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).

Edel Lawlor shares her journey from a social care practitioner to a play therapist, highlighting the therapeutic power of play and its impact on children's well-being. She outlines how children tell their stories through play and discusses the decline in children's play, the importance of play for parents, and the benefits of play therapy for teenagers and adults with disabilities. Edel also gives advice on how getting back to basics is often what our children really need and how her work has led her to appreciate the life changing power of simple experiences.

Here is a link to Edel's inspirational Ted Talk: Unconditional Kindness Towards Children

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✨

The episode is an invitation to imagine the impact of the disappearance of play from primary schools, emphasizing the loss of curiosity, belonging, cognitive depth, joy and professional identity. It calls for the protection and promotion of playful pedagogy as a way of deepening learning and creating alive classrooms.

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)

In this enlightening episode Siobhán Prendiville, a child and adolescent psychotherapist with a specialisation in play therapy, shares insights on the therapeutic powers of play for everyone and the role of teachers in facilitating and observing children's play. She emphasizes the importance of valuing and understanding the individual experiences of play and highlights the link between play and curriculum objectives. The conversation explores the transformative power of play in education, well-being and personal growth. It emphasizes the experiential nature of play, its therapeutic benefits, and its role in building relationships and regulating emotions. The importance of creating a safe and playful environment is highlighted, along with the value of ongoing learning and embracing change.

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).

In this enlightening episode of The Playful Lens, Dr. Joanna Fortune returns to discuss the importance of playfulness for adults. The conversation explores how play can enhance relationships, combat burnout and foster creativity. Dr. Fortune emphasises the need for adults to reconnect with their playful selves, offering practical tips and insights on integrating play into everyday life. The episode highlights the significance of play in education, workplace culture and personal relationships, encouraging listeners to embrace playfulness as a vital aspect of their well-being.

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).

In this episode, Gillian reflects on the critical role of play in primary education, exploring the profound implications of its absence. She emphasises that play fosters curiosity, belonging, cognitive depth and joy in learning, and warns against the dangers of a muted classroom environment. The conversation serves as a call to action for educators to protect and prioritise play in their teaching practices, ensuring that learning remains vibrant and engaging.

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

We hope you enjoy
Gillian and Helena
[email protected]
@the_playful_lens_podcast