by Melanie Froemke, LCSW, RPT-S, eRYT200
“Play is so important to children that the United Nations recognizes it as a fundamental human right (O'Connor, Siobhan)."
Today, kids' free and unstructured play is declining steadily - when children do play, it’s likely to be organized, like soccer practice or other planned activities, or involve a screen of some sort.
At River Grove Therapy, we value both play AND being outdoors. With that in mind, we've created "Get Out & Play" bags, for parents and siblings or for clients and their parents to use before, after, or during (sibling) sessions. We'd LOVE for you as our client's parent (or sibling) to get outside to our neighboring parks, alongside the river, in Old Town Alexandria.
Playing with our kids helps promote flexibility, encourages creativity and teamwork, and
helps to grow the brain through attachment with a trusted adult! This brain growth is more than neuroplasticity: play helps to develop the cerebellum (coordinates and regulates muscular activity)!
Attachment work (playing in a connected way with a trusted caregiver) is FUN and JOYFUL.
Play is POWERFUL WORK. When we spend time in positive play with our kids, it can make a difference in negative behaviors.
O’Connor, Siobhan. The Science of Play: Recess Time isn’t Just a Break from School. It Helps Kids Learn to Be Human. The Science of Childhood: Inside the Minds of Our Younger Selves.
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