Parents: demand recess for your kids!

Recess is much needed for children.
I've often heard, "play is children's work and learning."

There was a great article in the Washington Post why parents want recess for their children. And why parents should keep fighting for it.

Read about it here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/03/08/yes-parents-want-recess-for-their-kids-heres-why-they-should-keep-fighting-for-it/

Play and Mental Health Disorders

I love reading Psychology Today. It is one of my favorite magazines.

Here is an interesting article on the decline of play and the rise in children's mental health disorders.


https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201001/the-decline-play-and-rise-in-childrens-mental-disorders

Also:
I recently created a new self-study CEU Course.
Course Title: Benefits of Play in Pediatric Development (5 Clock hours)
Go to my course library for more information: http://www.dannypettry.com/Courses.htm

Session 3: Play Therapy

Session 3:

Play Therapy

Presented by: Laura Blake, M. A., LPC, NCC, ALPS

Friday, October 28, 2015, at 10:30 a.m.

Danny Pettry’s 

Mental Health Workshop for Recreational Therapists 

at River Park Hospital, in Huntington, WV

A Review by Danny Pettry

My good friend, Laura Blake

Goals of this session included:

·         Identify three components of play therapy

·         Identify the requirements for becoming a Registered Play Therapist

·         Identify at least one way Recreation Therapists and Play Therapists can work together on a comprehensive treatment team under the supervision and recommendations of an attending physician.

• ·         Play therapy is a process for self-discovery utilizing toys or props during time of emotional instability.
• ·        The process of allowing clients to be in control and increase the likelihood they can tap into their own resources to resolve the instability.
• The process of taking pressure off of the client to “talk” about the issues. By using toys or props they can say the same thing in a more non-threatening manner.

She discussed the differences between non-directive play, directive play and combination play.

Information on becoming a play therapist is here: www.a4pt.org

Drama Club could help kids with Autism

There is a really neat article that RTs might want to read about.

Theater/ drama can help kids with Autism to develop skills.

Read about it here:


http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/10/05/theater-training-skills-autism/20848/

Children learn best via meaningful play experiences

Angela Hanscom, Occupational Therapist, argues, "Research continues to point out that young children learn best through meaningful play experiences, yet many preschools are transitioning from play-based learning to becoming more academic in nature."

Read more at her article at the Washington Post blog here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/09/01/the-decline-of-play-in-preschoolers-and-the-rise-in-sensory-issues/

No homework - go play instead!

I thought RTs would like this article about an elementary school that decided to dump homework. The principal and teachers tell the children to go play instead.

Here is part of a letter the principal had written in a letter to parents:

 "Pre-K through fifth grade students to do activities that “have been proven to have a positive impact on student academic performance and social/emotional development” such as reading at their own pace and playing."

I loved that it talked about social and emotional development, reading at own pace, and of course, playing.

Read it here:


http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150305/kips-bay/elementary-school-dumps-homework-tells-kids-play-instead/