Play Therapy

Play and therapy

Play is usually identified as something recreational, fun and participative. Using play in learning is a challenging and innovative method to mitigate personal change. Play therapy is a form of counseling or psychotherapy that uses play to communicate with and help people, especially children, and it helps to prevent or resolve psycho-social challenges. Because children cannot express themselves the way we adults can, the use of play is thought to help them towards better social integration, growth and development. Play therapy is generally employed with children aged 3 through 11 and provides a way for them to express their experiences and feelings in a natural and non-threatening manner which does not intimidate them. As children’s experiences and knowledge are often communicated through play, it becomes an important vehicle that helps them to know and accept themselves as well as those around them.

The truth about fury

There’s hardly anyone who’s never been angry, not ever snapped in a fit of rage, a storm of fury or blizzard of wrath. Anger is an innate human emotion; a response to frustration, stemming from lack of fulfillment of what one (supposedly) needs, wants or craves. Anger is damaging yet it is ubiquitous. If only we were strong enough to use the RIGHT defenses to shield our shortcomings...

The WRONG defenses

It happens often that life’s troubles seem to be getting out of hand. And that commonly adopted façade of ‘I am fine’ doesn't hold up. Human beings have marvelous tolerance and their limits can be pretty cavernous. And yet, one fine day it seems like nothing can get better and the end is near. There seem to be deadbolts everywhere with no keys to unlock the path to freedom. Work, home, children, health, accounts, maids, taxes; there is an endless sea filled with ravenous sharks getting to you and you are still fighting, you haven’t let go and you’re still not happy with the way it’s going. If only someone could come in and set things right for you. Solve all the problems and offer you your well-deserved peace…

Why toddlers are difficult creatures

To cope with toddler behavior is a mammoth task. You tend to lose your head and test your own patience and you frequently turn into a monster that surprises you more than anyone else around! You react unthinkingly, you say things thoughtlessly and sometimes you lash out with your actions foolishly. If you appreciate some basic principles of development you will understand your children and their behavior challenges gracefully. When you know what you are expecting and more so why it’s coming your way, you can deal with the calamity better…

Parenting anger step 3:Take charge

that's not pretty!

Once you see things in perspective and you have been the good detective, you are in better position to take charge of the situation. Your reactions and responses have to be smart and guarded. You cannot lose control, not even for a moment else the ‘Operation Child Modification’ that we had started with, will fail and your satellite will be back on the ground right where you started off.

Parenting anger step 2:Healthy choice

agent anger detective

Anger is an emotion, something you feel and something you express (well you definitely want to express it even though at times you curb it). Every emotion does aid some or the other purpose. Just like love, want, desire, happiness, pleasure and other positive emotions enable us to prompt others about what we feel for them; likewise, anger, contempt, dislike, disapproval, all are negative emotions that can be used to unravel some inner drive. The purpose itself has to sound and have some valid understanding. There’s some reason why you are dissatisfied with your child’s behavior. It’s wrong that's why! And there’s a reason why you should not be yelling at them or spanking them. Its wrong that's why!

Parenting anger step 1:Perspective

Parenting is one of the best things that can happen to you. It may seem trying and tiring but in many ways it can be therapeutic too! Your anger that is expressed outward is a reflection of what you have imbibed over the years within yourself. It can reveal where your own problems lie and motivate you to fix them. If you have some unresolved anger, you must heal yourself before you end up harming your child. This will benefit you as well as your child in the long run. Feeling angry is almost a normal emotion. What's abnormal at times is what we choose to do with the anger.

Express your feelings

Feelings are important!

A volcano is not something any of us find pleasant when it erupts. But then, that’s how volcanoes just are supposed to be. And the longer they are dormant (or rather seem dormant to you!) They more they are simmering and brewing their lava inside: only to erupt stronger and destroy harder when they do. Feelings (positive as well as negative) are best when expressed suitably. If you want to take control over your emotional life and become more rationally emotive, you need to learn how to express your feelings well. Feelings make or break you. They personify you, epitomize you, and exemplify you. You are human because you feel and you know how to express it...