning and should be built into the teaching process. Progression Continuum as a tool for teachers
Play as a fundamental right of childhood

✨Shaping minds, connections and creativity through play, playfulness and playful learning for all✨

Welcome to The Playful Lens - the podcast where curiosity, creativity and coffee fuel big conversations about learning, wellbeing and play.

Hosted by Gillian (@the_glitter_and_coffee_teacher) and Helena (@experiential.wellbeing).
In this episode, Helena discusses her journey to becoming a play therapist, the significance of play therapy in addressing trauma, and the holistic approach to child healing. She emphasizes the importance of personal development for therapists, the process of play therapy, and the role of toys and symbolism in helping children express their emotions. The conversation also touches on the stigma surrounding mental health and the need for parents and teachers to prioritize their own well-being to effectively support children and adolescents.

EAS/Counselling - Irish National Teachers' Organisation

IAPTP

The Children's Therapy Centre

Follow the conversation on Instagram @the_playful_lens_podcast and subscribe wherever you listen!

We hope you enjoy
Gillian and Helena
[email protected]