The Parenting Connection Discovery Playtime

In this episode, myself, Mireia Lopez (primary teacher, business owner and mum), talk about the importance of routine and quality time with your children, and also the struggles and challenges that I encounter every day and how I made it better.

We welcome play therapists Susanne Martin, Anna McGrath and Karla Hannigan from Shine Through Play Therapy based in Kildare town Ireland https://shinethroughplaytherapy.com/They are all qualified as play therapists with many years experience in education as teachers. They will answer some really interesting questions asked by parents: Do you ever see your own past / present challenges reflected in a child’s session? My child struggles dealing with big emotions and I think play therapy would be very beneficial but my husband thinks I am making a big deal. How can I convince him? My son can’t cope with frustration and other difficult life situations and we are waiting for diagnosis but should I get started with play therapy or will I wait for the diagnosis? Why do more children struggle with big emotions now compared to years ago? Is there anything I can do at home to help my child cope with difficult situations? I feel like I want to help all the time but I am not sure that’s actually helpful in the long term. My child hits and bites a lot in school, so she struggles to make friends. How can I help, and why does she do it? I lose my temper very easily when my child has a tantrum and I know that doesn’t help at all, how do I stay calm when they push your limits? I hate playing with my child I find it so boring and she always tells me what to do and not to do so I can’t even improvise anything. How do I connect with her in a way that’s fun for both? I have been thinking about booking play therapy for my child for so long but I feel like if I take that step I am accepting there is a problem. What do I do? Am I the one who needs support? My child is very shy and has social anxiety when going to new places, how can I help?

Erica Hargaden is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant, mum of 3, and member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants. Her passion is to help parents understand their children’s sleep and empower them to create settled sleep in their homes. https://babogue.com/


The topics we cover in this episode:
Babies, attachment and sleep Why is it so difficult to fall asleep What happens when we sleep Importance of sleep Sleep challenges at different ages Bad habits for parents  Bed time routine Transitions into next stages Sleep habits older ages Sleep regression, why? Sleep challenges Parenting tricks to help children sleep Nap time Very quiet during nap time - don’t do it (sleep habits) How to avoid being overtired What does it mean to be undertired and the importance of the right stimulation during the day

Ella is an art therapist in Dublin and she shares her journey and practical information useful for parents and teachers with us. Art is not the perfect piece we hang on the wall; we understand art as a form of communication and it can be found anywhere and everywhere.


Some of the topics discussed on this episode:
What is art therapy and who is it for? How to support child’s self-esteem through art. Ways to communicate with our children to support their wellbeing. What to expect from an art therapy session. The difference between art and creativity. How to get started with creativity at home. How to encourage creativity with your children when you don’t feel creative as a parent. The link between messy play, creativity, and self-expression. The role of the parents during play. Setting up limits and boundaries during play. The importance of self-care just for yourself and not for others.

Mary is a social worker working with Foster First Ireland https://fosteringfirstireland.ie/ after working with Tusla for a number of years. She will walk us through the process of fostering a child (she is also a foster carer herself) from making the decision to all the support that’s available out there. If you are considering a carrier in social work, this episode is for you too. Some of the specific topics we discuss:
What to expect when fostering a childWhat are the reasons to consider fostering a childWhat support is available for parents and children in IrelandRequirements when fostering a childTypes of fostering   How to take the first stepThe role of social workers

Jennifer from https://wellbeingwarrior.ie/ is a life coach with a background in neuroscience. She will empower you to step out of your comfort zone to find your true self and needs. She opens up very honestly about her own experience when becoming a mum as she experienced postnatal depression and she talks about what helped her recover from this, as well as the things we experience when becoming mums for the first time. She talks about the power of language and communication as a way to understand ourselves better. Her training in neuroscience shows when she talks about the chemical reactions that affect our happiness and emotions. We will learn about different types of self-care and how to get started on a journey of self-discovery. Jennifer talks about toxic relationships and core values, and how to use those to find your tribe. She will also explain the difference between confidence and self-esteem.
The topics we will discuss:
What is a life coach and what to expect from them  Post-natal depression and the struggles of becoming a mum The power of self-talk, communication and self-beliefs Neuroscience coaching and chemical imbalances in the body that cause emotional dysregulation Types of self-care and the importance of nvesting in yourself as a mum The importance of being aware of your core values to find your tribe and make better decisions The difference between confidence and self-esteem and how it affects our actions How to listen to our children so they get what they need from us Equality and individual appreciation regardless of genders and situations The challenges and benefits of saying NO (when you say NO to something or someone else, you are saying YES to yourself).