“I have always loved to play with my children. I didn’t know that learning just a few extra skills could make our play so much more fun! I can tell how my son is getting more self-confident and my daughter is ‘losing it’ less often.”
“Ever since my husband and I divorced my daughter has kept her distance from me. As I learned Filial and we began our play sessions the walls began to come down. I’m so happy to have my daughter back.”
Play is such an important part of children’s lives and development, but parents and child care workers rarely realize that they can help children develop emotional and interpersonal skills by spending even 30 minutes a week playing with each child in a special way.
This workshop for parents of children aged 3-10 teaches seven skills from child-centered play therapy that can enable adults to work with children with or without problems to use play to help them develop emotional self-control and skills for effective problem solving. Based on the book, Mastering the Magic of Play, the Saturday workshop includes videos of parent-child sessions and opportunities for participants to practice play session skills. Then during three thirty minute individually coached, private play sessions with your children, you learn how to adapt the Magic of Play methods to your child’s needs.
Cost is $55 per family. It includes Saturday workshop, book, and 2 individual coached play sessions with your child.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
To register, contact Jessica at 502-227-0055 or fax the printable form to 502-226-7088. For upcoming dates, see
Researched for 30 years, the 5 skills taught have consistently enhanced parent-child bonds and relationships while reducing negative behaviors in children in numerous research studies. Now expanded to develop emotional intelligence, Mastering the Magic of Play brings caretakers and children closer together in delightful ways.
Mastering the Magic of Play uses simple toys that foster imaginative play in children ages 3-12. As adults join in the play as sidekicks, express understanding of children’s feelings and wishes, and set limits in ways that enable children to internalize controls, children bond more closely with them while having much fun.
Mastering the Magic of Play is especially helpful for families which have encountered separation, divorce, adoption, foster care, or the death of someone they love. The parent-child play sessions help parents “be there” to help children work through feelings through play. In the process, parent-child bonds and child behavior are improved.
It is also a great intervention for children who “live at the edge.” These are children who don’t seem quite happy, who are easily frustrated, or who are shy. Play helps these children come into their own, gaining self-confidence and joy.
And this workshop is a great beginning for children who are having serious difficulties. Filial play taught in this workshop is a research-proven therapy intervention for children who are acting out, exploding in tantrums, or socially isolated. In this case the Mastering the Magic of Play program is often extended through individual therapy sessions.
Workshops are held at IDEALS of Kentucky which is located in the McClure Building #507, 306 West Main St in Frankfort.
Workshops are led by Mary Ortwein, MS, LMFT or Rachel Day, MS, MFTA. Mary is the author of Mastering the Magic of Play a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Executive Director of IDEALS. She trains parents and professionals in this program across the country. Rachel is a marriage and family therapist associate who is certified in child-centered play and works beautifully with children and parents.